Why is it important to survey and maintain your active fire systems?
Why is it important to survey and maintain your active fire systems?
Active fire systems involve a triggered response to a fire, such as smoke detectors, fire alarms, sprinklers, fire extinguishers, vents and fans. These systems detect, suppress and control fires, alert occupants and firefighters and facilitate evacuation. Active fire systems can save lives, protect property and minimise damage caused by fires.
However, active fire systems are only effective if adequately surveyed and maintained. Surveying and maintaining your active fire systems means ensuring they are in good working order, compliant with relevant standards and regulations and suitable for your specific building and fire risks.
Some of the benefits of surveying and maintaining your active fire systems include the following:
- Enhancing safety: Regular surveys and maintenance can help identify any faults or defects in your active fire systems that could compromise their performance or reliability. For example, a faulty smoke detector could fail to detect a fire or trigger false alarms; a clogged sprinkler head could reduce water flow or spray pattern; a leaking fire extinguisher could lose pressure or effectiveness. By fixing these issues promptly, you can ensure that your active fire systems are ready to respond in an emergency.
- Reducing costs: Surveying and maintaining your active fire systems can also help you save money in the long run. By preventing failures or malfunctions, you can avoid costly repairs or replacements of your equipment. By complying with codes and standards, you can avoid fines or penalties for non-compliance. By reducing fire damage, you can lower your insurance premiums or claims.
- Improving efficiency: Surveying and maintaining your active fire systems can also help you optimise their performance and efficiency. By regularly testing and adjusting your equipment, you can ensure that they operate optimally. By reviewing and updating your system design periodically, you can ensure that they match your current needs and risks. You can enhance their effectiveness by integrating your active fire systems with other passive or structural measures (such as compartmentation or load-bearing elements).
How often should you survey and maintain your active fire systems?
The frequency of surveying and maintaining your active fire systems depends on various factors such as:
- The type of system: Different types of active fire systems may require different inspection, testing or servicing levels. For example, smoke detectors may need to be tested monthly; sprinkler heads may need to be inspected annually, and hoses may need to be replaced every five years.
- The manufacturer's recommendations: You should always follow the manufacturer's instructions for surveying and maintaining your active fire systems. They will provide specific guidelines for how often and how thoroughly you should check each component of your system.
- The local regulations: You should also comply with local codes or standards for surveying and maintaining your active fire systems. They will specify the minimum requirements for frequency, quality and documentation of surveys and maintenance activities.
Who should survey and maintain your active fire systems?
Surveying and maintaining your active fire systems should be done by qualified professionals who have the necessary skills, knowledge, experience, and certification to perform these tasks safely, accurately, and effectively. You should hire reputable contractors with proven track records in providing high-quality service for similar buildings and risks.
It would be best if you also supervised their work closely, verified their credentials, and kept records of their surveys and maintenance reports.
Ensure your active fire systems are surveyed regularly. To the standard, you need to keep your building safe, use Bolster Systems to upload your drawings and retain a history of active fire systems maintenance in a structured, digital format. You can view the Bolster Approved Companies and invite trusted companies to work on your drawings whilst keeping all records under your control.
