Smoke and fire alarms are critical safety devices that can prevent catastrophic losses of life and property by alerting individuals of fire situations in their buildings. The majority of occupied residential and nonresidential buildings have some sort of early alert smoke detection and/or fire alarm system installed.
However, simply having a fire alarm system installed in your company’s building or office space is not enough. As an employer and business owner, you are responsible for ensuring the safety of your employees, clients, customers, and assets through proper fire alarm maintenance and regular inspections.
In fact, OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration) has specific regulations regarding the installation and functionality of fire alarm systems in places of work or business: “[t]he employer shall assure that all employee alarm systems are maintained in operating condition except when undergoing repairs or maintenance.”
Ensure Commercial Fire Protection with Fire Alarm Testing
Fires in commercial and nonresidential buildings can be significantly more dangerous and devastating than residential fires for a number of reasons. Office buildings typically contain larger numbers of individuals inside, and the assets and property contained are also usually of higher value.
Therefore, commercial fire alarm systems are necessarily more complex than those installed in residential homes. For that reason alone, you should hire a qualified company to conduct your annual fire alarm test.
Why Have Your Business Fire Alarms Tested?
One of the biggest reasons that all commercial fire alarm systems should be inspected on a regular basis is the danger of simple wear and tear. Fire alarms are electronic, mechanical systems with components that can wear out and break down as time passes. Over time, even the top-of-the line, most efficient commercial fire alarm system will suffer from age-related weaknesses, such as wire faults, circuit board malfunctions, battery failure, water damage, and more. And if even just one part breaks, it can impact the effectiveness of the entire fire alarm system.
Hiring a licensed and knowledgeable inspector to conduct annual fire alarm testing ensures that your system will be thoroughly checked and certified for functionality. A high-quality fire alarm inspection will include an analysis of each detector, any sprinkler systems, all network panels, and the overall system interface.
Stay up to Code with Annual Fire Alarm Inspections
By law, businesses and offices are required to have annual fire inspections by the local fire marshal or fire department. Generally, these inspectors will look at not only your fire alarm system, but also any additional required safety measures (illuminated Exit signs, fire extinguishers, fire doors, etc.). They will also likely conduct a walk-through of your company’s premises to identify any potential fire or safety hazards, such as electrical/conductive equipment or storage of combustible or hazardous materials.
If your building or office space does not meet local code requirements, a warning or citation is issued. If, upon follow-up inspection, the issue has not been remedied, the fire marshal has the power to shut down the business to ensure the safety of employees and customers.
By hiring a professional licensed in commercial fire protection to evaluate your fire alarm system and make improvements or repairs as necessary, you can ensure that your building will pass government inspection as well.
A Non-Functional Fire Alarm is No Fire Alarm
Clearly, enlisting the services of a professional fire inspector to conduct a certified fire alarm inspection on your business or office building is critical to ensuring the safety of your employees, clients, customers, assets, and property. Because having a fire alarm that doesn’t work is just as dangerous as having no fire alarm at all.
Contact Customer 1st Communications today at 1-854-832-4212!
