Company Announcement - Many companies invest a substantial amount of money in development and design of a Fire Detection System, which meets the requirements of insurers and the SANS code, however, neglect to carry out the necessary maintenance after installation, which deems the system non-compliant with the requirements of the SANS code.

Fire detection systems are designed to protect people, property and assets, however, you cannot tell if they are working correctly merely by looking at them.  As with all electronic equipment, they can lose functionality, or degrade over time, which may compromise the system’s functionality.  Items such as dirt, dust, lint etc., which are commonly found in the environment, can cause problems with smoke detectors, and re-modelling or improper maintenance procedures can damage other fire protection equipment.  

The good news is that with proper maintenance, testing and inspection, the investment in your fire protection system can be protected, and work reliably for many years, which in addition to protecting your staff and assets, will reduce expenses by preventing unforeseen constraints on your budget for repairs. 

To ensure that your systems remains in its optimum condition, it is recommended that the system be maintained on a three monthly basis from the date of installation.  In most cases, when the system is installed it is accompanied by a maintenance log book, however these tend to go missing over time, which causes additional expense in having a company come in and assess which system you have, the age of the system, and the maintenance which is now necessary.  

In order to assist you with understanding your obligations subsequent to the installation of your fire detection system, we have come up with some steps for a successful maintenance procedure.

Step 1 – Ensure that a responsible person has been appointed to supervise all matters pertaining to the fire alarm system.  This person should have sufficient authority to carry out duties required to ensure correct operation of the equipment, and should also be responsible for the log book.

Step 2 – Ensure that the equipment is checked at least once every 24 hours to ensure that there are no faults on the systems.

Step 3 – Once a week, the responsible person should activate one manual call point (during working hours) to ensure that;
• The relevant fire alarm zone indicator illuminates on the control and indicating panel.
• The common fire indicator illuminates
• The panel buzzer sounds
• The zone area sounders operate
• The signal is received at any remote alarm receiving centre or facility.

These tests should be carried out at approximately the same time each week so that building occupiers are accustomed to the fire alarm sounders and understand it is a test.  One manual call point should be tested each week so that all of the points are rotated over a period of time.

Step 4 – Record the results of the weekly tests in the log book in accordance with the requirements of the SANS codes.

Step 5 – Schedule periodic inspections by an authorised service provider who will ensure that any un-revealed faults are identified and preventative measures taken, so that the continued reliability of the system is ensured.

It is tempting for many companies, especially when budgets are tight to take the risk that fire won’t happen, and delay responsible decisions about the maintenance of your fire protection until the next quarter.  However, courts have increasingly ruled against companies who have made such decisions, and held them and their managers liable both personally and criminally.  It is therefore essential to ensure that your fire protection system operates properly, even if it means dipping into other budgets.  

In order to combat these once off financial strains, the option of entering into a service level agreement with an accredited company could be a preferred option.  This will ensure that competent fire professionals will check your system at the required intervals for a small monthly fee, and ensure that it remains at its optimum functioning capacity.

Proactive Fire Solutions are specialists in this field, and are dedicated to ensuring the continued performance of your investment.  We can assist with new installations, modifications to, and maintenance of existing systems.  For more information or assistance call Keith Bebbington on (011) 608 0442 or email keith@pfsfire.co.za.