Fire Safety: Checklist for Success
Part 1: Fire Safety: The Goals of Visual Inspections
Part 2: Fire Safety: Test Systems to Comply with NFPA 72
Part 3: Fire-Alarm and Detection Systems: Common Maintenance Activities
Part 4: Trouble Spots for Fire-Alarm and Detection Systems
Part 5: Fire Safety: Keys to Successful Inspection and Testing Procedures
Fire Safety: The Goals of Visual Inspections
By Lanny Ray
January 2010
Inspecting, testing and maintaining fire-alarm and detection systems is essential for ensuring the systems' operational status. These activities are necessary to maintain system integrity and make sure the system operates as installed. They also can identify issues maintenance and engineering managers must resolve for the system to adequately protect facilities, assets, and occupants.
Key elements of a comprehensive inspection program for fire-alarm and detection systems include visual inspections, system testing, maintenance, and records.
Inspection Insights
Visual inspections ensure no changes to the system or related equipment affect system performance. Inspectors should visually inspect:
- fire-alarm control units and their components
- remote annunciator panels
- initiating devices, including smoke detectors, heat detectors, fire-alarm boxes, fire detectors, and water-flow devices
- alarm-notification appliances, including fire-alarm strobes, horns, and speakers.
The goal of the inspections is to identify problematic conditions, such as: missing, damaged, or obstructed appliances; wiring disconnected at fire-alarm panels; and trouble status indications at the fire-alarm control unit.
