How Often Do Schools Need to Check Fire Alarms?

Whether you’re a small private academy, charter school or large public university, a fire can cause extensive damage — and lead to death. As an educational institution, you are responsible for more than just academics. You are also responsible for the health and safety of all your students and staff.

Because a fire can happen anywhere and at any time, it’s crucial to have a fire plan in place to protect everyone at your school. With proper training and the right fire alarm and sprinkler systems, you can experience peace of mind knowing you can minimize fire threats and be alerted if a fire starts on the property.

Understanding Fire Alarm Regulations in Schools

When it comes to fire alarms for schools, there are certain regulations you need to make sure you’re following to keep students and faculty safe and in compliance.

Overview of School Fire Safety Protocols

A fire can break out in the school cafeteria from a cooking accident or in the science lab from an experiment gone wrong. No matter how or where the fire originates, though, it’s important to adhere to fire safety policies. Even a small spark or flame can quickly become a real threat to the entire school.

Having fire safety policies in place will keep the entire school on the same page. Everyone will know what’s expected when it comes to minimizing cooking hazards to knowing how hazardous materials should be labeled, handled and stored.

Code Requirements and Compliance

While installing fire sprinkler systems or adding fire extinguishers throughout the campus is a great first step, schools need to make sure they are following both local and national fire safety codes. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards outline the different system requirements and inspections that your school will need to follow.

Depending on where the school is located, local fire codes will also need to be considered. Different school levels have their own safety compliance regulations, so staying up-to-date on any changes is crucial.

Inspection Frequency and Maintenance Strategies

Regularly inspecting and scheduling fire alarm maintenance services ensures your system stays fully functional year-round. To keep everything safe and secure, you can incorporate several best practices and strategies into your maintenance plan.

How Often Should Fire Alarms Be Checked?

Once your fire alarm system is installed, you don’t just want to leave it alone. Even if you have a high-quality, reliable system, it’s a good idea to perform monthly checks to make sure there are no visible issues or damage.

As part of your fire alarm maintenance plan, you should also schedule annual professional inspections. During these inspections, a professional will look for potential issues and make any necessary repairs.

Scheduled Inspections and Record Keeping

Once a professional has looked at various components — from the smoke detectors to the alarms to the sprinklers — to make sure everything is in good working order, they’ll make note of everything they’ve inspected. They’ll keep track of all the components that have been tested and any repair work that they completed while they were out.

Maintaining fire alarm inspection records is an important part of staying on top of potential issues and keeping your system operating at peak performance throughout the year.

Equipment and Preventive Maintenance

Depending on your fire safety needs and goals, there are several different types of equipment you can use to keep your school safe, including:

Fire alarms: With fire alarm systems designed especially for commercial properties, you can feel confident knowing your entire school will be monitored. Whether you opt for a traditional system or a wireless system, you can take advantage of benefits like 24/7 monitoring to keep the entire property protected while class is in session and out.
Fire extinguishers: Having fire extinguishers in convenient locations throughout your school ensures you have a way to quickly stop a fire and keep it from spreading. Because different types of fires require different classes of fire extinguishers, ensure you have the right ones in areas like the kitchens, science labs and electrical rooms.
Sprinkler systems: Especially in large buildings like schools, a sprinkler system can quickly spring into action and help keep a fire under control until the fire department arrives. Sprinkler systems are designed with sensors that detect fires, which then start the flow of water to stop the fire.

No matter what type of fire equipment you install, it’s crucial to keep up with preventive maintenance. Having a fire maintenance plan ensures it operates reliably throughout the year. Your system should be inspected, cleaned and tested by a professional to ensure everything is working as it should. These routine maintenance tasks also help extend the life span of your system, protecting your investment for many years to come.

Alarm Testing Protocols and Emergency Preparedness

Even with the best system in place, you should ensure that you have alarm testing protocols and an emergency preparedness plan.

Fire Safety Check and Inspection Procedures

Depending on the type of alarm you have installed in your school, the inspection process could look different. The main focus of the inspection will be on making sure everything is in good working order and in compliance with the NFPA standards.

There are different testing protocols for various types of alarms, which is why it’s important to work with a professional company that can review all the components and systems. A fire system inspection company will likely conduct a thorough inspection of all of the different parts, including:

Disconnect switches
Power supply
Control unit
Fuses

Preparing for Emergencies

Especially in a school setting, you need to develop and practice evacuation plans. In the event a fire breaks out, the large number of students and faculty attempting to flee the building at once can quickly become chaotic. Having a clear plan ahead of time helps ensure that everyone is able to leave the building in a more orderly fashion, keeping as many people as possible safe.

Having regular fire safety training for school staff will help evacuations run more smoothly because there will be set individuals overseeing the process. You’ll increase the chances of saving lives when you have a set plan in place for emergency situations.

Partner With an Industry-Leading Fire Service Company in Arizona

The safety of students at schools is just as important as the quality of the education and extracurricular activities. Regularly inspecting your fire alarms ensures students and faculty stay protected throughout the school year and can thrive academically in a safe environment.

Partnering with an industry-leading fire service company like Titan Alarm & Fire allows you to experience peace of mind knowing your school is protected with an advanced fire alarm system. As a locally owned and operated full-service business, we are committed to learning more about your needs and developing a customized system that works best for you and your community.

With our free consultations, it’s never been easier to learn more about our fully automated systems. Contact us today to schedule an inspection and get started.