Fire alarm systems are a critical safety feature in any facility. The early warning provided by the fire alarm gives building occupants enough time to get to safety or mitigate the fire before extensive damage occurs. Naturally, regular fire alarm inspections and testing should never be overlooked if you wish to keep your building safe and compliant.

The good news is that at Fire Safety Solutions, we offer comprehensive fire alarm system services, from fire alarm installation to regular testing and ongoing maintenance. Below, we have outlined how fire alarm inspections are performed and why they should never be skipped.

What Is a Fire Alarm Inspection?

A fire alarm inspection involves a comprehensive evaluation of the fire alarm system to ensure that it is functional and fully compliant with relevant safety regulations. The inspection process involves examining various fire alarm system components, such as control panels, sensors, and warning devices, to make sure that the system will alert occupants in case of fire and enable timely response.

Why Are Fire Alarm Inspections Important?

Regular and timely fire alarm inspections are a key part of successful fire safety management and compliance. By working with fire safety professionals like Fire Safety Solutions to keep your fire alarms in tip-top shape at all times, you can:

• Verify system functionality. Conducting fire alarm inspections and checks at regular intervals will ensure that the system works as intended and will not malfunction in a critical moment.
• Detect issues early. Identifying potential issues before they turn into larger problems can minimize future repair costs, reduce the frequency of false alarms, and prevent system failures.
• Ensure compliance with safety regulations. The Ontario Fire Code requires fire alarm testing and inspections to be conducted at specific time intervals to ensure compliance.

How Often Should a Fire Alarm System Inspected?

The Ontario Fire Code requires that monthly and annual fire alarm system inspections be performed. This is done to ensure that this important equipment functions as intended in the event of a fire emergency, identifying the fire hazard early.

However, it is recommended to conduct visual fire alarm inspections more frequently. At Fire Safety Solutions, we recommend to stick with the following inspection schedule:

• Weekly inspections: visual review of alarm components, batteries, and control equipment
• Monthly test and inspections: more detailed inspection, including signaling device and battery testing
• Annual test and inspections: comprehensive system test, including all devices, circuits, and control units.

At Fire Safety Solutions, we follow several key steps to ensure the fire alarm system’s functionality and compliance with the Ontario Fire Code and ULC 536:

1. Visual inspection. We begin by examining all visible components of the fire alarm system and checking for signs of wear, damage, and tampering.
2. Functional testing. Next, we will activate the system components to check whether they operate properly. This may involve simulating real conditions using smoke or heat to ensure proper functioning in an actual fire event.
3. Control panel evaluation. The control panel is a critical component of the fire alarm system, so we will carefully check its display, functionality, and communication with other devices.
4. Battery check. We will test the battery to ensure it holds a charge and can be used as the system’s backup power supply in case of an outage.
5. Documentation and reporting. Finally, we will carefully document our findings, list identified issues, and make recommendations for actions and repairs. These reports are among the most important aspects of fire alarm inspections when it comes to compliance.

How Long Does a Fire Alarm Inspection Take?

While weekly visual inspections don’t take long and can be performed by internal security or maintenance teams, detailed annual inspections must be left to professionals. Such inspections can last from a few hours to several weeks/months, depending on the size of your facility and the complexity of your fire alarm system.

Schedule Your Fire Alarm Inspection and Testing Now

When it comes to fire alarm system inspections and testing, hiring an industry professional you can trust is of the utmost importance. At Fire Safety Solutions, we have more than a decade of experience in fire alarm system installation, maintenance, and repair. We will be happy to conduct a detailed inspection of your fire alarm system and address any discovered issues in a timely manner. Get in touch with us today for more information.