How Fire Alarm System Testing Works

According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, a licensed fire protection technician needs to inspect and test commercial fire alarm systems semi-annually, annually, every five years, and every ten years. In-house trained staff should do the same weekly, monthly, and quarterly. This video offers a helpful guide on how one can conduct fire alarm
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html'>system testing efficiently. Fire alarm system testing ensures that everything works as it should and that the system is code compliant. Some of the devices tested during fire alarm system testing include smoke detectors, manual pull stations, heat detectors, horns, bells, strobes, sprinkler devices, fire alarm panels, and the monitoring system. During testing, fire protection devices are set off or used as they would be in case of a fire. For example, using a can of smoke to set off smoke detectors, and pulling the manual pull stations to see if they work. Before testing, both employees and the monitoring agency need to be informed of the test to avoid panic and unnecessary reactions. Fire alarm testing can take as little as an hour for small facilities and a few days for larger facilities and complex systems.