Why should you consider fire alarm inspection from pros in your commercial building?

Posted by Fireserv on September 16th, 2022

In the event of a fire outbreak, early fire detection and warning are the key aspects for saving lives and protecting property. Installing a high-quality fire detection system in your building can considerably improve firefighting efforts. It is one of the most prudent measures and fundamental steps you can take to manage your fire threat. The best performance of your fire alarm systems can pinpoint the origin place of the fire and warn you on time so you can respond immediately to get out of danger. So, you should always be on the lookout for any visible signs or routine testing for the proper operation of your fire alarm system. If you discover any problems, you should contact emergency alarm services immediately. However, keeping your fire alarm system in good working order with routine fire alarm services can prevent a small fire from turning into a massive fire disaster. 

So keeping up with regularinspections is crucial, even if you have a busy schedule to protect lives and valuable possessions from fire hazards both in residential and commercial buildings. 

What to expect in a Commercial Fire Alarm Inspection?

Fire alarm inspection is vital for maintaining the safety of your employees, equipment, and important records from any fire hazard inside your business building. Therefore, timely and regular commercial fire alarm inspection from professionals is essential. But before engaging a reliable company for Fire Alarm Inspections, keep the following points in mind:

• Give responsibility to a designated company representative to help the technician to walk around the property and confirm the exact location of the equipment.
• Disable the fire alarm panel or put it into test mode. Failure to do so may result in the system contacting the fire department for a simple test. 
• The technician will begin the inspection with visual and audible tools or components only after a fire alarm is disabled. Also, warn everyone in your building that an alarm testing is scheduled, so they don't panic. Then, the technician can continue to inspect each pull station and detector for proper operation.

How long does an inspection take?

The commercial fire alarm inspection process revolves around the size of your business facility. If you have a small office, it may take as little as an hour, whereas the more extensive facilities with multiple buildings have complex systems, which may take up to a few days. 

Steps technician may follow for a fire inspection-

These fire inspections should be thorough and not hasty. Here are some critical methods and procedures to follow for proper fire alarm inspections:

• Test and adjust the fire alarm sensors – Flame and smoke detectors are mentioned in every manufacturer's blueprint. Hence, technicians must know about sensors and their re-installation requirements, failure modes, and testing needs.
• Reproduce inputs and test the annunciators – A licensed technician has a detailed knowledge of everything about the fire alarm system under examination.
• Set sensitivity properly – For this, technicians should have a complete understanding of the particular system, including fire detection speculations and the detailed application.
• Investigation to confirm the fire department services– an experienced technician should work with the fire department to investigate the input to their system, as it is a significant part of the fire control process.
• Verifying battery – The technician will verify the battery condition and expiration date and should take proper action if required.

Why do we need to engage experienced technicians for inspection?

Fire alarm systems have many complicated components and mechanisms that can go wrong, even if they seem simple. Any issue with a detector, pull station, or alarm panel may result in your system failing in the event of a fire emergency. Therefore, having your fire system inspected by certified professionals is vital for your building’s safety. 

Benefits of fire inspection- 

A fire alarm system is one of the essential life safety systems for your business. Some of the benefits why routine fire alarm inspection plays an integral part in your property maintenance –

• Save the lives of your employees – A combination of sensors to detect smoke and heat, besides sirens, can alert the occupants and give them ample time to evacuate the building in an orderly fashion. 
• Save your money –Many property insurance providers endeavor discounts if your company can provide proof of the inspection of a fire alarm system. 
• A legal requirement – As per state law, you have your fire protection system inspected twice annually. In addition, according to NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code, one needs to get a fire alarm system inspected and certified yearly. Also, annual fire alarm inspections and certifications must be done by a licensed technician with complete knowledge of fire alarm systems.
• Minimize property loss –Strobe lights and sirens alert the firefighters for the fire control process. A well-functional fire alarm system immediately notifies emergency alarm services, and fire trucks can be deployed to your location without wasting any time. The quicker the response, the sooner the fire will be extinguished, and the less damage may cause to your property.
• Help stop false alarms –Following the necessary inspection criteria for your business helps to enhance the fire alarm system and prevents false alarms. This is critical since certain fire departments may fine businesses after a certain number of false alarms.

So, Having a sound fire alarm system installed on your premises and its timely inspection can help you prevent a tragic incident. You should always contact reliable fire alarm services to engage experienced professionals to test and inspect your fire protection systems.