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Testing Your Commercial Fire Alarm System Is Not Just A Good Idea – It Is A Must
Commercial fire alarm systems are not flawless and over time parts can wear out, sensors can become blocked, and wires come loose. Regular testing helps identify flaws and faults in commercial fire alarm system to ensure that if a fire occurs, the alarm system functions as designed. Not only is it essential to test the alarm for safety, it is required by law in order to reduce the number of false alarms transmitted to emergency responders. National Fire Protection Association Standards NFPA standards require business owners to conduct numerous inspections of both monitored and unmonitored systems. For monitored systems, a weekly inspection of interfaces, LED’s, etc. Each quarter, the standards require testing of switches/tamper switches. Twice a year, batteries must be tested for swelling, loose connections, and voltage. Among other things, this testing helps ensure that batteries will function properly should power loss occur. Once every year, testing must be conducted on the panel to ensure that LED’s, fuses, etc. are operating properly. Annual testing is also required on battery chargers and batteries. Annual inspections must also be conducted of horns, sirens, strobe lights, bells, and other audio elements of the system. Smoke detectors and smoke detectors must also be […]
Read MoreReaping The Rewards Of A Commercial Fire Alarm System
You have worked hard to build your business, and you need a commercial fire alarm system you can depend on to keep everything safe and secure. The right commercial fire alarm system can keep your inventory, customer data, equipment, and professional aspirations from going up in smoke. Commercial fire alarm systems provide near instantaneous notification that there is a fire brewing up. Commercial systems are equipped with multiple sensors that detect fluctuations in temperature, the presence of toxic gases, and other harbingers of danger. When the system detects that a fire is smoldering, it notifies everyone within the structure and sends out an automatic notification to emergency responders. This provides sufficient warning to building occupants that they need to evacuate and it shortens the response time of firefighters, EMTs, and law enforcement. Commercial fire alarm systems provide protection against more than just fires. They can be used to communicate with personnel and customers in the event of a fire, flood, tornado, active shooter, etc. This allows the business owner to relay critical information regarding the situation and what individuals should do to protect themselves. Moreover, systems equipped with television cameras allow business owners to shelter in place and help direct […]
Read MoreConducting Critical Testing And Maintenance Of Your Commercial Fire Alarm Systems
Commercial fire alarm systems must be regularly tested and professionally maintained. When systems fail, it is often because testing and maintenance schedules have not been rigorously adhered to. When it comes to ensuring the safety of personnel and the protection of property, the following are regular tests and routine maintenance functions that should not be ignored. Plus, it is also important to understand the difference between manual and automation testing for various parts of your business, as they can both offer benefits and disadvantages. Seeing as your business should be one of your top priorities, it would be worth considering this. Batteries 101 Batteries have a limited shelf life and operational lifespan which is often between 3-5 years. These tiny components are crucial for providing power to your commercial fire alarm systems in both regular operating mode and when power is cut-off to the commercial fire alarm system. Batteries should be tested while under load and should have sufficient charge to power the system under normal operation. While batteries can function at 20% of capacity, it is recommended that they be replaced at no less than 50% as the failure rate below this level is significant. Smoke Detectors Smoke detectors […]
Read MoreWhy You Need To Have A Professional Fire Alarm System Company Inspect Your Commercial Fire Alarm System
The city you conduct business in most likely follows standards established by the National Fire Protection Association regarding commercial fire alarm system testing. These requirements are set up for structures that maintain occupancy and are designed to ensure your fire protection products meet minimum specifications. You will need a fire alarm company to come in who has the training to work with commercial fire alarm systems as there strict guidelines to follow for an inspection. NFPA Guidelines The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) sets strict guidelines pertaining to the performance and inspection of commercial fire alarm systems. While many business managers look at the process of inspections with a negative attitude, they should realize there are significant benefits to ensuring these systems are operating correctly. It takes training and experience to understand how the alarm system should be performing and be able to detect any possible malfunctions. Fire alarm companies such as, 1st Alarm have the experience, training and understand the NFPA guidelines necessary to perform your alarm inspection. How a commercial fire alarm system is tested A fire alarm testing company will work with you to schedule the inspection around a time that will disrupt your business the least. […]
Read MoreThe Process Steps For A Commercial Fire Alarm System Inspection
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. A commercial fire alarm system inspection 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 […]
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