How To Properly Install a Fire Alarm System
Elements of a properly executed fire alarm installation include:
- Easy control panel accessibility: The control panel serves as the “nerve center” of the alarm system. It contains all essential programming and operating electronics, and it’s also where the user will monitor system status and make any necessary adjustments.
- As a result, the control panel should be installed in a central location that enables fast, easy access and also provides maximum coverage. In a commercial or industrial facility, this could be a maintenance area or the main office. In a residential structure, the ideal spot is inside the main entrance or possibly in a bedroom hallway.
- Complete the telephone tie after wiring of all initiating devices is complete: If your alarm system uses a telephone line to transmit signals to a central monitoring system, the installer should avoid making the phone line connection until the wiring of all initiating devices, such as smoke detectors and sprinkler water flow sensors, has been completed.
- This will prevent the receipt of false alarms at the monitoring station and the unnecessary dispatching of fire department personnel and other first responders.
- Proper smoke alarm installation: Smoke alarms are a critical component of a fire alarm system. They provide the early fire and smoke detection capabilities that can make the difference between life and death. The NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code requires the use of smoke alarms and detectors in homes and businesses throughout the USA.
Smoke detectors should be installed in all levels of a residential or commercial structure. In homes, they should be installed in bedrooms and outside sleeping areas, as well as in kitchens, attics, basements and garages.
Specific smoke detector installation guidelines include placing them as high as possible on walls and ceilings — they should be no more than 12 inches away from a ceiling, and no more than three feet from the peak of a pitched ceiling. In a basement, install the smoke alarm on the ceiling, at the bottom of a stairway that leads to the next level.
Ask your installer to interconnect the smoke alarms. When one smoke detector sounds, it will trigger the sounding of the other detectors.
Titan Alarm Inc.: The Fire Alarm System Installation Professionals in Arizona
A new fire alarm system for a home or business should include a custom system design followed by a professional installation. While you could attempt to install the system yourself, this is not generally recommended unless you have previous installation experience.
An installation performed by a reputable alarm system provider (which is often the same company that designed your system) will ensure the alarm will function properly and safely. A professional installation is also more likely to comply with the applicable building/electrical codes in your local area.
