FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Power washing should be done at least once a year to remove dirt, mold, and mildew from surfaces. However, high-traffic areas or places exposed to harsh weather may require more frequent cleaning.

Fire alarm maintenance typically includes checking the control panel, testing alarms and detectors, inspecting wiring and connections, and ensuring the system is free from dust and debris.

All carbon monoxide detectors have a limited life span. Units made within the last 15 years or so have a feature that alert you to when the detector has reached its end of life.

Some older units may lack this feature and look like they are operational but they will not be able to detect carbon monoxide gas, so if the unit does not have a date listed and it looks old, the safest thing to do is to replace it. They typically last 6-10 years however the batteries typically wont last that long so multiple battery replacements may be needed over the 10 year life span.

Again, it is always important to reference local codes and standards. Smoke detectors should be replaced when they lose their sensitivity. Most fire alarm panels provide a

notification when this occurs. There is no timeframe alone on when to replace smoke detectors used in commercial settings. Residential smoke detectors on the other hand

must be replaced 10 years from their date of manufacture. This is listed in the NFPA72, National Fire Alarm Code.

It is always important to reference local codes and standards however, smoke detectors usually need to be cleaned and tested on an annual basis. Good record keeping is key.

The integrated ‘cell’ that senses the carbon monoxide has a limited life span because it emits energy. Think of it like a fuel cell. When all of the stored fuel gets used up, it needs to be replaced.

A ground fault is an early warning sign that a future short circuit can occur. Fire alarms are designed to operate with a ground fault condition (one wire touching metal). However if a second wire also touches metal then a short circuit will occur. A short circuit can damage a fire alarm panel and most likely any devices on that citrus will no longer work.

This could be as little as one device not working or it could be the entire building's smoke detectors. A ground fault must be fixed before it turns into a larger life safety problem.

That is when the copper conductor of any fire alarm wiring comes into contact with any metal in the building. This can be an electrical box, steel beam, drop ceiling grid. All it takes is a slight nick or tear in a wire for this to happen. Water can also make the connection between the copper wiring and the building metal.

This is a mistake that we see all the time. CO2 is actually carbon dioxide. Carbon Monoxide is abbreviated at CO. Carbon dioxide is 1 part carbon and 2 parts oxygen, hence the di-oxide name. Carbon Monoxide is 1 part carbon and 1 part oxygen, hence the mono-oxide name. People just commonly mix up these names! Carbon dioxide is normally present in the atmosphere and is not dangerous the same way carbon monoxide is.

Carbon monoxide sensors measure the level of CO gas over time. The more concentration of gas the faster the alarm needs to occur. If power is removed (or reset by the fire

panel) this timing is interrupted. A guide line for the alarm to occur based on concentration is something like: 100 parts per million (ppm) alarm in 90 minutes, 200 ppm alarm in

35 minutes, or 400 ppm alarm in 15 minutes.

Note: 800ppm of carbon monoxide is lethal. These detectors are designed to go off way before that point.

Our thorough inspection and testing process is usually capable of finding problems that inspectors overlook. Just because a licensed installer does the work, that does not mean they did the best job. We see it all the time. For example, just because a fire alarm is in normal condition and activates properly, does not mean it’s wired properly. Typically inspectors will test the system but not examine the internal wiring of a system.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless and odorless gas that can interfere with the body’s ability to use oxygen when inhaled. In high concentrations, it binds to red blood cells in place of oxygen, which can result in severe tissue damage or death. Exposure to carbon monoxide can cause symptoms like loss of consciousness, memory loss, fatigue, nausea, movement problems, headaches, and more. This is why a CO monitor is so important— you can't see, smell, or taste carbon monoxide and it can be deadly. You won't know it's there without a detector.