How Often Should You Inspect Your Fire Alarm System?
Everyone dreads the day when fire alarm systems are being tested because they are often loud and annoying. However, the importance of making sure your fire alarms are working properly outweighs the small distraction of lights and noise. Putting off a fire alarm inspection can be both risky and negligent for business owners as it puts both employees and property at risk.
Moreover, putting off inspections and testing may put you into contempt of your local regulations. It is your responsibility to make sure your fire alarms are in proper functioning order in your home, and that applies to your business as well.
New Equipment or Updates
The original test to check any new equipment in your business is referred to as Initial Acceptance Testing in NFPA 72, 14.4.1.1, and there are Reacceptance Tests outlined in NFPA 72, 14.4.1.2.
These tests will help you to make sure that your new equipment and systems are working. Even new equipment can experience issues or be set up improperly. When updates are made, you will need to double-check that all your equipment continues to communicate correctly. Problems can arise with updates if your equipment is old and not supported on new systems.
Visual Checks
At FSS Technologies, we recommend you do routine visual system checks monthly to ensure that your smoke detectors are functioning, emergency doors are clear from obstructions, and your alarm system notifications are working. These tests can be done quickly and outside working hours, so they do not interrupt your team’s work.
These visual checks include looking for obstructions in front of your doors, obvious cracks or issues with lights or equipment. You should also make sure that none of the warning system lights are on for any of your control panels or equipment.
Quarterly Inspections
You should be doing a thorough inspection of your entire fire alarm system every quarter. These quarterly tests should include cleaning the dust that can accumulate around the sensors of the smoke detectors. Dust and debris on smoke detectors can make them less efficient at detecting a fire.
These detailed inspections should include a visual check of your batteries for corrosion and review the connections or any wires that might be out of place.
During your thorough check, you should refer to NFPA 72, Chapter 14, for more details. Your local jurisdiction might have different requirements that you need to adhere to as well.
Testing
Functional testing is essential as well because visual checks cannot show you any technical problems with your system. This kind of testing is done by professionals to ensure that your fire system and detection devices are working. A professional team will test everything from your system’s alarms to the connection between your system and the monitoring system (if you have one).
FSS Technologies conducts fire alarm testing to ensure that your equipment is functioning and meets the appropriate standards for your local jurisdiction. Our experts will check each piece of the warning system, from sound alarms to strobe lights, as well as the different elements of the control panel. For FSS Technologies customers, we will be able to seamlessly communicate with our monitoring team to ensure the systems are synced.
If you want to get started with a new fire monitoring system or are looking for a professional inspector, contact your local security pros at FSS Technologies.
Explore Our Other Blogs
What to Do if Someone Breaks into Your House
Arriving home to find that your home has been burglarized is one of the worst feelings someone can have. You’re left feeling raw, vulnerable, and angry. In this time of high stress, it may be hard to put your thoughts together to remember everything that now needs to be done. We have put together a list…
Is the Use of CCTV Cameras in the Workplace Illegal?
Know the Law Business owners are responsible for the security and well-being of their employees and company property. Many companies use technology such as cameras, motion detectors, and other tools to keep an eye on their building or cash areas. Many new businesses and employees may be wondering: Are CCTV cameras illegal in the workplace? Let’s…
Holiday Safety Tips for Homes and Businesses
With the holiday season right around the corner, burglars are on the lookout for unguarded homes or businesses to prey on. Unlike the Grinch, holiday robbers don’t often have a heart that grows three sizes, making it more important than ever to protect your valuables and your loved ones. Our security experts have come up…
What are Fire Ratings?
Any business owner would be devastated by a fire, and most turn to fire safety systems for preventative and protective solutions. Still, many are unaware that their building’s materials can directly influence how a fire impacts their building’s structure. In addition to investing in a comprehensive fire safety system, it is critical to consider the…
Can You Get a Discount on Home Insurance if You Have a Security System?
Home invasions or burglaries are a threat to any household, regardless of where they are located. One of the biggest deterrents for burglars is a home security system that could record evidence of their actions or could notify the authorities at the time of a break-in. This is a huge motivator for homeowners when deciding…
How to Choose a Security Monitoring Company
A security monitoring company is one that specializes in monitoring your alarm system. If the system detects an issue, such as a fire, break-in, or another emergency, it notifies a response team at the central monitoring agency, and sometimes, it will even inform emergency responders such as police or firefighters. Most reputable monitoring companies can…
The Only SimpliSafe Review You Need to Read
What is SimpliSafe? SimpliSafe is one of several do-it-yourself home security systems on the market. The challenge with any DIY home security system, in our opinion, comes down to the customer experience. SimpliSafe’s customer support offers minimal assistance to ensure you adequately install and troubleshoot your system. While they do provide an 800-telephone number, the…
5 Reasons Why You Need a Home Security System
A home security system protects your home and the ones you love. While there are many reasons you may need to invest in a home security system, we have highlighted some key ones: 1. Peace of Mind Have you heard a noise in the night and ever wondered what made the noise? A home security…
Code Requirements for Commercial Fire Alarms
The International Code Council The purpose of commercial property is for business or retail use, and the International Code Council (ICC) is a nonprofit association that develops model codes and standards used worldwide to construct safe, sustainable, affordable, and resilient structures. The fire codes vary depending on the type of business you run. For example,…
How Burglars Break In and Where to Secure Your Home
When a burglar considers your home as a potential target, here are some of the things he or she is looking for. Easy Access An intruder doesn’t want to get caught and needs to have an easy escape. There’s not a more easily accessible entry point at your home than an unlocked door, and most…