How to do a Fire Systems Inspection

Being proactive with checking your fire alarm and life safety systems can help you keep your building safe. Winter is the most common time for fires as the weather requires using heating equipment more than any other time of year. In your calendar, put a reminder to schedule a fire alarm system check.

Point Monitor can help ensure that your fire alarm systems are functioning properly to protect your staff and building. By code, fire alarm systems should be checked at least annually, in some cases requiring functional testing more frequently. By scheduling a professional inspection, you can ensure that all aspects of your fire systems are working properly.

• Fire Alarm Systems—Early detection of smoke can help ensure the safety of your staff and minimize damages by quickly alerting the central station. Giving your staff a heads up at the first sign of danger is the best chance of a safe evacuation.
• Fire Sprinklers—Functioning sprinklers will activate when fire is present to quickly address the danger. Sprinklers can halt fire damage and dramatically reduce the risk of injury or death if a fire occurs.
• Exit Lights—When a fire occurs, visibility can become a serious issue, preventing swift exit and causing people to become disoriented. Getting out of the building quickly will reduce the risk of injury and smoke inhalation. Having a fire evacuation plan already adopted is wise, but exit lights can help ensure that people are able to navigate in smoke-filled conditions.
• Emergency Response—Your fire systems need to have a quick response time to protect your staff and minimize damage to the building. During an inspection, we can verify functional readiness of each device and ensure that your central station communications are operating properly.
• Communication Systems—Especially in high rise or larger buildings, communication systems can be crucial when an emergency arises. Audible and visible notification devices throughout your building will alert occupants and help with the evacuation process, including in some occupancies having firefighters telephones, emergency radio signal boosters (DAS/BDA), voice evacuation messages and area of refuge two-way communication systems.

If your building is not adequately outfitted for a fire emergency, our team at Point Monitor can help. We build customized fire solutions to make sure that your building is complying with code and maximizing safety. Even if your system is sufficient, routine inspections are essential for ensuring your building is safe year-round.