There might be very few things scarier than having safety measures fail. If the building you’re in catches fire, for example, then you’re counting on the fire alarm system to warn you with enough time to get to safety. But it’s not unheard of for a fire alarm system to fail.
But why do fire alarm systems fail? If you own a business, do you know how to prevent fire alarm failure in your own buildings?
Fire protection companies are experts at making sure fires aren’t an issue for your business. However, there are also things you can do on your own to prevent future issues.
Read on to learn why fire alarms fail and how to prevent that from happening to your business.
Vandalism
The first reason a fire alarm might fail is due to vandalism. Some buildings are going to be more prone to this than others. In these cases, typically, what happens is the wiring for the system gets cut. This cuts off the entire electrical circuit of the system, so a fire alarm can’t go off.
If your building is a high target for vandalism, then the only way you might prevent this is by adding security measures. Place cameras or security personnel where vandals might be able to destroy the fire alarm. This way, you’ll at least see if the system’s been tampered with.
Negligence
If you don’t regularly test your fire alarm system, then it can be hard to tell if there’s an issue with it. Likewise, not following the recommendations provided by a certified fire protection specialist can also lead to accidents if a fire breaks out in the building.
There is no excuse for negligence when it comes to safety. This is why buildings are required to run a test on their system once a month. They should also have their building inspected to ensure that it’s compliant with Australia’s fire protection laws.
Mistakes
While doing renovations, building owners need to watch their fire alarm system carefully. This is especially true when electricity and wiring are being worked on. In some cases, it’s too easy for the contractor to accidentally create a high surge of energy that causes damage to the fire alarm’s motherboard.
And if the motherboard isn’t working, then the whole system can’t activate when it’s needed. Keep a close eye on any electrical work that’s being done on your building to prevent this. You should also try to conduct regular tests of your fire alarm system both during and immediately after renovations are done.
Natural Disasters
You can’t control when a natural disaster is going to happen. And when they do, your fire alarm system can often get damaged in the process. For example, if you’re in an area where cyclone or tropical storms can cause heavy wind and rain and it manages to leak into your building, it can short out your fire alarm system. That means that the fire alarm can’t activate if it’s needed.
The best way to prevent this would be to test your fire alarm immediately following a natural disaster. If it doesn’t work, that gives you time to replace it before a fire emergency.
Dirt
Once your system has been installed, you most likely won’t think about it again until it’s time to test it. But dirt and debris are going to land on top of your system inside the walls in the meantime. That dirt is one of the main causes of fire alarm system failure.
This is because the dirt can eventually tamper with the sensitivity of the device. The only way to prevent this is to have your system cleaned out regularly. The Australian government recommends that this happens every six months.
High Ceilings
When a fire breaks out, it burns quickly. This means that a fire alarm system also needs to act quickly so people can start evacuating as soon as possible.
Most of the time, you’re going to install your fire alarm system in your ceiling. But if you have high ceilings, then this might not be the best idea. When a fire breaks out near the floor, it will take too long for the fire alarm to go off because of the distance.
The only way to avoid this is by installing a different kind of fire alarm system that can be closer to the floor where a fire might start.
A Bad System
It’s not necessarily that there’s anything wrong with the system itself. Sometimes the problem is that your system simply isn’t the right one for your building. If this is the case, then fire safety is going to be a big issue.
The good news is that this problem is easily prevented. All you have to do is choose your fire alarm system carefully.
If you’re not sure, then you should ask a certified fire protection specialist for a consultation. They’ll be able to tell you exactly what your building needs to protect it from fires and meet all regulations in your area as well as for your specific industry.
Battery Failure
Finally, the last thing that might go wrong with a fire alarm system is the battery. Like all batteries, the one that powers your fire alarm system will eventually die.
This is one reason why it’s important to test your system regularly. Doing so will let you know if the battery is no longer functioning. You’ll know if this is the case if your alarm won’t sound when you test it.
If your system requires a battery, then the Australian government requires that this be changed at least once a year anyway. This usually prevents a dying battery from becoming a problem before it’s too late.
Fire Protection Companies Are Here to Help
Keeping everyone in your building safe should always be your priority. And there are a number of reasons why a fire alarm system might fail. Fire protection companies can help you set up safety measures, but it’s up to you to maintain them.
Go ahead and test your fire alarm system today so you know it’ll work when you need it to.
