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Proper Maintenance, Testing and Inspection Are The Best Actions For Ensuring Your Commercial Fire Alarm System Works When Needed

Installing a commercial fire alarm system in your business is a significant investment. As with any major business investment it is critical that it is in proper working order each and every day. The only way to achieve this level of performance and reliability is to have it properly maintained, inspected and tested. Continue reading “Proper Maintenance, Testing and Inspection Are The Best Actions For Ensuring Your Commercial Fire Alarm System Works When Needed “

Warnings From A Commercial Fire Alarm System Could Prevent Serious Injuries Or Even Death

A commercial fire alarm system will provide warning of a danger to occupants so they have time to evacuate a property and prevent serious injuries or even death. Technology has made it possible for these systems to pinpoint the exact location of the heat or smoke that’s of concern inside your building. There are some older versions of fire alarm systems still in use which may be using buzzers or belt methods. If you are interested in updating or inspecting your fire alarm system, contact 1st Alarm Fire Today.

Inspecting Commercial Fire Alarm Systems

Local authorities and insurance carriers require routine inspections of commercial fire alarm systems. As a business owner, you are responsible for scheduling and ensuring these inspections are carried out within the specified time frame. An inspection by a certified technician will give you confirmation that your system and all its components are in proper working condition. The technician will also make sure there has been no damage to your system or anything that would impair its operation. With each inspection, you should also compile documentation that the system and its components have been checked and found to be in proper working condition.

When to Schedule Commercial Fire Alarm System Inspection

Having a schedule for your inspections and following through with them is vital to catching problems before they become costly repairs. There are some components of a commercial fire alarm system that should be inspected monthly or even weekly, but full system checks should be scheduled quarterly, semiannually or at the very minimum annually. Check with your local authorities or insurance carrier as they may have time limits on the intervals between inspections.

Testing Your Commercial Fire Alarm System

Inspecting your commercial fire alarm system involves running operational tests to make sure the smoke detectors, batteries, and notification appliances are performing correctly. The sensitivity of the smoke detectors is verified, the audibility of the notification system is checked, and batteries are checked for corrosion and expiration date. When all the components and the full system has been checked and verified, you should receive a complete report from the technician stating all steps of inspection have been conducted.

Maintaining Your Commercial Fire Alarm System

It is easy to overlook maintenance of your commercial fire alarm system if you aren’t experiencing any difficulties with its operation. The problem with not performing routine maintenance of your system means there could be small issues developing that could turn into serious repairs. 1st Alarm Fire can discuss a maintenance schedule with you to keep your system in top working condition.

Put Your Trust in 1st Alarm, the most Reliable Commercial Fire Alarm System Design, Installation, Testing and Monitoring Company in your area – coast to coast – with new projects starting in Colorado

The team at 1st Alarm understands that you will have many burning questions on your mind when it comes time to choose the right commercial fire alarm system to protect your property. As a business owner, you know the importance of early fire detection and how it can save you from completely losing your property. 1st Alarm understands the importance as well and will be there for you 24/7 to ensure you are protected. We will also help you to create a fire safety policy for your employees to reduce injuries and prevent human loss should a fire occur. With 1st Alarm and an advanced commercial fire alarm system, you ensure your business is prepared adequately in the event a fire should happen in your business place.

1st Alarm’s ongoing, upcoming and completed Commercial Fire Alarm and low voltage application projects support businesses from coast to coast with some of our most recent projects supporting businesses in Colorado. Contact us to learn more about the myriad of ways our fire alarm monitoring can protect your business. We will be happy to answer your questions and help you determine the best systems and monitoring plan for your budget and operational needs.

1st Alarm is one of the biggest and best security companies in the region that specializes in both residential and commercial alarm systems as well as commercial fire alarm systems. We pride ourselves on buying local and hiring local whenever possible. We are committed to offering high quality, professional service with the utmost level of integrity. 1st Alarm is the best commercial fire alarm system company in your region as well. We have personnel trained and certified to meet your fire alarm system needs. To learn more about how our commercial fire alarm systems, commercial security systems or home security systems may be a great fit for you, Request a Quote online or give us a call at 800-276-5559.

Testing And Inspections Are Necessary To Ensure Your Commercial Fire Alarm System Functions Properly When Needed

The testing and inspection requirements for a commercial fire alarm system are set forth by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA-72). Testing does more than just allowing a business to stay in business. It ensures that your commercial fire alarm system will function properly when needed if and when a fire threat is present. NFPA standards establish regulations regarding each testing and inspection requirements for a commercial fire alarm system. 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. Perhaps just as important is the potential for property damage, personal injuries, or wrongful deaths.

Testing requirements for your commercial fire alarm system

For a commercial fire alarm system connected to a supervising station, testing must be performed for all of the fire alarm system functions, fuses, interfaces, lamps/LEDs, power supplies, and transponders on an annual basis. These testing requirements also include batteries, fiber-optic power cables, control units, and annunciators. For a commercial fire alarm system that is not connected to a supervising station, testing must be performed for the fire alarm system functions, fuses, interfaces, LEDs/lamps, power supplies including batteries and cables, and transponders on a quarterly basis.

Supervising station fire alarms must be tested monthly including the digital alarm communication receiver, digital alarm radio receiver, McCulloh system, two-way RF multiplex, radio alarm supervising station receiver, private microwave, and radio alarm repeater station receiver.

Inspection requirements for your commercial fire alarm system

Semi-annual inspections are required for radiant energy fire detectors, water flow devices, valve tamper switches, and batteries.

Put Your Trust in 1st Alarm, the most Reliable Commercial Fire Alarm System Design, Installation, Testing and Monitoring Company in your area – coast to coast – with new projects starting in Colorado

The Only Way To Ensure Your Commercial Fire Alarm System Is In Proper Working Order Is To Properly Accomplish Maintenance, Testing and Inspection

Maintenance

Don’t trust the maintenance of your commercial fire alarm system to inexperienced personnel. An untrained individual may overlook important details. Put your trust in knowledgeable and qualified service people to maintain your alarm system in a way that will protect your employees and building assets.

Testing

Prior to conducting fire alarm system testing make sure you notify your employees or others in the building. This will help to avoid confusion during a test as well as in an actual emergency. Don’t trust the testing of your commercial fire alarm system to anyone. Put your trust in knowledgeable and qualified service people to test your commercial fire alarm system in a way that will protect your employees and building assets.

Inspections

Your commercial fire alarm system should be inspected when it is installed and then at periodic and regular intervals as long as you have the system. Don’t trust these critical inspections to untrained personnel. Put your trust in knowledgeable and qualified service people to inspect your commercial fire alarm system in a way that will protect your employees and building assets.

Put Your Trust in 1st Alarm, the most Reliable Commercial Fire Alarm System Design, Installation, Testing and Monitoring Company in your area – coast to coast – with new projects starting in Colorado

Regular Testing Of Your Commercial Fire Alarm System Helps Ensure It Will Function Properly If And When It Is Needed

Regular testing of your commercial fire alarm system helps identify flaws and faults in the system to ensure that if a fire occurs, the system will function as designed. Commercial fire alarm systems are not flawless and over time parts can wear out, sensors can become blocked, and wires come loose. Regular testing is not only a good idea, it is required by law.

National Fire Protection Association Standards for testing and inspection

NFPA standards require business owners to conduct numerous tests and inspections of both monitored and unmonitored systems. For monitored systems, a weekly inspection of interfaces, LED’s, etc. Each quarter, the NFPA 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 inspected and cleaned to ensure that debris build up won’t prevent an alarm from triggering.

Regular testing and NFPA recommendations

In addition to regular testing requirements, the NFPA has issued a number of recommendations to business owners in regard to system maintenance and inspection. These include replacing lead-acid batteries at least once every five years or at such times when the batteries no longer hold a charge. Smoke detectors and heat sensors should be regularly cleaned, and cleaned with increasing frequency if dust/debris are present in the rooms where they are positioned. Likewise, these should be replaced at least once every 10 years.

Regular testing is a must

Fire alarm systems are a complicated arrangement of components. If even one component within this chain fails, it can cause a failure of the entire system. When that happens an otherwise controllable fire can rage and leave considerable destruction in its wake. Testing doesn’t take long to complete. A certified technician can complete the necessary tests and provide a detailed report to a business owner in a short amount of time.

Put Your Trust in 1st Alarm, the most Reliable Commercial Fire Alarm System Design, Installation, Testing and Monitoring Company in your area – coast to coast – with new projects starting in Colorado

Commercial Fire Alarm System Testing Is Critical To Ensuring Your System Functions As Designed

Commercial fire alarm systems are not flawless and over time parts can wear out, sensors can become blocked, and wires come loose. Regular commercial fire alarm system testing helps identify flaws and faults in the system to ensure that if a fire occurs, the alarm and fire suppression systems will function the way they are 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 inspected and cleaned to ensure that debris build up won’t prevent an alarm from triggering.

Adhering to Recommendations

The Importance of Testing

Fire alarm systems are a conglomeration of components. Each component is part of an integrated system of protection. If even one component within this chain fails, it can cause a failure of the entire system. When that happens an otherwise controllable fire can rage and leave considerable destruction in its wake. This puts lives, property, and the future of business in jeopardy. Moreover, if a subsequent investigation determines that a fire alarm system was improperly serviced and maintained, the insurance company may deny the claim which can leave the business owner on the hook for the cost of repairs and inventory replacement, and worse still, the cost of personal injuries, lost wages, and wrongful deaths that the fire caused.

Testing doesn’t take long to complete. A certified technician can complete the necessary tests and provide a detailed report to a business owner in a short amount of time. The process is not only fast, it is efficient and thorough which makes it easy for business owners to address minor issues before they become major problems. In the end, it is a wise investment of time that can protect a business from the devastating damage that fire can create.

Put Your Trust in 1st Alarm, the most Reliable Commercial Fire Alarm System Design, Installation, Testing and Monitoring Company in Texas

The 1st Alarm team understands your commercial fire alarm systems needs. 1st Alarm knows how to protect our clients from the dangers of fire and the damage it can cause. Our commercial fire alarm monitoring services protect businesses in Abilene, Amarillo, El Paso, Lubbock, Midland, San Angelo and Oklahoma City. Contact us to learn more about the myriad of ways our fire alarm monitoring can protect your business. We will be happy to answer your questions and help you determine the best systems and monitoring plan for your budget and operational needs.

1st Alarm is one of the biggest and best security companies in the region that specializes in both residential and commercial alarm systems as well as commercial fire alarm systems. Serving Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland / Odessa, El Paso, Abilene and San Angelo, we pride ourselves on buying local and hiring local whenever possible. We are committed to offering high quality, professional service with the utmost level of integrity. 1st Alarm is the best commercial fire alarm system company in our region as well. We have personnel trained and certified to meet your fire alarm system needs. To learn more about how our commercial fire alarm systems may be a great fit for your company, Request a Quote online or give us a call at 800-276-5559. You can even visit our office near you.

Commercial Fire Alarm System Testing And Maintenance Are Critical Measures To Ensure The Proper Operation Of Your Commercial Fire Alarm System

Commercial fire alarm systems must be regularly tested and professionally maintained. When these 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 regular tests and routine maintenance are a must.

Commercial Fire Alarm Systems Batteries

Commercial fire alarm systems batteries have a limited shelf life and operational lifespan which is often between 3-5 years. These tiny components are crucial for providing power in both regular operating mode and when power is cut-off to your commercial fire alarm system. Commercial fire alarm systems batteries should be tested while under load and should have sufficient charge to power the system under normal operation. While these 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.

Commercial Fire Alarm Systems Smoke Detectors

Commercial fire alarm systems smoke detectors collect dust and other debris that circulates through the air. Over time, this can build up on the sensors which can lead to failure to detect particulates from fires. This can delay the triggering of an alarm and lead to significant damage. The maintenance schedule for commercial fire alarm systems smoke detectors depends heavily on the environment within which they are placed and business owners should adhere to the recommended testing and cleaning schedule issued by the manufacturer. In settings where there are large amounts of dust and debris, business owners should follow an accelerated cleaning schedule. Further, cleaning procedures should also be adhered to in order to avoid damaging the sensors. Following cleaning, smoke detectors should be tested to ensure that everything is working as designed.

Commercial Fire Alarm Systems Thermal Detectors

Commercial fire alarm systems thermal elements are highly sensitive to variations in temperature. However, this sensitivity degrades over time. This degradation is most pronounced when ports become clogged which in turn reduces their sensitivity to heat. Whether it is a rate of rise detector or a fixed temperature sensor, it is not uncommon for local fire codes to require businesses to replace as many as 10% of these sensors each year to ensure the functionality of the system. Further, any sensor which has been activated by the application of heat should be replaced immediately.

Commercial Fire Alarm Systems Failures and Faults

Ground faults, relay failures, and notification failures associated with your commercial fire alarm system should be addressed immediately. Systems that are not properly grounded or those with malfunctioning relays and circuit boards leave a business exposed to the ravages a fire can cause. These problems should be thoroughly investigated and malfunctioning wires and components should be promptly replaced. Following replacement, the commercial fire alarm system should be thoroughly tested to ensure that there are no further electrical problems within the system.

Commercial Fire Alarm Systems Software Faults

The majority of commercial fire alarm systems require regular updates to both the software and firmware. Failing to install these updates can cause critical system failures. As such, it is important to install all recommended updates and test your commercial fire alarm systems once software and firmware updates are complete.

Put Your Trust in 1st Alarm, the most Reliable Commercial Fire Alarm System Design, Installation, Testing and Monitoring Company in Texas

1st Alarm is one of the biggest and best security companies in the region that specializes in both residential and commercial alarm systems as well as commercial fire alarm systems. Serving Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland / Odessa, El Paso, Abilene and San Angelo, we pride ourselves on buying local and hiring local whenever possible. We are committed to offering high quality, professional service with the utmost level of integrity. 1st Alarm is the best commercial fire alarm system company in our region as well. We have personnel trained and certified to meet your fire alarm system needs. To learn more about how our commercial fire alarm systems may be a great fit for your company, Request a Quote online or give us a call at 800-276-5559. You can even visit our office near you.

The 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 air to cool before it reaches the smoke and heat sensors. This means that a fire can burn and smolder for a longer time before it is detected which increases the likelihood of catastrophic damage. Regular maintenance and inspections ensure that the sensors are properly placed and remain set to the proper sensitivity to account for the height of the rooms they are supposed to protect.

Common commercial fire alarm systems problems

Other common commercial fire alarm systems problems include dead batteries, an insufficient number of smoke and heat detectors, improper programming of control panels, and electrical faults. In some cases, the annunciator may be damaged and won’t be able to convey a loud and clear message, or zoning can require changes that match the evolution of the business. Regular maintenance catches these problems before they can burn the business down. In most cases, the problems that are discovered are easily repaired by a trained technician equipped with the proper knowledge and tools to identify and repair everything from minor issues to major headaches.

Put Your Trust in 1st Alarm, the most Reliable Commercial Fire Alarm System Design, Installation, Testing and Monitoring Company in Texas

1st Alarm is one of the biggest and best security companies in the region that specializes in both residential and commercial alarm systems as well as commercial fire alarm systems. Serving Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland / Odessa, El Paso, Abilene and San Angelo, we pride ourselves on buying local and hiring local whenever possible. We are committed to offering high quality, professional service with the utmost level of integrity. 1st Alarm is the best commercial fire alarm system company in our region as well. We have personnel trained and certified to meet your fire alarm system needs. To learn more about how our commercial fire alarm systems may be a great fit for your company, Request a Quote online or give us a call at 800-276-5559. You can even visit our office near you.

Commercial 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, fire/gas detectors, heat detectors, radiant energy detectors, and smoke detectors. The code requires testing on all digital alarm transmitters, digital radio alarm transmitters, and McCulloh transmitters.

For a commercial fire alarm system that is not connected to a supervising station, businesses are required to test the functions, fuses, interfaces, LEDs/lamps, power supplies including batteries and cables, and transponders on a quarterly basis. Businesses are also required to test the supervisory signal devices and off premises transmission equipment.

Required Inspections

Semi-annual inspections are required for radiant energy fire detectors, waterflow devices, valve tamper switches, and batteries.

Business owners must inspect batteries including lead acid batteries and dry cell batteries. It is also crucial that supervising station fire alarms are tested monthly including the digital alarm communication receiver, digital alarm radio receiver, McCulloh system, two-way RF multiplex, radio alarm supervising station receiver, private microwave, and radio alarm repeater station receiver.

Put Your Trust in 1st Alarm, the most Reliable Commercial Fire Alarm System Design, Installation, Testing and Monitoring Company in Texas

1st Alarm is one of the biggest and best security companies in the region that specializes in both residential and commercial alarm systems as well as commercial fire alarm systems. Serving Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland / Odessa, El Paso, Abilene and San Angelo, we pride ourselves on buying local and hiring local whenever possible. We are committed to offering high quality, professional service with the utmost level of integrity. 1st Alarm is the best commercial fire alarm system company in our region as well. We have personnel trained and certified to meet your fire alarm system needs. To learn more about how our commercial fire alarm systems may be a great fit for your company, Request a Quote online or give us a call at 800-276-5559. You can even visit our office near you.

A 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 commercial fire alarm system

Inspection and testing are two different things. Make sure you notify your employees or others in the building that you are going to test the system. It’s a good idea to have a test plan documented so that individuals in the building understand the plan of action if there is indeed a fire. This will help to avoid confusion during a test as well as in an actual emergency. Don’t trust the testing of your alarm system to anyone. Instead, contact the commercial fire alarm system professionals at 1st Alarm.

Follow the guidelines

Many insurance companies will not pay out in case of a fire if the fire alarm system has not been properly maintained, inspected and tested. Make testing and maintenance part of your regular routine and your fire alarm systems will last for years and remain in good working order to help protect your business.

Put Your Trust in 1st Alarm, the most Reliable Commercial Fire Alarm System Design, Installation, Testing and Monitoring Company in Texas

1st Alarm is one of the biggest and best security companies in the region that specializes in both residential and commercial alarm systems as well as commercial fire alarm systems. Serving Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland / Odessa, El Paso, Abilene and San Angelo, we pride ourselves on buying local and hiring local whenever possible. We are committed to offering high quality, professional service with the utmost level of integrity. 1st Alarm is the best commercial fire alarm system company in our region as well. We have personnel trained and certified to meet your fire alarm system needs. To learn more about how our commercial fire alarm systems may be a great fit for your company, Request a Quote online or give us a call at 800-276-5559. You can even visit our office near you.