Learn about the importance of scheduling regular fire alarm testing.
Fire alarm testing is one of the most critical pieces of building maintenance for your business. Not only will regular fire alarm testing keep your facility in compliance with national and state laws, but it will protect your team members in case of an emergency. So, what exactly do you need to do to test your fire alarm system properly?
The Importance of Regular Fire Alarm Testing
Since every building must have fire alarms installed, making sure those systems are fully operational is imperative to your employee’s safety. After all, if there’s an issue with your fire alarm system, it’s best to know before an emergency! If you practice proper fire alarm testing, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that if a fire ever breaks out in your facility, your team will be appropriately alerted, and the sprinkler systems will work the way they should.
Ideal Schedule for Fire Alarm Testing & Inspection
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there are a variety of tasks that need to be completed on a rotating basis for proper fire alarm testing. A fire protection technician should come on-site to inspect your fire alarm systems at least annually. Still, in between, there are tasks you and your team can do weekly, monthly, and quarterly to ensure your fire alarms are working correctly.
Weekly
- Inspect all control equipment, like the power supply, lamps or LEDs, fuses, and interfaced equipment.
- Test any public fire alarm reporting system generators and test batteries in any fire detectors.
Monthly
- Inspect any batteries in your fire detectors for leaking or corroding, your digital alarm communication receiver, and any CO2 detectors you may have.
- Test any lead-acid batteries by performing a discharge and load-voltage test, any sealed lead-acid batteries, and perform a charger test and the discharge and load-voltage test.
- Test any signaling receivers and devices like:
- Two-way FR multiplex
- Radio alarm supervising station receiver (RASSR)
- Digital alarm communication receiver (DACR)
- Radio alarm repeater station receiver (RARSR)
- Digital alarm radio receiver (DARR)
Quarterly
- Inspect all signaling and water flow devices and any radiant energy fire detectors if you have them.
- Test all batteries, including Nickel-cadmium batteries and sealed lead-acid batteries.
- Test all signaling and initiating devices and any off-premises equipment for your fire alarm system.
Contact Chesapeake Sprinkler Company Today!
Chesapeake Sprinkler Company is a leading fire sprinkler contractor in the region, which is now a 100% employee-owned (ESOP) company. As a full-service fire protection company, we offer design, fabrication, installation, testing, maintenance, and inspection of fire protection systems. Everything you need from your fire suppression specialist.
For more information, please email or call our Odenton location at 410-674-7041, our Ashburn location at 703-729-5150, or for service/maintenance Chesapeake Protection Services at 410-674-7577. For emergencies, call 800-298-3473 (FIRE). Feel free to keep in touch through Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn!