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Commercial Fire Alarm System Maintenance Requirements
Owning a business means you have to protect yourself against the possibility of a fire. A commercial fire alarm system is required by law for any business with ten or more employees and you also have to have a fire prevention plan in place. The fire alarm system is not only required to be in place, it has to be in proper working condition and must meet state and federal standards. Make sure you are maintaining your commercial fire alarm system correctly. Commercial Fire Alarm System Age At certain stages of your commercial fire alarm system’s life, it will require maintenance checks. Once your system reaches the age of five years, you can start to expect certain failures or breakdowns. The environment has a large impact on the different components of these systems. Humidity, temperature and even fluctuations in voltages can impact the parts of your system causing them to malfunction. The older your system becomes; the more repairs you can expect to need on your unit. Systems fifteen years old can still be useful as long as you’ve completed proper maintenance during these years. These older systems will require more repairs. Systems over twenty years old should be replaced. […]
Read MoreCommercial Fire Alarm System Inspections
Keeping your commercial fire alarm system working properly requires routine inspections. These systems are designed as a quick-response method to alert you and the occupants of your building of a threat so a safe evacuation can be done. Commercial fire alarm system inspections needs to be performed by specialists who understand how the systems work and know what to look for as far as possible malfunctions. Below is the typical process that is followed to make sure your system is operating correctly. Report Inspection Times to Local Authorities The fire alarm inspectors need to notify your local emergency response team that they will be performing an inspection of your commercial fire alarm system. During the inspection, it will be necessary to test the operation of the alerts and emergency services needs to be aware they are not needed to report to the property, that it is a test of the equipment. Two Technicians will Perform Inspection When you schedule the inspection of your commercial fire alarm system, you can expect two technicians to arrive at your property. One of the two will station him or herself by the fire alarm panel and the other will proceed into the interior to […]
Read MoreThe Key To Ensuring Your Commercial Fire Alarm System Operates Properly When Needed Is Performing Required Inspections, Testing And Maintenance
Routine inspection, testing, and maintenance are essential for keeping your commercial fire alarm system operational. When commercial fire alarm systems are not properly maintained, they become prone to failures that can cost lives and increase the amount of damage a property can sustain. When it comes to commercial fire alarm operation, an ounce of prevention is most definitely easier to swallow than a pound of cure. Dirt and dust are commercial fire alarm systems worst enemies Dirty smoke detectors and clogged sensors are responsible for a significant number of commercial fire alarm systems failures. Dirt, dust, insect remains, and lint can build up within the smoke detector thus negatively impacting the sensitivity of the unit. It can lead to false alarms that go off without warning, or when a fire erupts, the clogged sensor chamber can slow response time or lead to a total system failure. Commercial fire alarm systems versus high ceilings Another common maintenance problem with commercial fire alarm systems involves the high ceilings that most systems have to contend with. Whether in a warehouse or retail space, high ceilings create the space needed to do business. However, the height of these rooms can create significant time for […]
Read MoreCommercial Fire Alarm System Inspection And Testing Requirements
The testing, inspection, and maintenance requirements for a commercial fire alarm system are set forth by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA-72). Businesses are required to adhere to these standards in order to receive and maintain their certificate of occupancy. Testing does more than just allowing a business to stay in business. It ensures that your commercial fire alarm system will function properly when called upon to provide the necessary protection. The NFPA standards establish regulations regarding each testing and inspection requirement so that a commercial fire alarm system will perform properly if a fire breaks out. Failing to adhere to these standards can have serious consequences including revocation of certificate of occupancy, cancellation of insurance policies, denial of claims, and exposure to both civil and criminal liability if a fire breaks out and causes property damage, personal injuries, or wrongful deaths. Required Testing For a commercial fire alarm system connected to a supervising station, businesses are required to test the fire alarm’s functions, fuses, interfaces, lamps/LEDs, power supplies, and transponders on an annual basis. This includes testing batteries, fiber-optic power cables, control units, and annunciators. Initiating devices must also be tested annually. These include duct detectors, fire suppression systems, […]
Read MoreA Properly Maintained, Inspected And Tested Commercial Fire Alarm System Is Critical To The Protection Of Your Business
Installing commercial fire alarm system in your business is a significant investment. As such it is critical that you ensure it is in proper working order each and every day. The only way to do this is to have it properly maintained, inspected and tested. Maintaining your system A commercial fire alarm system that is under five years old should not require much maintenance. Make sure the units are dust-free and check them for corrosion. Don’t trust the maintenance of your alarm system to inexperienced personnel. These untrained individuals may overlook important details because nothing looks broken. It takes knowledgeable and qualified service people to maintain your alarm system in a way that will protect your employees and building assets. Contact the commercial fire alarm system professionals at 1st Alarm. Inspection of your system Your alarm system should be inspected when it is installed and then at periodic and regular intervals as long as you have the system. The instructions given by the manufacturer should be followed to the letter in order to make sure everything is in working order. Don’t trust these critical inspections to untrained personnel. Contact the commercial fire alarm system professionals at 1st Alarm. Testing your […]
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