A Guide to Fire Alarm Safety Certification
Whether you’re the owner of an office complex or private residence, potential fire outbreaks are a valid concern if not properly addressed. This is achieved by getting a mandatory fire safety certificate London.
Protecting your property against potential threats such as fires is a mandatory requirement for buildings in the UK. The damage that a fire outbreak can cause to a region can be devastating if not checked in time. To ensure such safety measures are maintained to the highest standards, the government has made professional fire safety alarm inspection mandatory for both commercial buildings and domestic residences. This guideline follows the standards set by BS5839 part 1 section 6.
What is a Fire Alarm Safety Certificate?
A fire safety certificate London is an official document proving the worthiness of your fire alarm system after it has undergone a professional inspection. British standard regulations state that a fire alarm should be checked once a week by the owner, with a professional inspection taking place every six months. This certificate guarantees the safety of people who enter your building or residence against any potential fire threat.
Types of Fire Alarm Systems
For the sake of these inspection purposes, fire alarms are generally categorized into two primary groups, namely:
Grade D Fire Alarms
These are the most common systems available in the market and are mostly found in homes and small offices. They offer a simplified means of prevention by providing smoke and heat alarms. Though they are more affordable than their counterparts, they are not suitable for large buildings – thus they don’t offer much commercial value.
Grade A Fire Alarms
These are more complex systems as they feature a range of features in their makeup, including smoke and heat detectors, sounders, manual call points, and a central control panel. The integration of these different systems ensures that a building is adequately covered against any potential fire outbreak. These alarms are mostly found in commercial buildings with multiple floors.
Both fire alarm system grades have to be tested by a certified professional before you can receive your fire alarm safety certificate. It’s crucial that the company chosen to provide these solutions have the needed expertise and experience to conduct a thorough inspection of your alarm. You should also ensure that the person giving you the certificate is authorized to perform such a task.
The Fire Alarm Testing Process
Knowing what is supposed to happen during various stages of your fire alarm certification ensures that you’re not cheated out of your money’s worth. It also allows you to make any adequate preparations needed since you know what to expect.
The three main criteria that will be tested during this certification process include:
* The batteries, accessible cable joints, and fire panels will be tested to gauge their functionality and integrity.
* The smoke and heat alarms will be tested to ensure that they function properly.
* All bells and sounders are rung to ensure that the volume produced is high enough to be clearly heard by all concerned.
Once these tests are performed, the activities shall be filled out in a log book which you shall keep for further use. Any suggestions or recommendations about your system will also be offered at this point.
