fire Alarms

Every two years, or in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations, smoke detectors need to be cleaned and calibrated. Following each inspection, we provide a full report to the owner. We strongly recommend replacing the fusible links at each inspection, and no less often than annually.

NFPA Standards and local fire codes require semi-annual (every 6 months) inspections and preventive maintenance for fire suppression systems. The inspection includes: re-verifying the hazard dimensions in order to ensure the suppression system is adequate; checking nozzles, piping, detectors, cable lines and pulleys; testing system actuation (without discharging agent) and verifying the agent container. We also confirm shutdown of power or fuel to appliances when the system actuates and re-aim optical detectors that may have come out of alignment. In essence, we re-verify the condition and proper operation of every component in the entire system detectors, fire control panel, and suppression agent as part of each inspection. This ensures the most reliable fire protection available.

Owners of special hazard fire suppression systems should perform periodic maintenance. This includes cleaning of detectors and inspecting nozzles to ensure they are not obstructed, among other tasks. Fire Defense provides an operations manual with each system sold that identifies the maintenance recommended for the particular system.

Whenever a fire suppression system discharges, it must be serviced. We generally examine the event history in the fire control panel memory buffer to verify proper operation of the system, as well as inspect the initiating device (detector or manual release) and refill the agent container. If this service is not done, the system will not operate properly if needed at a future date.

- MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE

The fire control panel is the brain of the special hazard fire suppression system. These range from simple, single-hazard panels, to state-of-the-art programmable systems that can monitor hundreds of detectors or other devices. Fire Defense maintains the array of specialized tools and test equipment to ensure the proper service and maintenance of your control panel, a crucial element in special hazard fire systems.

- FIRE CONTROL PANELS

A wide variety of detection devices are available today. Advances in technology are continually improving/enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of flame detection. The type of detection that best addresses the fire hazard potential is dependent upon the individual application. Available detectors include infrared/ultraviolet spectrum combination detectors, triple infrared flame detectors, fiber-optic flame detectors, as well as rate-of-rise heat, photoelectric, or ionization smoke detectors. Today, many detectors are so advanced that they monitor themselves for trouble conditions, even electronically reporting when they need to be cleaned. Most special hazard fire suppression systems also provide means for manual actuation by way of a double-action manual pull station.

- DETECTION AND ACTUATION