Commercial Fire Blog

At Commercial Fire, our goal is simple, we want to help our customers keep their facilities safe and compliant in the most efficient way. We've done this for the past 30 years. Because of that track record, we are thrilled to announce Commercial Fire was named "2021 Top Facility Management Company" in the service category by Healthcare Tech Outlook. We ask our EVP, Mark Murray, what this award and cover-story feature meant to him. Here is what he had to say.

Many buildings in the United States rely on an automatic fire sprinkler system as their primary source for overall fire protection. Because of the emphasis placed on these systems for protecting both life and property, there are stringent rules and regulations governing their upkeep—two of which (testing and inspection), are critical to maintaining fire sprinkler system effectiveness in the event of a fire.

Key to Fast Pay

It’s all in the paperwork, or the amount thereof. Of course, timely submittal of all paperwork, has a lot to do with how fast an affiliate gets their invoice paid, that’s never a sticking point at Commercial Fire. All we need from you is a signed work order (by your onsite representative), the asset data page on the type of equipment at that location, a service ticket with details of work performed, an inspection document (if the service type requires one), and a line item invoice for customer billing purposes. Once all of that’s received, getting paid is fast and efficient, especially if you use an online dashboard, like Commercial Fire’s, to submit your paperwork. Using this electronic option can result in getting your money much quicker—even on a weekly basis!

One of the most overlooked parts of contracting out service for fire and life safety equipment is the Request for Pricing (RFP). As the old adage goes, “you get out what you put in,” which couldn’t be truer, when it comes to preparing an RFP. As a Facility or Sourcing Manager, the only thing paramount to saving your company money, is protecting their people and property. And with a better understanding of what makes up a good RFP, you can accomplish both.

One of the most important goals a Facility Manager can have is providing effective fire and life safety equipment and systems across all of your locations. Unfortunately, it can be a lot like trying to untangle a huge plate of pasta. There are tons of codes and regulations to follow, current and projected expenses to consider, and an accounting of what fire and life safety equipment and systems are present or missing here, there, everywhere! And in terms of cost, what’s your exposure? While the initial responsibility for meeting fire and life safety codes and regulations originated with the builders, that became your responsibility, as the Facility Manger, as soon as ownership changed hands. And that responsibility involves some sobering issues—protection of lives and property and avoidance of fines while keeping maintenance, repair, and replacement costs down.

As a Facility Manager, understanding the various aspects of fire and life safety for your building(s) or space(s) is not only paramount to avoiding fines, but critical to protecting your employees and patrons. This is no easy task, as you are probably responsible for numerous locations locally, regionally, and/or locations that are scattered around the country. On top of that, there is the fire and life safety equipment itself as well as the numerous codes, regulations, and laws that govern over it, requiring installation of this or service of that. It can be overwhelming trying to get your arms around all of it or, moreover, even knowing what equipment or systems you have or who’s responsible for maintaining it.

A colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas, Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a life-threatening by-product found in fumes produced by burning gasoline, propane, wood, charcoal, or other fuel used in vehicles, furnaces, stoves, fireplaces, gas ranges, or grills. Most of the time CO is released in the air outside, where it is relatively harmless. But when CO accumulates in a tightly sealed or enclosed space, like a home or building, it can be very lethal, very fast.

As a Facility Manager, one of your most important tasks is making sure your building, your employees, and your customers are safe. And having multiple locations, spread across the country, protecting people and property becomes exponentially harder. But you need help, because there’s too much to know and too many things to do. You know a local outfit won’t work—they can’t service all of your locations or needs. So you’re set on contracting with a large National Provider, but you still have questions/concerns.

Regardless if it's fire protection, kitchen hood cleaning, or emergency lighting in your building, chances are you have a laundry list of service providers to help you stay compliant while, hopefully, keeping both your property and your people safe.

If you have multiple locations—all over the country, regionally, or locally—keeping track of each location’s fire and life safety inspections and service can be a nightmare. And as the FM (Multi-Site Facility Manager), you’ve got enough to keep track of already, focusing on the efficient, effective delivery of all the other support services you’re responsible for. It doesn’t need to be that hard. With the right National Fire & Life Safety Provider in your corner, keeping track of your inspections and service—everywhere—can actually be quick and simple.