Fire alarms are an essential part of a fire safety system in a commercial building, and when they work correctly, they can help save lives as well as reduce the risk of injury and severe damage. Consider the following tips to make sure that your fire alarm is always in good working order.
The law
The legal obligation around fire alarm maintenance is that it should be inspected by a qualified technician at least once every six months. For larger buildings with a more complex system, a quarterly inspection is recommended.
If you need help with setting up or maintaining a fire alarm system, find out what qualified personnel are operating in your area. For example, a search term like ‘fire alarms Northamptonshire’ would give you results such as firealarmsystems.co.uk/.
However, remember that the law sets the minimum, and there is plenty that you can do between inspections to keep your system in good working order.
Weekly tests
Schedule a weekly test of your fire alarm to make sure it is working correctly and will alert you in the event of a fire. To ensure all parts of the system are working, trigger the alarm at a different point each week.
Physical inspections
Even if the alarm is working well, check for visible signs of damage. These might be signs of wear and tear, loose wires, battery damage, or blocked sensors. You should also check the area around the alarms, particularly for anything that might restrict accessibility, as a perfectly working alarm is of no use if you cannot reach it.
Repairs
If necessary, carry out repairs. These should be done by a qualified fire safety professional. Repairs may involve changing batteries, replacing faulty components, rewiring, or recalibrating your system. If there are access issues, these should be reported and dealt with as a matter of urgency.
It is a good idea to keep a logbook that will record all tests and inspections, as well as the work done, to demonstrate that you have maintained the highest standards.