Commercial Fire Alarm Installation: Protection For All Seasons
The U.S. Fire Administration estimates there were almost 90,000 non-residential building fires in 2010, which include business establishments, manufacturing facilities and other commercial properties. These fires caused nearly 1,400 injuries and 80 deaths, along with some $2.4 billion in financial losses. If your business deals with volatile substances, dangerous equipment or hazardous processes, your risk of fire could be even greater than average.
For any business owner–even those who don’t deal in volatile substances–the threat of fire is a significant ongoing concern. But, as any business owner knows, the monitoring options vary greatly.
If you’re looking for a new fire alarm system for your business–whether a small retail establishment or a large industrial facility–it’s important to find the best system for your needs. Look for commercial fire alarm installation, monitoring and maintenance services designed with the practical safety requirements of your business in mind. Basic monitoring systems are still fairly sophisticated; they will alert you remotely when your business has a power failure or if your company’s A/C is not working. And, of course, the system is constantly on alert for an emergency situation.
In-depth monitoring options range from remote testing–to make sure your system is working well–to monitoring of temperature, the presence of chlorine gas and other issues. The level of monitoring should depend on the type of business you have and the issues that could possibly arise.
Our best advice for companies who are evaluating their monitoring and alarm systems is to work with professionals who will take the time to customize a system. No shortcuts allowed.
Any commercial fire alarm installation expert you work with should take the time to help map out your company’s monitoring needs, carefully studying your unique circumstances and collaborating with technical professionals such as engineers, architects and electrical contractors to help ensure that your fire alarm system meets the National Fire Code 72, established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Beyond the commercial fire alarm installation, it’s imperative that your business work with provider who follows the NFPA 72 fire code to the letter. The law requires that businesses follow the fire code during installation and for ongoing maintenance. The code ensures that adequate maintenance and testing is performed periodically, enabling the fire monitoring system to function up to code and consistently. NFPA 72 calls for strict adherence to the standards outlined in the code, promoting expert installation and maintenance. Meeting its guidelines ensures that businesses also benefit from:
- Adhering to the laws established in the code
- Following the code so that any claims filed with insurance carriers are viable, since annual fire alarm inspections are a necessary component
- Limiting the business’ responsibility and liability should injuries occur on-premises
- Avoiding the costs related to false fire alarms, often charged by local fire municipalities to businesses who require repeated, unnecessary calls
The commercial fire alarm installation professional you work with should provide the code-required monitoring of the system and take care of all maintenance, testing and service required to keep your fire alarm system functioning at its peak level. Make sure that all required annual and quarterly inspections will be performed to maintain regulatory compliance. These inspections will include tasks like:
- Testing the panel and fuses
- Checking the charge of the panel battery
- Testing all strobes, bells and horns
- Testing the sensors on heat detectors
- Checking all smoke detectors, including batteries and sensors
- Testing batteries for load voltage, gravity and discharge
- Replacing batteries throughout the monitoring system as necessary
- Checking panel controls, including transponders and LEDs
Our goal is to help educate our customers about Plumbing, HVACR, Fire Protection and Alarm Systems in Mechanical, Commercial and Residential settings. For more information about commercial fire alarm installation and to view projects we’ve worked on, visit our website!
Image Credit: Peggy2012CREATIVELENZ