Fire protection equipment installation is one of the most important features for the health and safety of any industry. So whether it is a residential building, a college dorm, or your house, fire protection is vital, inclusive of all the main deterrents. These may comprise fire alarm & detection systems, fire sprinklers, or fire hose reels in extinguishers for commercial buildings. However, simply having these kits installed and training your employees about their operations is not enough. Annual inspections are a must to ensure that these equipment perform their best when in need.
In the past decade, structural fires stemming from ignored areas of the buildings such as attics in the houses, basements, etc. have increased by 18%. As a result, automatic fire alarms and smoke detection systems have also been upgraded and designed with better notification systems. So, when the fire alarm sets off, it notifies the fire department immediately to ensure maximum occupant and property safety and damage prevention.
Although fire suppression systems are installed primarily in compliance with OSHA and state fire department regulations, the chances of fire still remain high for a number of reasons. Therefore it is important to have the equipment well-maintained and inspected duly to avoid following repercussions in event of a fire.
Fire Alarms:
These are the great warning systems that alert the occupants of the building of early signs of fire. However, if monthly or annual inspections are skipped, these fire alarms may develop power failure which may go undetected. The fire alarms system may be required to be reset or the batteries need to be replaced depending on the damage. Hence, if the fire alarms are not operational when it is needed, it may cause mayhem as the occupants of the building will not be warned in time to evacuate. This increases the chances of life-threatening injuries or fatalities drastically. Hence, monthly visual inspection and annual fire protection maintenance and servicing runs must be administered by licensed engineers to ensure fully operational systems.
Sprinklers heads:
Sprinkler heads are highly advanced and can detect heat emitted from a number of angles in the area and turn the taps on to tackle the blaze. If the sprinklers have been unused for years on end, rust may develop on the components. Additionally, if you live in a cold climatic area, the chances of water freezing in the sprinkler system may also increase leading to the sudden bursting of pipes. Therefore, an annual fire protection system inspection will indicate any issue or help technicians determine if any components need replacing, saving you a lot of damages and downtime in a commercial property.
Fire Extinguisher:
These little wonders can be perceived as portable firefighters that can help tackle a fire at a controllable level. However, if the fire extinguishers are not in use or maintained properly, these are most prone to rusting and the pressure of its components inside the extinguishers gets weakened as well. Therefore, fire extinguishers need to be monitored and ensured that the cabinets and devices are easily accessible and have not been tampered with. Moreover, if you manage a commercial building such as a restaurant or a factory, the type of fire extinguishers in your facility may require refilling after some time.
At Fire Serv, we not only provide fire protection installation but our experts are also equipped and trained to
conduct complete fire protection maintenance and serving for residential
and commercial property. So, call our experts if your fire protection systems
have not been inspected by professionals in the past year.
