Welcome to our central page for how COVID-19 is affecting the Fire and Life Safety Industry. Updated daily, this page will cover all relevant content to your business, in addition to state, federal, and legal updates. Feel like you have something we should share? Email relevant articles to COVID19@BrooksEquipment.com for our team to review.

Latest News

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

We have a message from your account managers - you aren’t alone in what you are feeling. We ask them to all say a word that communicated the emotions they have felt during this time, here is what they had to say…

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Robert sits down (digitally) with Mike Ventola from Space Age Electronics to discuss how to bridge the gap back into a more normal way of life. The two specifically dive into how Fire and Life Safety systems are the "silent guardians" that continue to protect facilities, and buildings, even when we are at home during this time. Robert and Mike also discuss how FEDs can best work with local AHJs to ensure buildings are recognized as up to code, even with backlogs posing a large issue.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Today, Steve interviews Jordan VanDelinder, owner of CleanerQ, located in Billings Montana. Started in 2015, CleanerQ started pressure washing trucks and expanded into hood cleaning and then fire protection. During this time, Jordan talks about how he has utilized corporate transparency in working with customers to best serve them. Outside of COVID-19, the two discuss industry education, the role of technology, and more!

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Volume III - The work never stops! Thank you to all the Fire and Life Safety professionals who have worked to maintain systems through this crisis. Here are some images our customers sent us of their techs out in the field. If you have any images of your tech's at work, and would like us to feature, please send them to MarketingSupport@BrooksEquipment.com

FED Resources

Facility Reopening Fire & Safety Checklist

As the dust settles, we want to help set you up for success as your customers move to more normal operation. We have provided two simple checklists you can use with your customers to help them stay safe from COVID-19 and to ensure their facilities are ready for employees and customers.

• NFPA Reopening Buildings Checklist - Click Here
• Businesses Prep to Reopen - Click Here
• Brooks' Business Reopen Checklist - Click Here

Paycheck Protection Program

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is designed to provide loans for small businesses to keep you in business and your workers on the payroll. You can apply for a loan through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, any federally insured credit union, and any Farm Credit System institution (that is participating). You should consult with your local lender to see if they are participating. PPP will be available through June 30, 2020. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.

• Overview of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) - Click Here
• Information for Businesses Applying for PPP Loans - Click Here
• PPP Application Form for Borrowers - Click Here
• PPP Fact Sheet - Click Here
• PPP Interim Final Rule - Click Here
• PPP On-Demand Webinar - Click Here
• PPP Loan Forgiveness:
  • To Apply - Click Here
  • For More Information - Click Here

Other Resources

• Best Practices for Re-Opening Retail Food Establishments During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• FED Essential Business Travel Letter
• Brooks Equipment's Opinion on the Essential Nature of the Fire and LIfe Safety Industry
• Updated Guidance to Recognize and Support Essential Critical Workers During the COVID-19 Crisis
• Key Employment Provisions in Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• Learn about a wireless evacuation and emergency system you can offer for mobile health care applications

Latest Protocol from the CDC

CDC - How to Protect Yourself and What to Do if You are Sick Click Here

Best Practices for Fire Equipment Distributors:
For complete information on how to protect yourself, employees, and customers from COVID-19, go to - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html

• Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness should stay home until their doctor releases for work.
• Employees should wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 65% alcohol.
• Employees should avoid touching their face, eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Employees should cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze. Used tissue should not be re-used and should be put in a waste basket immediately. Where tissues are unavailable, employees should cough or sneeze into their upper sleeve.
• Routinely clean all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace, such as workstations, countertops, and doorknobs with cleaning agents that are usually used in these areas (follow the directions on the label).
• Provide disposable wipes for employees to clean keyboards, telephones, work surfaces, etc., before each use.