Fire protection is essential for all businesses. In America, it’s estimated that about $4 billion will be lost every year due to fires. To ensure that your company or facility is still intact after a fire and to prevent itself from future fires, you need to know what usually goes wrong with the fire protection system so you can fix it before it ends up in a tragedy. So the first and simplest thing to do is test the fire protection system.
Using a working Fire Protection System is vital to keep employees and customers safe in the business or facility. However, there are instances that the system would not provide the same protection. Know how you can maintain and test your fire protection system so you can reduce or eliminate fires as well as other hazards that may put your company and its clients at high risk of injuries.
Things You Should Look for When Testing Your Fire Protection System
- Check the GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter). GFCIs are commonly used in fire protection systems because they’ll automatically shut down an electrical circuit if there’s a current leak between the hot and neutral wires. This way, the system will not be exposed to electrical shock or electrocution.
- Make sure that all the circuit breakers are working correctly. Fire protection systems are known for tripping or turning off the power to your building or facility if there’s a fault in the electrical system. In this case, the GFCIs won’t detect a problem with the circuit breaker.
- Make sure the smoke sensing devices are working correctly. Smoke detectors detect smoke, a sign of fire, and help detect the fire before something terrible happens. These batteries should last years without distortion and discharge. Inspect them frequently; if you’re not able to use them for an extended period, call in professionals who can tell you if they are still working or not.
- Test your sprinkler heads for leaks. An improper sprinkler head performance may lead to water damage, which will be hazardous for your company’s products and equipment. With this, their lifespan will also decrease. Check their operating temperature, pressure, and water flow rate for leaks and other malfunctioning issues.
Test your Fire Protection System
- It’s better to be safe than sorry. So the best thing to perform is to make sure your fire protection system is working correctly before an actual fire occurs. The most basic type of test involves sending an electric current through the electrical wiring components of the fire protection systems. If the current passes through without any faults, it means that all main components are exemplary.
- If you think a part of the system isn’t working, call for professional help Fire protection service .They are trained to test your fire protection system and pinpoint possible problems within the system. They can fix minor problems or conduct complete replacement of any faulty parts.
- The most common fire protection system has pull stations and sprinkler heads. Test these two items to make sure they are working correctly. For sprinkler heads, first, check if there’s a leaking pipe. Turn off the water or call for professional help to prevent further damage. Next, test the pull stations by pressing the handles gradually until you hear a “click.”
Conduct Fire Drills
- Another way to ensure that your fire protection system is working is by conducting fire drills. These drills involve evacuation of personnel in case of fire, ensuring that people know where the closest exits are. If your business is small, you can perform the drill independently. If it is a big company, you should talk to the fire marshal of your city first so they can supervise the drill.
- For evacuation drills, make sure that you have at least two exits and exit routes for everyone if there’s a fire. Narrow walkways or any structure blocking the way are dangerous for building occupants. You might also want to use visual aids such as pictures or signs that show people where to go in case of an emergency.
- For smoke drills, make sure that everyone knows where the fire extinguishers are in an emergency. People will soon get confused and panic if they are not familiar with their workplace. This confusion can cause injuries and deaths as they try to find their way out.
- To make sure that your fire protection system is working, you need to perform these tests regularly. You can also check their functioning before reporting to work or leaving the building on your way home. These tests will ensure the safety of your employees, clients, and business.
For more information about maintenance, repair, testing, and replacement of fire protection systems, or assistance in selecting the right system for your specific needs, contact the professionals at SBC Fire Protection & Life Safety Systems. Try to stay active while reading the details to have a better understanding with no doubts involved.
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