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
Will CCTV Work Without Internet?
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) is a TV system where the signal isn’t publicly broadcast but is watched and monitored, usually for surveillance and security purposes. From city streets and highways to retail stores and banks, CCTV cameras are placed in most places to protect property and deter crime. Learn whether a commercial CCTV system can work…
What are the Components of a Security System?
Security systems can vary widely in size and scale: from simple home alarms and small business surveillance systems to commercial-grade intrusion and detection systems. One system could even be comprised of enterprise-level networks that stretch across multiple locations. Understanding the essential components of a security system is the best way to start your search for…
Fire Safety Procedures for the Workplace
The bad news—a fire breaks out in your workplace. The good news—you are ready because you have done your homework and prepared for the possibility of an emergency. Emergency Action Plan The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires most employers to have an emergency action plan for various scenarios, including fires in the workplace. There are…
Local Alarm System vs. National Home Security Company
When looking for home security, you may find yourself stuck between local alarm companies and national home security. Find out why more and more people are turning to local home security companies. Knowledge One of the biggest advantages of using a local company is that they will be familiar with local safety concerns, any jurisdiction regulations…
Why Are Fire Hydrants Different Colors?
The eye-catching colors of a fire hydrant are hard to miss, whether you’re walking through a city or driving around a neighborhood. What many don’t realize, however, is that these colors are integral in helping emergency responders identify and assess their available resources when preparing to fight a fire. Fire hydrant colors are distinct to…
Reasons to Choose a Local Security Company
Whether you’re considering investing in a home or commercial security system or switching providers, you may be weighing local and national companies. Which companies can you trust? Is there a difference in service between your options? Does a larger company necessarily mean better service? There are pros and cons to both sizes of company, but…
How Do Wireless Doorbells Work?
A doorbell is a pretty self-explanatory tool—you press the button outside, and a chime goes off inside, alerting the homeowner that someone is at the front door. Like everything else, though, today’s technology has brought even the humble doorbell into the limelight as an indispensable tool for convenience and security. Pros and Cons of Wireless…
How Video Doorbells Work
A video doorbell is a system that allows you to see who is ringing your doorbell by way of a video connection. If your video doorbell has a two-way audio system, you also can talk to the person at the front door, whether you’re home or not. How you connect your system and how you…
Where Should Fire Alarm Pull Stations Be Located?
While they generally go unnoticed until a moment of need, fire alarm pull stations are an integral part of a business or large residential building’s commercial fire system. What is a fire alarm pull station? As opposed to a smoke detector or sensor, human intervention activates a manual pull station and is the catalyst for setting…
What are the Different Kinds of Security Video Storage?
Security Video Recordings Storage How much storage does a security camera have? It is a seemingly simple question, with a surprisingly complicated answer. Security and surveillance cameras can use a variety of storage types, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. To choose the right security video storage for you, you will need to consider…