We have all, at some point, been in a business, restaurant, or other commercial building when a fire alarm goes off. Most of us do not think about how many steps are involved in the process of an alarm being triggered to alert emergency personnel, we just know that fire trucks and EMTs are on-scene within minutes. While this seems like a seamless process, there are many steps in between that are critical to the safety of everyone involved.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA, lighting equipment, and electrical distribution account for 24% of fires in commercial buildings, while heating accounted for 15% of fires in manufacturing facilities. Ensuring that all systems are in place and working together is critical for commercial fire alarm systems to save lives and property.
Main Functions of a Fire Alarm System
An effective fire alarm system has four main functions:
- Fire/smoke detection
- Alerts to occupants /li>
- Monitoring
- Controlling
Detection
In the event of a fire, different components of your commercial fire alarm system are tripped. Some of the components included in your fire alarm system are:
- Smoke detectors – smoke is detected as it rises
- Heat detectors – detect a drastic temperature change in the room
- Fire alarm control panel – includes the HVAC system shutdown, monitoring center, elevator recall, and output center
- Pull station – someone manually pulls the alarm to trigger the system
- Beam detectors – triggered when smoke obstructs the beam of light in an area being monitored
- Air sampling smoke detectors – sensors that detect any changes to the air’s chemical composition
- Duct Detectors – smoke detectors located within the heat and air conditioning ducts
Alerting Occupants and Emergency Services
Commercial fire alarm systems are programmed to alert the occupants of the building with professional monitoring and alert emergency services once an alarm is triggered. When an alarm is sounded within the building itself, integrated fire alarm systems can send out a message over an intercom alerting building occupants and instructing them to exit the building with audible evacuation instructions in addition to visual strobe alerts.
Monitoring
When triggered, your fire alarm system will send a signal to the 24/7 monitoring center, which then dispatches emergency services to your exact location. Modern, addressable commercial fire alarm systems can pinpoint the exact location of the fire for a much faster response from the fire department, EMTs, and police.
According to NFPA72, the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, commercial buildings must have a landline service that is connected to the fire panel used for monitoring. Your fire alarm system provider should ensure that your commercial fire alarm system meets the standards set forth by the NFPA.
Controlling the Fire
Once the monitoring center has notified authorities of a fire, a call is made to the location to verify the signal has been received and emergency services have been dispatched. Evacuation procedures help to lead people to safety and suppression systems like sprinklers can help to control a fire until first responders arrive.
Fire Alarm System Inspection
It is important to check with your county and the authority-having jurisdiction (AHJ) for accurate inspection requirements of your commercial fire alarm system. NFPA 72 requires annual inspections to ensure all components are still working properly.
Maintenance
You are required to ensure all components of your fire alarm system are in good working order by following the instructions set forth by the manufacturer. It is important to also consider your environment or any other circumstances that could affect the mechanical components of your fire alarm system.
Commercial Fire Alarm System Provider
High Rise Security Systems, HRSS, is a leader in commercial fire and life safety systems providing customized fire alarm systems to meet your needs. We offer quality UL-listed fire safety equipment and comprehensive services, including fire safety consultation, system design, testing, repairs, maintenance, and monitoring. HRSS provides peace of mind as saving lives and protecting your property are our main focus.
HRSS offers a team of certified and highly skilled fire and life safety experts that provide integrated security solutions for your commercial property. Allow us to work with you to fully customize and design your commercial fire safety system to meet your unique needs. Contact us to ensure that your fire alarm system meets the main functions of an all-systems-ready commercial fire alarm system.