The most common Office Fire Alarm Problems that can be easily overlooked until it’s too late.
False Alarms Near Kitchens and Printers
Smoke detectors near toasters, kettles and laser printers can trigger false alarms. Relocate such detectors by a meter or two, or change them to heat detectors in kitchen areas as appropriate.
Detectors Showing a Fault on the Panel
The detection device in a zone may have faulted and dropped offline. This will be indicated by a fault light on the main panel indicating the specific zone that is faulty. This could be a number of things, such as a loose wire, a failed detector head or even a build up of dust inside the detection device. In most cases the detector head can be replaced by an engineer without the need to re-wire the whole system.
Disabled Call Points
Staff often incorrectly believe that disabling a call point will help them in an emergency, but in reality this can have very serious consequences. The only way to ensure all call points are operable is to conduct a monthly visual inspection to check that all are unobstructed and in the open position.
Backup Power Failing Silently
If the battery backup for your fire alarm system fails it will not function in the event of a mains power failure. It is recommended that all battery backed fire alarm systems are tested annually. As a rule of thumb the batteries should be replaced every four years, however some fire alarm panels automatically flag up this type of fault.
Outdated Detector Heads
Some detector heads may no longer be suitable for use, due to age. The heads should have a manufacture date stamped on them, and if this is more than 10 years old then it is worth getting an engineer to come out and check them. They may need to be replaced.
Incorrectly Wired Zones
A wiring fault on a fire alarm could mean that a trigger from a detector in a server room could activate an evacuation signal for the ground floor offices. When looking for help with fire alarms Milton Keynes it is best to find a qualified fire alarm installer that is able to carry out a full fire alarm system panel diagnostic as opposed to just a physical walk-round. If you are looking for Fire Alarms Milton Keynes, see https://isefireproducts.co.uk/fire-alarm-systems/milton-keynes/.
Early detection of these problems can save your building from avoidable damage, and also help you to carry out evacuations in the correct manner.