Fire Detection and Life Safety System Maintenance.
In the UK, there are approximately 22,000 workplace fires every year. That’s around 423 fires every week. Rebuilding a business after a major fire incident can take months. Indeed NFU Mutual found that 80% of businesses who have experienced a major fire fail within 18 months. Sobering statistics.
At Defensor, we believe that system installation is only half the story. You need complete assurance that should the worst happen, your system operates efficiently and effectively precisely when you need it. We are dedicated to providing excellent customer aftercare. Our nationwide team of engineers have the training, skills and experience to ensure your system is kept in optimum condition, providing you with total safety.
Why is regular maintenance so important?
The purpose of your fire alarm system is to protect both people and property. In the event of a fire incident, your system is designed to give you early warning which expedites evacuation. In some cases your system will be triggered to engage fire suppressing activity which will aid in extracting smoke, controlling the fire and preventing spread. So it is essential that your system functions exactly as it should to keep people and premises as safe as possible.
You also have a legal obligation to keep your system in excellent working order and to have it regularly serviced. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, all premises in England and Wales which are used for non-domestic purposes must abide by these regulations. Your system must operate in accordance with legislated standards at all times.
Fire alarm maintenance is also a legal obligation for all employers, under the Health & Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974.
We should also consider that it is equally as important for your fire alarm system not to give off false alarms and unwanted fire signals. False fire alarms make up the largest proportion of incident types attended by fire and rescue services in England, at 40% year ending March 2018. This puts enormous pressure on the fire brigade service, which is already under strain, and prevents them from attending genuine incidents.
How often should I have my system serviced?
The BAFE Fire Safety register recommends that your system is serviced by a qualified engineer every 6 months in order for it to comply with BS 5839-1 (the British Standard for fire detection and alarm systems for buildings in non-domestic premises). BS 5839-1 is a framework of test recommendations for inspecting and testing such systems. If you do not maintain 6 monthly servicing then you should consider that your system is no longer BS 5839-1 compliant.
How can Defensor help with maintaining my system?
In order for you to be BS 5839-1 compliant, you need to service your system every six months. However, if you have a large and complex system which maintains fire safety over a large premises, we would suggest increasing testing to every 3 months.
Defensor can suggest a maintenance and servicing agreement which is perfectly suited to your needs. Your fire alarm system is an investment both in your business but also your people. We want to ensure that you get the very best out of your investment.
For certain systems we have developed our own Proof Of Testing Matrix which provides panel produced proof of maintenance and is the perfect audit solution.
What makes us different from every other fire detection and life safety systems company?
We’re specialists.
Defensor looks at every client need individually. We really listen to our customers, taking time to fully understand the requirements and challenges you might have. We will never try to shoehorn you into a standardised approach. Each solution we suggest will be carefully crafted to fit your brief.
We’re responsive.
We understand the need to be agile and respond with speed and efficiency. We recognise the importance of deadlines and we will do whatever it takes to meet them. However we also believe in being honest with our customers. So we will never commit to something we cannot achieve. Our nationwide network of engineers means we have the capability to mobilise rapidly to resolve an issue you might have.
Quality comes first.
We offer only the highest quality products, embracing the very latest in cutting-edge technology and innovation. Our engineers are trained to very highest standards and we hold the most pre-eminent accreditation available within our industry.
We go the extra mile.
Defensor is committed to delivering excellence in all that we do, particularly in customer care. We are dedicated to ensuring that all our customers feel completed supported. Our bespoke and customer-focused approach means we can deliver peace of mind every time.
