Google “fire protection services”. In less than half a second you’ll be inundated with over 85 million results. On the first page alone, you’ll see in-your-face ads from local, as well as national companies offering a wide variety of fire protection services. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you’ll see frequently related searches ranging from “fire protection systems” to “fire protection engineering”. It’s a little overwhelming.

Some things just shouldn’t be cluttered. Fire protection is one of those things. Per the U.S Fire Administration, residential property types account for the most fire related deaths (75.7%), fire injuries (79.1%) and fire dollar loss (52.2%). In general, there were approximately 1,389,500 fires in 2011. While still staggeringly high, it’s actually 19.5% lower than the amount of fires in 2002. By better understanding fire protection services, and their capabilities and limitations, we should expect these downward trends to continue.

What are fire protection services?

As noted, there are hundreds of fire protection services on the market. Many have some type of niche. However, all fire protection services accomplish one of three purposes.

Fire protection services educate. These often include programs, webinars and online classes. Fire protection services that educate are often municipal-driven. Though responsible, commercial fire safety businesses are also beginning to implement educational programs into their sales models to help consumers understand the better understand the hazards of fires.

Fire protection services evaluate. Some fire protection services that evaluate include certification programs and home inspections. When considering a fire inspection company or a certification program, be sure to partner with someone who follows NFPA’s Codes & Standards. NFPA develops, publishes, and disseminates more than 300 consensus codes and standards intended to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other risks.

Fire protection services formulate. As G.I Joe said, “Knowing is half the battle.” Whether it is devising an evacuation plan, installing a product such as a smoke detector or fire escape ladder, the most important fire protection services are arguably those that provide the last line of protection.

Combine to design the perfect fire protection.

Many of us have learned about fire safety through educational lessons and community programs. The unforgettable mascot of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Sparky the Firedog, often accompanied by local firefighters, delivers an important introduction to general fire safety. The key word being introduction. It is important to consistently build on our initial foundation with added services that properly educate, evaluate, and formulate actionable plans for maximum fire protection. To consolidate the clutter of the industry, partner with a fire protection company that has a three-pronged approach.