Why Commercial Fire Alarm Inspections Are so Important
There are a wide range of fire and life safety solutions for various commercial alarm systems whether a big box store, a grocer, restaurant, office building, manufacturer, warehouse, hotel, hospital, or school. Commercial fire alarm systems are designed to detect and notify occupants of various life threatening emergencies in addition to fire, such as smoke, gas, carbon monoxide poisoning, severe weather, and active shooters.
Commercial fire alarm testing is the only way to know that your fire alarm system will protect you when needed. Many commercial building fires are preventable, some are caused by human error or negligence. If your commercial fire alarm panel or system experiences a malfunction and fails to alert occupants or dispatch emergency personnel, dire consequences could result.
Addressable commercial fire alarm panels pinpoint exact locations of an emergency, either smoke, gas or fire. Something as minor as repairing a ground fault could lead to bigger issues and cause a fire alarm system to malfunction. Regular inspections are key to getting the most out of the investment of a fire and life safety system and are required by fire safety code regulations.
Commercial Fire Alarm Inspection Code Regulations
The requirements for testing and inspecting commercial building fire alarm systems are detailed in NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code®, Chapter 14. NFPA standards for quarterly, semi-annual and annual fire alarm inspections are universal although your commercial fire alarm inspection requirements may vary depending on your local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
NFPA 72, Chapter 14 covers the installation, performance, location, application, maintenance, records, testing and inspection requirements of fire alarm and emergency communication systems. Modern commercial fire alarm systems have the ability to monitor themselves and will signal trouble. A certified fire alarm inspection technician will be able to quickly identify the source of the problem to resolve it.
How Often Do I Need Commercial Fire Alarm Inspections?
How often your commercial fire alarm requires inspection is dependent upon several factors such as the type of business and operations at your location, the type of fire alarm system utilized and the rules enforced by your local AHJ. Companies should perform visual inspections of fire alarm system components regularly such as on a weekly schedule, with semi-annual visual inspections and annual functional commercial fire alarm testing performed by licensed fire alarm inspection technicians.
Professional Fire Alarm Testing
High Rise Security Systems, and SMG Security Holdings performs commercial fire alarm testing with licensed and experienced technicians to ensure all components are working properly. This includes all initiation devices including manual pull stations and smoke detectors as well as notification devices such as strobes and horns. All components tied into the fire alarm system should be considered such as elevators, fire doors, and emergency HVAC shutdown equipment.
Commercial Fire Alarm Inspections
Regular commercial fire alarm inspections ensure that systems are functional and will determine if a situation exists that would prevent the alarm from operating correctly. Regular fire alarm preventive maintenance and inspections will reveal any problems with installation in newer systems or other problems such as caused by humidity, corrosion, or voltage in older systems. HRSS/SMG ensures that all fire alarm system components operate correctly per NFPA 72 standard, inspecting and testing all system components and confirming communication to fire alarm control panels and dispatch. All sprinkler components such as water flow indicators and tamper switches are also inspected.
Benefits of Regular Fire Alarm Inspections
There are many benefits for conducting regular fire alarm inspections, beyond the obvious advantage of ensuring your system will perform as expected when needed. Following consistent commercial fire alarm inspections provides the following benefits:
- Helps companies to maintain compliance to all fire safety regulations including NFPA 72 and all local, city and state safety codes. Companies may encounter costly fines for noncompliance to fire and life safety codes.
- Helps to make sure your system is in “All system ready” mode. Regular inspections are required to make sure your equipment continues to function properly
- Fire alarm manufacturers recommend regular inspections by professional, certified and trained fire alarm technicians
- Property insurance coverage can require regular commercial fire alarm inspections
- Promotes a safer environment for all occupants and saves lives with early warning
- Can minimize the amount of property damage with quick response to fire
The most important benefit of regular commercial fire alarm testing and inspections are to provide a safer environment that saves lives. HRSS/SMG employs National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies, NICET, certified and field trained technicians with experience in all types of commercial fire alarm systems. We can help you determine the frequency of your commercial fire alarm testing and inspection requirements.
HRSS/SMG is recognized as a leading provider of commercial fire alarm systems in the Chicagoland area. We offer comprehensive fire and life safety services including system design, UL listed equipment, maintenance, upgrades, testing, inspections, and monitoring 24/7/365. Contact us to speak with a fire safety specialist about maintaining your system with professional commercial fire alarm inspections.