Do you work in a commercial building and want to keep it safe? Business owners as well as workers should know some basic commercial fire alarm safety tips. Fire alarms keep people and stuff safe because they alert those present to what’s going on– and if there’s a fire breaking out somewhere in the building, steps can be taken to put it out quickly.
Automatic Commercial Fire Alarms Make Life Easy
Did you know there are both automatic and manual smoke alarms? Automatic alarms will “go off” when they detect smoke or excessive heat in a room or area of the building, whereas manual alarms have to have their lever pulled down in order to sound the alarm. In the old days, manual alarms were the norm, especially in older buildings. These days, thankfully, automatic alarms are the norm.
Make Testing and Inspections a Habit
Fire alarm systems are not “set it and forget it” equipment. Regular testing and inspections are essential to ensure every component is functioning correctly. Smoke detectors, pull stations, control panels, and notification devices should all be checked on a routine schedule. Small issues, like a faulty detector or aging component, can quickly become major problems if they go unnoticed.
If alarms have cobwebs on them, chances are it’s time for some attention. Obviously, alarms need to be kept clean– they shouldn’t be dusty or dirty.
Most alarms just require you to push down on the test button for a couple seconds in order to hear the alarm sound. If you don’t hear that noise, you might have to replace some batteries or have a professional inspect the alarm. Most alarm batteries, by the way, are replaced yearly.
In commercial buildings, it’s a good idea to have smoke/fire alarms interconnected. So, if one goes off, the rest will too, which helps alert people all over the building that there’s an issue.
Don’t Ignore the Small Warning Signs
Fire alarm systems often give subtle hints before a larger issue occurs. Frequent false alarms, trouble signals on the control panel, or inconsistent detector performance shouldn’t be brushed off as minor annoyances. These are early warning signs that something needs attention.
Addressing small problems early can prevent expensive repairs, unexpected system outages, or compliance issues down the road. Keeping spare commercial smoke detector parts on hand can also help you respond quickly when components need replacement, especially in large or multi-tenant buildings.
If you need replacement parts for commercial fire alarms, the experts at Life Safety Consultants are here to help.
