5 Reasons To Ensure Your Fire Alarm System Is up to Date

Fire can be incredibly destructive to both commercial and private properties. It can spread quickly, causing damage to a business, the building, and all of the company’s equipment and data. If there are no replacements, insurance, or backups available, then it could potentially spell the untimely death of a company. In some cases, it could even lead to staff fatalities.

State-of-the-art fire alarm systems can help give peace of mind to you and your staff. If there is ever a fire, you can be sure that your alarm system will detect it and automatically contact the relevant emergency services to deal with it. It’s also important for businesses and private property owners to maintain these fire alarm systems to ensure they are working correctly at all times. Failing to do so can lead to catastrophic damage to your property should a fire start and spread unnoticed.

1. It’s required by law to update your fire alarm system

According to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, you are legally required to inspect and maintain fire safety equipment in your business or private property on a regular basis. If you breach any of these regulations, then there can be costly consequences to deal with. You can be severely punished for ignoring this, so it’s worth your time to update and maintain your fire alarm system with the help of a professional service.

2. It detects potential faults that could hinder its effectiveness

Fire alarms can fail just like any other piece of equipment. Fire alarms can degrade over time due to their age, but they can also be affected by dust and water entering the housing of the alarms and related systems. Poor treatment of the fire alarm and other safety equipment can also become an issue, and rodents may also chew on wires which breaks the connection between the components of your fire safety system.

As such, there are a lot of things that can go wrong and it’s vital that you keep your fire alarm systems updated and well-maintained.

3. It prevents the possibility of false alarms

Since alarms can degrade over time, it’s possible for an alarm to trigger by accident. A false fire alarm alert can be extremely inconvenient but also costly if it happens to a business. If an entire business property needs to be evacuated, then it could lead to several hours of lost productivity which may translate into a huge income loss. By maintaining your fire alarms, you can prevent this from happening and ensure everything is in good condition to prevent them from accidentally being triggered.

4. A well-maintained fire alarm system can save money

While it may cost a bit to maintain your fire alarm system and keep it upgraded, it’s nothing compared to the damage that might occur if your system fails to detect a fire in your building. The potential loss of property, assets and even life could result in lost income and fines which will be far more expensive than a routine maintenance contract.

5. Fire alarm systems give peace of mind

When you and your staff know that your fire alarm system is well-maintained and works correctly, it drastically improves their peace of mind which means they can work without worrying about potential fires. This is especially important in workplaces where fire hazards are common, such as a kitchen or a manufacturing plant.

How often should I test my fire alarms?

British Standards require that all fire alarm systems in commercial properties have to be tested on a weekly basis to ensure there are no failures or faults.

How often should I replace my fire alarm system?

On average, fire alarm systems should last a decade before they need to be replaced. However, this can vary depending on the products used and how they were installed.

Who can carry out tests on fire alarm systems?

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states that someone responsible and competent should be chosen to carry out fire alarm system testing. This person must be trained to do so and they must also record their testing. However, it’s also possible to contact a professional service to help with this instead.

What should I do if my fire alarm system fails?

If you have noticed a fire alarm system failure then it’s important to contact an electrical and fire alarm specialist such as MM Electrical. Ideally, the service should have emergency repair services available and also be NICEIC accredited for peace of mind.