Most people don’t think about their fire alarm system until it starts making a noise. That’s understandable, if there are no obvious problems, it’s easy to assume everything is fine.
The problem is that fire alarm faults aren’t always something you can see. A detector can become dirty, a battery can weaken or the system can develop a fault that isn’t obvious until it’s properly checked.
That’s why regular fire alarm system services matter. The idea is to find the small problems while they’re still small, rather than discovering an issue when the system is actually needed.
How Often Should a Fire Alarm System Be Serviced?
There isn’t one easy answer for every building. The required servicing frequency will depend on the type of system, the building it’s installed in and the relevant Australian requirements. AS 1851 sets out routine service requirements for fire protection systems, including inspection and testing of fire alarm equipment.
Different parts of the system can also have different testing requirements. Rather than assuming your alarm just needs an annual check, you should have a qualified fire protection contractor confirm what applies to your particular system.
What If the Panel Shows a Fault?
Don’t wait for the next scheduled service if your fire alarm panel starts displaying a fault.
The same goes for unexplained alarms, warning lights or damaged equipment. If something doesn’t look or sound right, it should be investigated.
This is important after work has been carried out in the building. A detector can be knocked, covered in dust or damaged while trades are working nearby, even if the rest of the system appears to be operating normally.
Renovations Can Change Things.
A building can change quite a bit over the years. You might remove a wall, add a partition, change the layout of an office or convert a space for a completely different purpose. Once that happens, the original fire alarm arrangement may no longer be appropriate for the space.
Even something as simple as a new ceiling or partition can affect detector placement. If you’re planning building work, you should have the fire alarm system looked at as part of the project rather than dealing with it afterwards.
What About a New Fire Alarm System?
The quality of a fire alarm system installation makes a difference to everything that follows.
Detectors, alarms, control panels and other components need to be positioned and installed correctly for the building. A warehouse, office, apartment building and industrial facility all have different considerations.
Once the installation is complete, the system needs to be tested and commissioned to make sure everything is communicating and operating properly.
After that, routine servicing keeps track of how the equipment performs as it gets older.
Professional Fire Alarm System Services
At Fire Master, we provide fire alarm system services to help businesses and property owners keep their systems maintained and ready to operate.
The important thing is to treat your fire alarm as working equipment, not something that can be forgotten once it’s installed. Get it checked at the appropriate intervals, deal with faults when they appear and review the system whenever the building changes.
If there’s ever a fire in your building, you’ll want to know the system has been properly looked after. Reach out to us today to see how we can help you stay safe and compliant.