If you are a commercial or residential property manager, your building’s fire alarm and sprinkler system may be at the bottom of your list of your priorities. While other concerns may seem more urgent, your commercial fire sprinkler system is a crucial component to the viability and integrity of your building’s safety system. It is important that Arizona property managers understand the basics of a sprinkler system.
Why is the Fire Sprinkler System Important?
Before there were established fire safety systems within every building, people would rely on stagnant water sources nearby to put out a fire. Worst case scenario, the building owner would have to wait helplessly for firefighters to arrive. We are taught fire drills in middle school, but when a fire incident actually occurs, you may find yourself needing to be equipped to actually address the situation.
In 2021, all buildings now have at least some sort of fire prevention system in place. These systems are designed to trigger water flow if fire sprinklers sense a rise in temperature. These fire sprinklers give the building inhabitants a chance to evacuate the building. These modern-day fire sprinklers prevent conflagration, making buildings in 2021 much safer than even 50 years ago.
A fire safety system can only prevent a fire if it is kept in top-performing condition. An unmaintained fire system is similar to a non-existent fire system. A broken fire alarm or sprinkler head will not do its job effectively, and the occurrence of these are more often than you would think. Even if the system does react right away, unchecked system components may not provide pressurized water to save the building and everyone in it.
Securing Fire System Quality
At this point, you may be wondering how you can preserve your building’s fire safety system quality?
The easiest way to do this is to ensure that you’re partners with a professional certification company. These professionals consist of a team of certified fire safety technicians. They know exactly where to look for faults in your outdated fire system, and are able to recommend the best solution for your building. Even if your current system works, a professional partner can help you optimize your system for energy efficiency and fire suppression effectiveness.
Expert service providers like CertiPro Fire & Life Safety are required for fire sprinkler installation, inspection, testing, and regular maintenance. It is ultimately up to the owner to ensure that the fire sprinkler system and alarm system is working up to code. Hiring professionals also helps your business stay up to code with regular inspection and maintenance changes.
Fire System Legal Code Requirement
Rules and regulations have been created in order to prevent any fire incidences. The NFPA is the primary governing body over these national regulations.
NFPA is an acronym for National Fire Protection Association. The NFPA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to eliminate death or injury due to fire or electrical hazards. For years, the NFPA has worked on educating and guiding people to create better and safer working and living environments by updating fire systems and planning for fires..
As an owner or facilities manager, there are at least 3 components to a fire safety system that you need to be aware of, and keep an eye on:
1. The type of fire system you have currently installed on the property.
There are multiple different types of fire safety systems. There are wet fire sprinkler systems, dry pipe systems, special hazard systems, and many more. Every type has its own advantages and disadvantages. You must be aware of which system is yours, and which one works best for your building.
2. The fire system location in the building.
All commercial buildings have a Riser Room. This specific room can be likened to the heart of your fire system. This is the room that determines the functionality of your fire sprinkler system and should be monitored annually, at the least. From here, you can plan an evacuation route, predict your extinguisher’s power, and much more.
3. Know when the latest inspection, testing, and maintenance was conducted.
Earlier we explained how important visually inspecting your fire system is. Checking and maintaining the fire system is not a one-and-done task. It is a continuous effort. A fire system condition today might not be the same as 5 years ago. You are advised to make sure your fire system complies with the regulation code.
Those who manage the building must refer to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 25, Chapter 4. This chapter is a complete guide to management’s responsibilities over their water-based fire systems. You must comply with everything on the NFPA guide, to avoid liability.
Three Key Points From The NFPA Guide
Property managers do not usually have the time to read multiple chapters of the NFPA guide. Lucky for you, we are here to highlight the information that you need to know, and to point you in the right direction for staying up to code with these national guidelines. Here are a few important points from the NFPA guide that you have to take note of:
1. Manage your Paperwork
Make sure that all paperwork from the previous inspection is filed and stored somewhere safe. Visits from the fire marshal will not go smoothly if this paperwork is not available. If you’re unable to locate it, contact CertiPro Fire & Life Safety so we can arrange for a technician to visit your property and conduct a full inspection before providing the needed documentation.
2. Fire Sprinklers Must Meet Legal Requirement
If your property’s functionality changes, it is the owner’s responsibility to ensure that the right sprinkler systems are installed to meet the updated codes that apply to the new establishment. If the building owner is unsure of the current codes and requirements that need to be met, connect with CertiPro Fire and Life Safety today.
3. Fix Fire System Deficiencies
Once fire sprinkler inspection and testing services have been done, it is the owner’s responsibility to address all deficiencies. These deficiencies are noted in the documentation given after the inspection. Keep in mind that ignoring the inspection result is dangerous.
To the untrained eye, this list of deficiencies can be confusing. If the inspection is done by CertiPro Fire & Life Safety, expect our technician to go over all options available to you. Our team will also inform if any repairs or replacements are needed.
Fire sprinklers are the first line of defense for your Arizona property. Your safety and peace of mind are our priority. So only our expert technicians handle the installation and annual inspection of your fire sprinkler system. Our team members are trained, certified, and knowledgeable in fire safety practices.
To have a CertiPro Fire & Life Safety professional conduct a test on your current sprinkler system or request a free estimate on the ideal system for your property, connect with us at this link or give us a call today at (480) 829-7600.