Testing to ensure newly installed fire alarm systems are working correctly is a critical part of the installation process. And testing — to ensure the system meets NFPA 72 requirements — must be done in a real-world environment under real-world conditions. The test is useless if it’s conducted when a building is unoccupied, says a recent article in NFPA Journal written by Wayne Moore, a principal with Hughes Associates.
NFPA 72 also provides guidelines for how to test fire alarm systems properly, how to ensure they meet the owner’s intent, and how to confirm that they are connect correctly to other building systems.
But it’s not just new systems that require testing. If any significant changes are made to the fire alarm specifically, or the building in general, testing should take place. The fire alarm system should be visually inspected for damage and to make sure that the system is operating as it was originally designed — i.e., that facility managers haven’t made undocumented changes.
The article concludes by reminding readers that if they’re updating older systems that run DOS-based software, it may not even be possible to update and test the software. It’s a good practical tip to keep in mind.
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