4 Signs That Indicate The Need for Upgrading Your Fire Alarm System

Fire alarms are an integral part of the safety infrastructure in a building, and you must ensure that they always function properly. Like every electrical device, your fire alarm system is expected to degrade over time. With the gradual passage of time, it can reach a stage when you need to replace or upgrade it completely. 

Identifying the need for a system upgradation or replacement is tricky. Having an understanding of the signs or symptoms that emphasize the need of replacing or upgrading a fire alarm system can help you understand whether it’s functioning properly. And while evaluating the system’s performance, if you find any alarm device like an audio amplifier to be replaced, you can consider installing the Notifier DAA2-5025, which is a multi-featured device and works on the digital audio functionality. 

Now if you’re interested to know about a few alarming signs that indicate it’s the time to upgrade or replace your legacy fire alarm system, this article is just for you. 

Sensitivity issue

If the existing system fails to meet the requirements of the sensitivity test, you must understand that it requires an upgrade now. Your fire alarm system might not function properly and can either be completely insensitive or too sensitive. The devices that aren’t sensitive enough won’t be effective when it comes to warning your employees about the emergency. On the contrary, alarms, which are too sensitive might end up harming the productivity of your organization and waste the time of your employees unnecessarily. 

Age factor

A fire alarm system is expected to require regular maintenance if it's around 10-15 years old. It shows multiple signs of poor performance like false alarms. So, it’s always better to upgrade an aging system to ensure full-fledged safety and security of employees. 

Planning for expansion or renovation

Are you planning for an office renovation or reconfiguring the entire space? If yes, you might need to upgrade the existing alarm system as well. Moreover, if you are about to change the course of operations in the building, you must inspect the legacy system and upgrade them if required. For instance, the type of appliances or equipment used in your office or the number of people it’s designed to occupy might determine whether your fire alarm system requires an upgrade or replacement. 

System failure or stopped functioning

If the existing system stops working all of a sudden, the most obvious solution you’re left behind is to upgrade or replace the same. If the system has become insensitive or dirty, any electrical component has stopped functioning, or the alarm has been meddled with, it’s necessary to inspect the entire system and consider upgrading or replacing it if required. After all, there’s no point in keeping a fire alarm system in your office, which isn't not functioning anymore. 

Wrapping up

Understanding the degrading signs of the existing system in your commercial space is one thing, but assessing whether it requires an upgrade or replacement might be more critical than you think. Hence, it’s always ideal to seek help from a fire protection provider or supplier of fire alarm systems and ask him to evaluate the existing system before you buy fire alarm parts. It will help you understand how to adapt the system for meeting local fire regulations and codes and improve fire safety.