Fire safety is a must for every building, primarily commercial buildings. As your first line of defense, a properly maintained commercial fire suppression system can effectively protect property and lives.
What is a Commercial Fire Suppression System?
Commercial fire suppression systems are advanced setups meant to extinguish or stop fires before they spread and cause more damage. Usually, these systems use special fire extinguishing or suppression agents, like chemicals, foam, or gas, to extinguish fire.
Fire suppression systems need to be installed in any building. This is especially true in places where water wouldn’t be helpful. These places may include those where water can damage crucial items, like data servers, or worsen the fire, such as kitchens experiencing a grease fire.
Differentiating Sprinkler Systems and Fire Suppression Systems
While both systems aim to mitigate fire hazards, their mechanisms and applications differ.
Commercial fire sprinklers mainly use water to prevent fire from spreading. These are typically used in general commercial spaces such as offices or warehouses. However, they may be less effective for grease or electrical fires and can result in water damage.
On the other hand, fire suppression systems deploy chemical, foam, or gas agents. This makes them more effective in places with more complex needs, like kitchens and server rooms. Unlike sprinkler systems, commercial fire protection systems minimize secondary damage while being versatile enough to handle various fires.
How to Check and Maintain a Commercial Fire Suppression System
Having commercial fire suppression systems is only half the battle of commercial fire safety. You also need to make sure they work correctly all the time. With proper inspection and regular maintenance, you can ensure your system is constantly working how it needs to. Here’s how you can ensure this:
1. Regular Inspections
Having routine inspections will let you spot issues early. It can also identify problems and repairs needed.
Certified technicians need to perform the inspections for your fire impression system. They know the correct way of examining pressure gauges, nozzles, and pipes, and they can easily spot if all parts work as they’re meant to.
2. Clean and Replace Components
Part of any fire system maintenance is cleaning components and repairing faulty or old parts.
Dirt and debris can build up and may affect the performance of numerous system components. Nozzles and filters are especially prone to blockages, as they easily catch grease and dust.
Meanwhile, if you find faulty or worn-down seals and links, it may be time to repair or replace them. Doing this helps avoid system failures, especially in emergencies.
3. Perform Discharge Tests
The reliability of fire suppression systems is heavily based on how well and quickly they can release agents. These agents need to be dispensed over flames to stop the spread from happening.
Technicians need to perform discharge tests to see if the mechanism that does this is working properly. As best practice, this must be done regularly. This helps identify when repairs or cleaning are needed to avoid malfunctions.
4. Replenish Suppression Agents
Fire suppression systems can only store a limited number of agents. Even if your system has a large storage capacity, the suppression agents stored in it can leak or even expire as time passes.
You should always check the levels of your suppression agent to ensure your system has enough for an emergency. If there’s not enough, remember to replenish it as part of your routine maintenance.
5. Document Maintenance Activities
While it doesn’t directly affect the fire suppression system, proper documentation can help a lot. So, make sure to keep records of all the inspections, maintenance activities, repairs, and tests you’ve done to your system. This will help you comply with regulations and provide a reference for any repeating issues.
Special Considerations for Fire Suppression Systems in Restaurants
Establishments like restaurants usually have unique fire hazards. Since heat and flames are used in cooking, cooking appliances, flammable materials, and the high likelihood of grease fires are just some challenges restaurants are prone to. To address these risks effectively:
- Kitchen Hood Cleaning: You want to avoid grease fires as much as possible. But you may find this challenging in places with kitchens where grease can be abundant. But grease doesn’t just build up on kitchen tools and appliances. It can also quickly accumulate in your fire system’s hoods, ducts, and fans. So, clean these components regularly to prevent fires from starting or spreading.
Appliance Placement: You need to space your cooking appliances from your fire suppression system nozzles. Your fire system needs that distance to release and spread the impression agents properly.- Staff Training: Not all fire suppression systems are perfect. Luckily, many of them have a manual fail-safe. Because of that, establishment employees need the right training on what to do when the automatic triggers fail. They must know where the manual pull station is and how to activate it.
According to a U.S. Fire Administration report, cooking is the leading cause of commercial fires. Therefore, maintaining fire suppression systems in restaurants is critical to reducing risks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Perform Maintenance Myself?
Certified technicians do most of the tasks needed for the upkeep of commercial fire suppression systems. You will need the right technical information and training to inspect, maintain, and repair the components of fire systems correctly. Certified technicians have that know-how. Likely, you may just damage or even void any warranties on your fire system.
What Happens If I Don’t Maintain the System?
You may face serious consequences if you neglect to maintain your fire system. Over time, your system components can get worn out or fail. This can make the entire mechanism fail during a fire emergency. If the system fails and the fire spreads, you may face extensive property damage, injuries, or loss of life.
Is a Fire Suppression System a Legal Requirement?
Many local governments mandate fire suppression systems for specific industries, mainly restaurants and manufacturing plants. How much you should comply will differ by jurisdiction. To be sure, building owners can check the fire codes of their building’s location. They may also benefit from talking with fire safety professionals. For restaurants, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 96 outlines strict kitchen fire protection systems guidelines.
Protecting Lives and Assets
A properly working commercial fire suppression system is your best friend during fire-related emergencies. After all, it serves as your first line of defense.
Maintenance Specialists, Inc. helps property owners upkeep their buildings and facilities. We offer numerous services, including the installation and upkeep of commercial fire suppression systems. Call us today at 704.405.6000 or contact us online for more details!
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