Commercial fire alarm systems are in place to perform two major roles, to detect fire and to alert occupants of an emergency with enough time to evacuate the premises.
What are the Most Common Causes of Commercial Fires in the U.S.?
According to an NFPA report Fire in Industrial or Manufacturing Properties, lighting equipment and electrical distribution was the leading cause of industrial structural fires at 24% of the total, with heating leading the cause of fire in manufacturing facilities with 15% of the total cause. For U.S. Structure Fires in Office Properties, 29% of those fires were caused by cooking equipment and when present, sprinklers operated and were effective 88% of the time. This highlights the importance of commercial fire alarm equipment operating when needed without problems.
What are the Most Common Problems with Commercial Fire Alarms?
Commercial properties house business from mom and pop restaurants to strip malls with hundreds to thousands of people present at any given moment, all relying on the effectiveness of the fire alarm and safety system on the premises. Visitors often do not give it another thought as they just assume that the property owner has ensured their safety. While this is most often the case, facility managers and building owners should be aware of the most common causes of problems with commercial fire alarm systems and take swift action to make repairs.
When facility managers notice a chirping or beeping noise coming from their fire alarm control panel, it is meant as an alert to tend to maintenance or repairs for reliable operation. This chirping noise can mean a number of common problems:
● Batteries need replacing – this is one of the most common problems with detection devices like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Batteries drain over time and may become insufficient to power the fire alarm system in backup mode. Batteries should be tested under load, and those measuring below 50% capacity should be replaced. Batteries that are loose or not inserted properly will also cause a common malfunction.
● Dirt or dust build up on detectors - dirt, dust and even bedbugs may collect inside the sensor chamber of detection devices. Occasionally check for dust build up and clean sensor covers especially in areas where there is a high percentage of airborne dust particles. Detectors in HVAC systems can also malfunction with excess dust accumulation, it is important to keep your HVAC system clean with regular filter maintenance.
● Environmental issues - too much humidity or smoke caused from non-fire related issues like manufacturing processes can put stress on commercial fire alarm system components.
● Ground faults – a ground fault occurs when an exposed wire has made contact with a metal grounded object or another electrical circuit which will affect the normal operating current, resistance, voltage and communication waveforms. While your fire alarm system may operate while in ground fault mode, this is not an error you want to ignore. Your fire alarm system may seem operational although is subject to internal electronic failure through no fault of the fire alarm equipment. Learn more about ground faults, Ground Fault: Your Fire Panel May Not Be Protected, and contact High Rise Security System for all your commercial fire alarm system maintenance and repairs.
These common commercial fire alarm problems are simple enough to repair with regular testing and maintenance a small amount of prevention which provides insurmountable protection against tragedy. If you experience any error codes or problems with your commercial fire alarm system, contact High Rise Security Systems for prompt and knowledgeable technical service.
High Rise Security Systems offers experienced commercial fire alarm system support including troubleshooting, testing, maintenance and repairs. We are a leading provider of commercial fire and safety system solutions in Illinois, with NICET certified technicians, CAD system design and UL listed equipment. Contact us for all your fire, life and safety system needs including any commercial fire alarm problems.
This article was originally published at: https://hrsschicago.com/commercial-fire-alarms/common-commercial-fire-alarm-problems/
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