Fire alarms are an integral part of any commercial building's fire safety system, and it is vital that fire alarms are appropriately maintained via rigorous fire alarm maintenance methods. Without correct fire alarm maintenance, the safety of the building and its occupants can be compromised.

Commercial buildings, in particular, are deemed a higher risk and require more fire alarm inspections per the Fire Risk Assessment.

Commercial fire alarm systems must be inspected by a qualified technician at least every six months. Quarterly inspections are recommended if you have a larger building or a complex fire safety system.

The BS5839-1 is the recommended code of practice for fire safety in the UK, and by having a qualified technician undertake your fire alarm maintenance, you can ensure that your building complies with this.

Logbooks are also a valuable tool in your fire alarm maintenance arsenal. By recording your regular testing, inspections and maintenance, you can protect yourself from any repercussions should a fire break out in your building.

Testing Your Fire Alarm

Testing your alarm is the first step of fire alarm maintenance. Scheduling a weekly fire alarm system test should be carried out to ensure that the system is functioning correctly and will alert building occupants in the event of a fire.

To test the fire detectors on the system, you can use a smoke detector tester or a carbon monoxide detector tester. A Guide on Detector Testing is available here.

Inspecting Your Fire Alarm System

Physically inspecting your fire alarm equipment as part of a fire alarm maintenance routine should be carried out just as regularly as testing the alarm system.

It is vital to check for:

• Any physical signs of wear and tear on call points, panels and detectors
• Loose connections or damaged wiring
• Damage to batteries
• Sensor blockages or any sensors that have shifted out of place
• Accessibility around the call points

By checking your alarm system regularly, you can uncover issues before they become a problem and put your building at risk.

Troubleshooting And Repairing Your Fire Alarm

If problems are found during the fire alarm maintenance routine, it is essential to troubleshoot and repair the issues as soon as possible.

Repair routines can consist of:

• Replacing batteries
• Rewiring
• Swapping out faulty components
• Adjusting and recalibrating system settings

As with your fire alarm maintenance, all repairs should be undertaken by a qualified fire safety professional.

Fire alarms are installed to save lives — if you don’t stay on top of your fire alarm maintenance and repair, then you can’t rely on them to protect you in the event of a fire.

At Johnson Controls, we understand that your commercial building may have complex needs when it comes to fire detection. That’s why we offer a range of fire detection solutions that will keep your building and occupants safe - take a look and get in touch with us using the form below.