Dashpivot Article – How Often Should a Fire Alarm be Inspected?

How Often Should a Fire Alarm be Inspected?

Why Is It Important to Know How Often Should a Fire Alarm Be Inspected?

Understanding how often a fire alarm should be inspected is vital for maintaining a safe work environment. These systems serve as the first line of defense in the event of a fire, alerting individuals to danger and enabling a timely evacuation. In workplaces where the risk is compounded by the nature of activities and materials present, such as those involving complex machinery or large-scale construction, the integrity of fire alarm systems is non-negotiable.

The primary goal of regular inspections is to ensure the system's functionality is uncompromised. Over time, components can degrade due to environmental factors or wear and tear, potentially leading to system failures. Regular inspections identify and rectify such issues before they can impact the system's operation.

Moreover, adherence to legal standards and regulations is a critical aspect of fire alarm inspections. These standards are in place to ensure that all preventive measures meet a certain criterion, providing a baseline of safety that can be relied upon. Failure to comply poses a risk to safety and also subjects entities such as companies to legal repercussions.

How Often Should a Fire Alarm Be Inspected?

The frequency of fire alarm inspections is not uniform. It can differ depending on various factors, including local regulations, the type of environment, and the specific risks present. Given the wide range of regulations that exist from one region to another, it's challenging to provide a one-size-fits-all answer. This section will instead examine the inspection frequencies recommended in regions known for their comprehensive fire safety regulations.

How Often Should a Fire Alarm be Inspected in the United States?

In the United States, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) sets the standards for fire alarm system inspection, testing, and maintenance. According to NFPA 72, the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, the guidelines for how often a fire alarm should be inspected are precise and designed to ensure the utmost safety and efficiency of these critical systems.

Fire alarm systems should undergo various inspections and tests at different intervals, ranging from daily and weekly visual inspections by the property's staff to more comprehensive annual and semi-annual inspections by qualified professionals. For instance, the NFPA 72 requires that:

Weekly and Monthly Inspections: Certain components, such as control equipment and power supplies, need visual checks to verify they are in good working order and that there are no obvious signs of trouble or degradation.
Semi-annual Inspections: More detailed inspections are carried out every six months, focusing on voice communication equipment for functionality and intelligibility.
Annual Inspections: A comprehensive inspection of the entire fire alarm system is mandatory every year. This includes testing all devices, such as smoke detectors, heat detectors, manual pull stations, audible and visible alarms, and control panels, to ensure they function correctly.

Additionally, the NFPA 72 outlines specific requirements for the maintenance and testing of fire alarm systems, emphasizing the need for these systems to be fully operational at all times.

How Often Should a Fire Alarm be Inspected in Australia?

In Australia, the inspection frequency for fire alarm systems is guided by the Australian Standard AS1851-2012, "Routine service of fire protection systems and equipment." This standard specifies the requirements for the routine servicing of fire protection systems and equipment to ensure they remain capable of operating to their designed performance standards. The standard is meticulous in detailing the service activities necessary for a range of fire protection systems, including fire alarm systems.

For fire alarm systems, AS1851-2012 outlines that:

Monthly Inspections: Fire alarm systems require certain components to be checked monthly. This includes ensuring that all visual indicators are functioning correctly and that there is no physical damage to components such as manual call points and detectors.
Annual Inspections: The most comprehensive inspection occurs annually, involving a full check of the entire system. This includes testing all detectors for operation and sensitivity, ensuring all audible and visual warning devices are working, verifying the battery backup systems, and checking the control panel for any faults.

How Often Should a Fire Alarm be Inspected in the United KIngdom?

In the United Kingdom, the benchmark for fire alarm system inspection and maintenance is outlined in the British Standard BS 5839-1:2019. This comprehensive document provides recommendations for the planning, design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in non-domestic premises. It plays a critical role in ensuring that fire alarm systems are reliable, effective, and capable of providing early warning in the event of a fire.

According to BS 5839-1:2019:

Weekly Tests: The standard recommends that a manual call point should be tested weekly to ensure the system's functionality. This test should be conducted using a different call point each time, so all call points are tested over a specified period.
Monthly Inspections: For systems with automatic fire detectors, visual inspections should be carried out monthly to check for any obstructions or damage that could impair the detector's function.
Annual Inspections: A comprehensive inspection and test of the entire fire alarm system should be conducted annually by a competent person. This includes testing all components, such as fire detectors, call points, sounders, and control panels, to ensure they operate correctly and meet the system's design specifications.

BS 5839-1:2019 emphasizes the importance of maintaining detailed records of all tests, inspections, and maintenance activities. These records provide valuable documentation of the system's history and ensure compliance with legal and insurance requirements.

How Often Should a Fire Alarm be Inspected in Canada?

In Canada, the standard governing the inspection and testing of fire alarm systems is CAN/ULC-S536, "Inspection and Testing of Fire Alarm Systems." This standard specifies the procedures necessary to ensure fire alarm systems are functioning correctly and can reliably alert occupants in the event of a fire. It covers the comprehensive maintenance and inspection schedule required to uphold the operational integrity of these systems.

Key aspects of the CAN/ULC-S536 standard include:

Monthly Inspections: Fire alarm systems need a visual inspection every month. This routine check involves verifying the operational status of control panels, power supplies, and ensuring there are no visible faults with devices such as manual pull stations, audible warning devices, and visual indicators.
Annual Inspections: The standard mandates a thorough inspection and testing of the entire fire alarm system once a year. This critical evaluation involves testing all system components, including fire detection devices, control equipment, signaling devices, and battery backup systems, to ensure they perform as designed.

These standards and codes have a degree of legal enforcement in their applicable regions, However they provide the inspection intervals primarily as guidelines. Other local and state legislation and regulations may mandate more frequent inspection intervals than those contained in the standard or code.

How do I Perform a Fire Alarm Inspection?

Conducting a fire alarm inspection is crucial to ensuring the safety and readiness of your fire alarm system. Ideally you should use a structured checklist that provides a comprehensive guide to thoroughly evaluate every component of the system. Here's how to conduct your inspection:

1. Visual Inspection

Access and Condition of Control Panel: Ensure the fire alarm control panel is easily accessible for emergency personnel and is not obstructed. Check that the panel is in a normal operational state, with no supervisory or trouble signals displayed.
Manual Pull Boxes: Verify that manual pull boxes are not obstructed and are easily accessible. These should be in a good state, without visible damage.
Detectors: Smoke and heat detectors must be unobstructed and securely mounted. Inspect for any physical damage or signs that might impair their functionality.
HVAC Duct Detection Systems: Confirm these are unobstructed and securely in place, as they play a vital role in detecting smoke within HVAC systems.
Notification Devices: Ensure that audible and visual notification devices are unobstructed and securely in place. These are critical for alerting occupants in the event of a fire.
Integrated Equipment: Check that devices and control panels integrated with the fire protection and life safety systems are accessible and show no signs of supervisory or trouble conditions.

2. Functional Test

Manual Pull Stations: Test each station to confirm activation of the alarm system.
Smoke Detectors: Use approved test smoke or aerosol to ensure detectors function properly and respond to smoke as expected.
Heat Detectors: Apply a calibrated heat source to verify the operation of heat detectors.
Duct Smoke Detectors: Temporarily obstruct airflow to test if duct smoke detectors activate, ensuring they will function in a real scenario.
Notification Devices: Activate notification devices to check they produce both audible and visual alerts effectively.
Battery Inspection: Inspect battery voltage to confirm it falls within the acceptable range and that connections are proper. Verify battery capacity and expiration dates for compliance, and test to ensure batteries can maintain a charge and power the system during an outage.
Communication Pathways: Test all communication pathways, including phone lines, cellular communicators, and internet connections, to guarantee connectivity to the monitoring station, if applicable.

After completing the inspection, document any faults found and specify the corrective actions required, along with identifying the person responsible for these actions. Photos and signatures should be included to validate the inspection process. This structured approach to fire alarm inspection ensures each critical component of your system is functioning correctly, maintaining the safety and security of your premises.

Here is an example of a fire alarm inspection that has been completed using a fire alarm inspection checklist:

Fire alarm inspection checklist template

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Perform better fire alarm inspections with free and customisable fire alarm inspection checklists

The fire alarm inspection checklist example above was completed using a fire alarm inspection checklist template. You should use it for your next fire alarm inspection, because it has several features that make it ideal for completing and documenting the process:

Comprehensive Coverage: The form includes both visual and functional checks, ensuring a thorough inspection of the fire alarm system.
Structured Layout: Its organized layout, divided into visual inspection and functional test sections, facilitates an easy-to-follow process for inspectors.
Clear Instructions: Each item on the checklist specifies exactly what needs to be inspected or tested, leaving little room for oversight or error.
Accountability Measures: The form requires the inspector’s name, inspection date, and location details, promoting accountability and traceability.
Fault Identification and Action Steps: It provides a dedicated section for noting any faults discovered during the inspection and outlines the actions required to address these issues, including assigning responsibility.
Verification and Documentation: Space for the inspector's signature and photo evidence attachment ensures the inspection’s validity and offers a comprehensive record of the inspection’s findings.
Adherence to Standards: By including checks for all critical components of the fire alarm system, the form supports compliance with safety regulations and standards.

Further improve your fire alarm inspection checklists with digital solutions

Using a standardised form for your fire alarm inspection checklists ensures that the correct information is captured with each inspection. However, each individual fire alarm requires its own checklist and there are typically multiple fire alarms in a single location.

If there are multiple locations, this creates a large volume of inspection checklists which can become difficult to manage and keep track of over time. Inspections may be overlooked when this happens.

Using a digital fire alarm inspection app provides an effective and scalable solution to this problem. With an application, you can create, complete, and access all your fire alarm inspections in just a few clicks. It works as well in the office on a desktop as it does on-site using a mobile or tablet.

This gives you complete visibility on all your fire inspection checklists at all times and ensures you can always determine when a fire alarm was last inspected. You can also set-up alerts to notify you and other users when a fire alarm is due for inspection as well.