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
How Much Data Does a Wifi Security Camera Use?
Internet Speed Bandwidth Internet bandwidth is a significant issue nowadays. Everything is tapping into the internet— from our phones to our refrigerators. If you’re installing internet protocol (IP) security cameras, they will inevitably use some of the bandwidth from your network. The question is, how much? When you purchase home internet service, you typically get…
Who Owns ADT Alarm Systems After Install?
You’ve paid to have an alarm system installed in your home. Do you own the equipment? Most likely, but not yet if you contracted with a big-box home security company like ADT. Payment Plans for Equipment Most people sign up on special offers in which they will pay an installation fee for the equipment, but…
How to Deter Burglars
While owning a home security system automatically decreases your chances of being burglarized, there are many common mistakes and oversights that can compromise its reliability. Here are the most important safety precautions you can take in conjunction with your security system to ensure your home is safe from thieves. Create the Illusion that Someone is…
How Commercial Security Monitoring Benefits Your Business During Quarantine
Instating work from home policies to protect your employees and help to stop the potential spread of COVID-19 is one step that organizations are taking to keep their company safe. But, with all your employees at home, how can you protect the other assets that make up your business? Regardless of the type of company…
What to Do After a Break In
No one ever wants to be victimized by a burglar, but the fact is that many will encounter a theft or break-in at some point in their lifetime. A recent study by Bankrate shows that there are over 1 million burglaries in the United States each year, with a new burglary happening approximately every 26…
Tips to Prevent Your Security System from Being Hacked
The Risky Business of Ring’s Vulnerable Security and other DIY security systems can leave your home as a potential target for hackers or thieves. When you are investing in a security system, you are hoping for peace of mind, and you are trusting this technology with your safety and property. Have I Been Hacked? A hacker may…
What are the NFPA Standards for Commercial Fire Protection?
Fire protection is highly regulated and technically complex. Commercial fires cause billions in property damage each year and pose serious risks to life, property, and legal liability. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) establishes standards to ensure businesses implement proper systems to prevent these outcomes. As fire protection technology evolves, so do the NFPA’s requirements….
Why Night Staff Should Have Fire Alarm Training
In the years that I traveled as a Sales Representative, I experienced many times when a fire alarm would go off throughout the night. As the hotel guests evacuated, I often found that the night staff didn’t know what to do. In almost every case, it was an accidental alarm, and in many cases, night…
Hard-Wired vs Wireless Security Systems
The chicken or the egg. Not asking which came first in this case, just which one you like better. In the world of security systems, which came first between wired and wireless was answered long ago. But the question of which is better remains. Let’s start with a quick overview of how each of these…
Advantages of Having an Alarm System
There are a lot of advantages to having an alarm system. For starters, the National Council for Home Safety and Security says that homes without an alarm system are three times as likely to get burglarized. 3 Benefits of Alarm Systems Peace of mind Protecting your home from intruders is one of the most common…