What You to Need Know About Fire System Tests and Inspections
10/27/2016
If you’re a commercial building owner or manager, then you’re probably familiar with the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, otherwise known as NFPA 72. This code lists the most current safety provisions regarding the installation, performance and testing of fire alarm and detection systems in a business establishment.
Why Should You Have Your Fire Alarm Systems Inspected on a Regular Basis?
Some business owners and business managers may wonder why they need to make the effort and bear the expense of having their alarm systems inspected. Why test fire alarms? Why inspect fire extinguishers? Here are just a few of the many important reasons:
- It’s the law: Noncompliance with NFPA 72 can result in fines or imprisonment — or both.
- Protecting lives: The failure to maintain an effective, properly operating fire alarm and detection system places the lives of your employees and customers at risk.
- Complying with local fire codes: Regardless of where your establishment is located, NFPA 72 compliance is necessary to meet the requirements of fire and building inspectors.
- Limiting liability exposure: If an injury or fatality occurs due to a fire at your property, you could be held legally liable if it is determined you did not take appropriate steps to maintain NFPA 72 compliance.
- Rejection of insurance coverage: Per above, even if you have liability insurance coverage, your carrier is likely to reject your claim if you fail to provide adequate proof of an annual fire system inspection.
Fire System Inspection Checklist
To help building managers ensure compliance with fire system testing and inspection standards, the National Fire Prevention Association has developed an extensive checklist of items that require attention. Depending on the system component, it may require testing on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis. A total of 23 components are included on the current fire alarm testing checklist:
- Control equipment for buildings connected to supervising station
- Control equipment for buildings not connected to supervising station
- Engine driven generator — central station facilities and fire alarm systems
- Engine-driven generator — public fire alarm reporting system
- Batteries — central station facilities
- Batteries — fire alarm systems
- Batteries — public fire alarm reporting systems
- Fiber-optic cable power
- Control unit trouble signals
- Conductors — metallic
- Conductors — nonmetallic
- Emergency voice/alarm communications equipment
- Retransmission equipment
- Remote annunciators
- Initiating devices
- Guard’s tour equipment
- Interface equipment
- Special hazard equipment
- Alarm notification appliances
- Off-premises transmission equipment
- Supervising station fire alarm systems — transmitters
- Special procedures
- Supervising station fire alarm systems — receivers
Titan Alarm, Inc. Can Handle All Your Fire Alarm System Inspection and Testing Needs
It is critical your fire alarm system inspection is conducted by a reputable, professional company. In addition to installing high-quality alarm systems, Titan Alarm, Inc. can provide reliable inspection and testing services for businesses throughout the Phoenix, AZ area. Contact us for more detailed information regarding the items on the NFPA 72 fire system inspection checklist and to schedule an inspection at your facility today.
Learn More About Testing & Inspection
Updated by Titan Alarm on November 5, 2018.
