If you own a business, you should have a commercial fire alarm system in place. This piece of fire safety equipment ensures that you, your employees, and your customers are safe. Plus, they’re usually required based upon your local AHJ ordinance.
Business owners often have similar questions regarding commercial fire alarms and how best to maintain them. This is an extremely important consideration as a fire alarm is only good if it is maintained and functioning properly. Therefore, it’s important to ask questions and get the answers you need about commercial fire alarm systems.
What Happens If You Don’t Ask and Get Answers About Your Fire Alarm System?
It’s important to ask any questions you may have about your commercial fire alarm system. After all, if you don’t know how your system works, you can’t properly respond if an alarm condition occurs in your building. You want to know every aspect of your fire system. Therefore, don’t be afraid to ask questions and get the information you need to protect your business and the people in it.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers to Each
To help you get started learning about the main aspects of your fire alarm system, here are the top five FAQs and the answers to each one:
Are the Fire Alarm and Smoke Detectors Connected?
The commercial fire alarm and smoke detectors can be connected. If the two are connected, when there’s smoke in the building, the fire alarm will sound. It’s important to note that central station monitoring will be alerted if your commercial fire alarm goes off and then the monitoring staff will alert the first responders.
How Often Should the Commercial Fire Alarm Be Inspected?
You should have your commercial fire alarm system tested and inspected based upon your local AHJ ordinance, building classification, and a minimum of once a year by a fire safety specialist.
What Does It Mean if My Fire Alarm Makes a Beeping Noise?
If your fire alarm beeps or chirps, it can mean the following:
- You first need to acknowledge the trouble on the panel.
- Identify the trouble condition from the display
- Contact your service provider to provide accurate information to help guide to the next steps.
What Does A Trouble Condition on the Commercial Fire Alarm System Mean?
Commercial fire alarm trouble codes mean many different things. If your commercial fire alarm shows a trouble code you should call a fire safety specialist to inspect the alarm and fix any issues that exist.
Do I Need a Fire Alarm and Sprinkler System?
Many new buildings have both a fire alarm system and a sprinkler system. Whether you need both depends on your local jurisdiction, classification of building, occupancy, and other factors. The sprinkler system protects the building structure while the fire alarm alerts the occupants to evacuate. Overall, both are necessary components to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the people in your building. And these features are often dictated by code. A local fire safety specialist can help you determine what life fire safety requirements are necessary for your building.