Answers to your burning questions

I’m interested in a new fire suppression system. Does Bison Fire Protection provide free estimates?

Yes, we do! Contact us today to discuss your fire protection needs!

How long does the installation of a new fire suppression system take?

While it does depend on the location and the size of the location, a typical installation takes 1-3 business days. Installations are done with minimal interference to your business operations.

How big or small does a location/building have to be to have a new suppression system installed?

We have installed new systems in many different sized facilities, from small mom-and-pop size diners to full-blown large installations in multiple heavy industrial manufacturing sites, and even underground in mines. Arrange a free consultation with one of our certified technicians today to help assess your needs.

Should the details of our fire protection systems be mentioned in our disaster plan manual in our workplace?

Yes! If your system is properly installed and regularly maintained by a professional fire protection company such as Bison Fire Protection, it will greatly reduce the time needed for disaster recovery because of the effectiveness of the systems that have been serviced and maintained efficiently.

What brands of fire alarm system do you carry?

Siemens is the primary product line supported by Bison Fire Protection. We believe this to be a superior product line for several reasons; they are made from robust, heavy gauge steel, superior technology, and have a very stable operating platform. They just last longer. Siemens has put a lot of work into migrating from older systems to newer systems, it’s easier than ever! For example, if you have an older Siemens system from 20 years ago, migrating to a newer system is made easy because the newer system can be connected up to the older system for an easy upgrade. This is of benefit to our customers because it means you may not have to replace your entire system. An upgrade can be done, and the cost budgeted under annual maintenance rather than a capital expenditure. We would be happy to discuss our range of fire suppression, fire alarm, and sprinkler systems with you! Call us today for a free consultation!

Visit our Fire Alarm Systems page for more information!

Does Bison Fire Protection offer explosion protection?

Bison Fire Protection has installed explosion proof systems in potentially hazardous locations. We recommend you call us to discuss your specific needs.

Does Bison Fire Protection have technology that will text a business owner when there is an emergency?

Yes. We have cloud technology available. The business owner can be texted and informed what is going on and whether it is an emergency or not. Call us today to discuss how this can be of benefit to you and your business!

What is the difference between fire suppression and fire protection?

Fire protection systems, such as sprinklers, protect the building from fire spreading and extinguish the fire. Fire suppression systems suppress the fire in a specific hazard. A well rounded fire protection structure includes a combination of sprinklers, fire alarms, suppression systems, emergency lighting, and fire extinguishers depending upon the size of, and operations within the building. A proper combination of fire protection systems can and will save the lives of first responders and firefighters. They save lives and we are proud to be a part of protecting those who work so hard to keep us safe. Learn more about our special hazard suppression systems.

Do I need to have a fire suppression system in my restaurant by law?

Yes, you do.

What kind of products does Bison Fire Protection offer to extinguish a fire in my kitchen?

At Bison Fire Protection we use a wet chemical system manufactured by Ansul, Range Guard, or Kidde. To learn more about what these products can do, contact us today. Learn more about our pre-engineered restaurant fire suppression system.

What kind of fire suppression system should I have in my paint mix rooms and spray booths?

A dry chemical system is ideal in an auto body shop. Contact us to learn more!

What type of fire suppression system should we have for our data center or electrical equipment room?

You should have a clean gas suppression system. There are several products available, contact us to discuss your options.

If our fire suppression unit is discharged, who is responsible for the clean up?

If your fire suppression unit is discharged during a fire, your business is responsible for the clean up. Bison Fire Protection will come and recharge the cylinder and flush the piping when requested.

What is the difference between a quick response and standard response fire sprinkler?

At Bison Fire Protection we supply both quick response and standard response sprinklers. Quick response systems are more sensitive and are used in highly sensitive areas where fires must be put out quickly, such as in a data center. Fire grows exponentially, so speed is of the essence when it comes to suppressing it. Standard response fire sprinkler systems are effective as well. Talk to one of our certified technicians today. We would be happy to visit you onsite to discuss your needs.

How many fire sprinkler heads should I have in my building?

The optimal and/or regulated number of sprinklers you should have for your business is determined by the certified engineers or mechanical engineers who worked on the design of your building.

My sprinkler has never been activated. Do I still need to have it inspected?

Yes! Your sprinkler system needs to have annual inspections. Throughout the lifetime of your sprinkler system there are different tests that need to be done, such as obstruction testing. We may even need to remove one or more of the sprinkler heads to inspect it and make sure it is operating as it should. Should they not pass inspection we will recommend the sprinkler heads be replaced.

What are the benefits of having built-in isolation in Fire Alarm devices?

With built-in isolation in fire alarm devices such as smoke/heat detectors, manual stations, input/output modules, the traditional isolator-only devices are no longer needed, and this comes with several benefits. For example, less engineering work, fewer devices (no isolator-only devices, backboxes, wiring, and associated labor) This would provide lower system life-cycle costs over the life of the system with savings in operational and maintenance costs. To learn more about Siemens ISOtechnology^TM contact us.

How is troubleshooting time decreased with ISOtechnologyTM?

When a fault happens, i.e., wire-to-wire short, short and ground, or short and open, the ISOtechnology^TMallows a technician to locate where the disconnect location is. The location, which is between two devices, will be made available at the control unit. Therefore, the technician can now concentrate on troubleshooting only between these two points. It removes the laborious and time-consuming process of elimination method, checking between one device to another. To learn more about Siemens ISOtechnology^TM contact us.

Can the whole system still run efficiently if one fault, i.e., wire-to-wire short applied to the circuit?

Yes. By setting all the ISOtechnology^TMdevices as isolators, the system survivability is increased. Therefore, a single fault will not affect the operation of the fire alarm system at all. To learn more about Siemens ISOtechnology^TM contact us.

What emergency light systems does Bison Fire Protection offer?

We maintain and install several exit lights and emergency lighting systems. Talk to us today about our emergency lighting solutions for your business.

Does Bison Fire Protection test exit lights and emergency lighting systems?

Yes, we do.

How do Exit and Emergency Lighting systems work?

Emergency lighting is usually off during the day unless it is being tested. When the power goes out during an emergency, these lights will turn on and run off battery power or generator power. The purpose is to help people in the building see their way to safety.

Who is responsible for arranging inspections?

While we do keep records and have local coordinators who will remind customers that it’s time to choose a convenient time for an inspection, according to insurance companies and fire code regulations, it is the responsibility of the business owner to ensure all inspections are done on a timely basis.

Who does the inspections?

Our friendly manufacturer trained and certified Bison Fire Protection technicians are always ready to come and do an inspection at your convenience. Learn more about our inspection services now!

How often should my fire alarm system be inspected?

Fire alarm system inspections are done annually. Kitchen fire suppression systems, spray booths or clean gas systems need to be done at least semi-annually.

What happens if I do not have my fire alarm and/or fire suppression system inspected on time?

Again, it is up to building owners to ensure that regular inspections are done in a timely fashion. If you have not had your inspection done as scheduled, whether it is annually or semi-annually depending on the cycle, if it is a year and day late, your insurance policy may lapse.

What is a clean agent?

A clean agent is a gas that literally disrupts the chain of the fire, reducing its ability to expand exponentially. It leaves no residue, it is not harmful to people, and it is safe for the environment. It is fast and it is effective. The residue may linger in the atmosphere for 2-3 days at the most, but it is safe for humans and animals.

Where are clean agents used?

Many of our Bison Fire Protection customers use clean agents in data centers or generator rooms where having a gas suppress the fire and protect the equipment is far favorable to using a liquid which would suppress a fire but potentially damage sensitive equipment.

What is a wet agent?

Wet agents are a chemical spray used to suppress fires and stop them from spreading in restaurants or even mobile equipment used in forestry or mining. Today’s wet agents can handle temperatures as low as -40 to -50C.

What is an addressable photo electric smoke detection system?

A photo-electric smoke alarm system scans particulates in the air and determines whether there is a fire taking place. At Bison Fire Protection we use the Siemens addressable smoke detectors with ASA technology. This programmable detector has 21 different settings which can help the alarm system understand if it is in a computer room, a commercial kitchen, a loading dock, or an office and so on, so it will understand what kind of particulates it should be sensitive to. These incredible detectors can tell the difference between burned toast and a burning couch and react accordingly.

Does the Bison Fire Protection smoke detectors detect Carbon Monoxide?

Yes! To illustrate how important this kind of detection is, here is a short case study by Rob Read, CEO of Bison Fire Protection: “A customer asked us to install carbon monoxide detectors in their loading dock where gas powered forklifts were being used. Almost immediately the alarms started to go off. The customer had no idea that they were dealing with an ongoing CO problem and that their staff were breathing in CO over a long period of time. Almost immediately after the CO problem was addressed and cleared up employee sick time went down, and productivity went up because they felt better while at work.”

What is a Cold Detector?

A lot of people may be surprised to know that cold detection is an important consideration! Our addressable system can be set up to detect cold. Extreme cold can freeze sprinkler systems and create a liability situation.

What is the risk that comes with Lithium-ion energy storage systems?

The risk is thermal roll. Thermal roll is when the lithium and the other battery ingredients begin to heat up then spontaneously combust. One of the bi-products of this type of fire is Oxygen. The fire is then creating its own heat and oxygen and begins to roll to adjacent batteries. You hear about this happening with rocket fuel.

What kind of fire suppression and detection system would you recommend for Lithium-Ion battery storage systems?

This is new technology from Siemens which we are excited about. It’s a nitrogen base, which cools. It a proactively drawing air through the sensors and it picks up what’s happening in the room. If it picks up the right particulates and increasing heat it sets off the fire alarms and suppression system.