Fire Alarm and Emergency Lighting Tests must be done on a weekly basis, to make sure that systems are working correctly and that equipment operates. In this guide, we will look at testing both systems and what steps need to be carried out.
This is a LEGAL REQUIREMENT, (under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005) in all Commercial Premises, Hospitals, Care Homes, Schools, Places of Worship, Offices and buildings open to the public. Also in Blocks of Flats, where there is a wired fire alarm system, Government Buildings and even Pubs and Clubs to name a few, are covered by this legislation.
Your company should have a dedicated form or a Fire Alarm Log Book, where these tests are recorded, It is important to record all tests each time
These tests should be carried out by a competent person, who has been trained to do so. I am a competent trained person, so I assist my manager with these tests.
Emergency Lighting Tests
The Emergency Lights, are designed to come on automatically, when the power fails. This fail safe equipment, is also designed to activate, when the circuit breaker trips, making sure that there is adequate lighting at all times, for whatever the reason why the normal lighting fails. They work, by using an Automatic Transfer Switch, which switches the power over to the batteries, when the mains power fails. They should always gave a green LED lit, to indicate they are charging properly. Call in an Electrician, if the green light turns red, or if the green light is not illuminated. -This normally indicates that the batteries are not charging.
To test the Emergency Lighting, you will need a fish plate key. You need to insert the fishplate key into the test plate on the wall and push the key downward. This should cause the emergency lighting to activate. You will then need to walk about the area you are in and make sure the emergency lighting properly activates. Report any emergency lights that do not illuminate.
Remember to put the switch back in the off position after testing, otherwise the emergency lights will stay on and this will drain the batteries!
Fire Alarm Testing
If your Fire Alarm System is monitored, it is important to let the Monitoring Centre know you are doing an alarm test. The Fire Service may be called, you fail to let the Monitoring Centre know you are testing the system!
Usually, this is a automated system, which will put the system onto “test” for a short period of time and will not send an alert to the motioning centre. After a short period, the system will go back into monitor mode automatically.
Now we need to test the Fire Alarm itself. Testing from the Panel is not a permitted way of testing. You should activate the nearest call point. On the older units, you need to insert a key into the bottom, which drops the glass. On newer units, activate as normal, by pressing the black button. Make sure that the alarm sounds throughout the building. To reset, push the bottom of the alarm upward, which will reset the call point. Now you will need to go to the Fire Alarm Panel and reset that. (Ours requires the key and then pressing silence then reset.)
If for what ever reason, you need to sound the alarm again, (You might see smoke, fire or something smouldering) operate the nearest fire alarm call point, by breaking the glass.
You should perform the fire alarm test at the same time every week, by activating a different call point, each time you test the alarm. I helped Bethan do the test today and we tested the call point on the shop floor, which I activated.
Depending on how your system is setup, this should activate the Fire Bells, the Electronic Sirens, Voice Modules, (which will announce something like: “The Fire Alarm is sounding… Please leave the building via the nearest exit”.) or the flashing Alarm Beacons. In our shop, the electronic sounders also have flashing beacons integrated into them, which flash when the sirens so off.
Remember to record the test and which call point was activated. Report any issues with the fire alarm immediately.
You should also make sure your Fire Alarm System is serviced Bi-Yearly, by a BAFE Accredited Fire Alarm Company.
Automatic Fire Doors
You should make sure that your automatic fire doors close, when the alarm goes off. These doors, use a magnet which keeps the door open. When the fire alarm sounds, the magnet de-energises, which causes the door to automatically swing shut, thus preventing a fire from spreading. You should make sure that any automatic doors shut, when you do your fire alarm test.
These doors, should never be propped or be held open by any other means. (Such as the use of a door wedge, propped open with a fire extinguisher, or held open with string. This can stop the auto-closer from working, which could cause a fire to spread. This is separate from the auto-closer you might see on some doors. These will automatically close the door, each time. However, they cannot be permanently held open. Automatic auto-closer can be kept open at all times, as the magnet holds the fire doors open.
Report any auto-closer , which fail to operate, when the alarm activates.