3 Steps to Take to Address Potential Issues
When the fire alarm panel in your Hawaii building beeps, do you know what to do? Often these control panels are installed in an area where the people nearby need help understanding what might cause a beeping sound or what to do. Fire alarm panels have four basic modes: Normal, Trouble, Supervisory, and Alarm. A beep is a signal that there is a trouble or supervisory situation in the fire alarm system. If things are normal, the panel should not beep. If there is a smoke or fire situation, the system will go into alarm mode – a more serious problem.
So what do you do when there’s a beep? It’s important to know how to have your staff handle it. Keep reading below for three steps to take to address fire alarm panel signals intelligently and expeditiously.
SEE ALSO: Modernizing a Fire Alarm System in Hawaii
Determine the Cause of the Beeping
The fire alarm panel will beep when it detects a Trouble Condition, which is an equipment problem. Some typical causes are a damaged or missing device like a pull station, damaged or disconnected wires, dirty smoke detectors, power failures, and depleted or low batteries.
The system will also beep in Supervisory Condition. This condition occurs when supervisory devices activate on your system. They do not generate an alarm but indicate a serious malfunction that should be addressed quickly. Examples of these supervisory conditions are waterflow being detected in your sprinkler system, tampering with sprinkler valves, smoke detectors activating in HVAC ducts that can trigger the closing of dampers or shut off of your HVAC system, and activation of modules that monitor the health of fire pumps.
Silencing the Beeping
Every system has a method for temporarily silencing the beeping tone, but they are temporary and do not necessarily address the underlying cause. A system will generally have Silence, Trouble Silence, and/or Acknowledge buttons for silencing, but the reason should be investigated. If the cause isn’t addressed, depending on the nature of the issue, the beeping will return, typically in about 24 hours.
Some temporary conditions might fix themselves and clear the Trouble Condition. For example, a power failure Trouble Signal will clear when the power returns. A straightforward trouble condition caused by a damaged smoke detector can be replaced by a maintenance person, and the trouble condition can be reset and cleared.
For a supervisory condition, you need to have the proper personnel investigate the issue. A trained maintenance person could address it, or they might need to call the fire system service provider to rectify an equipment malfunction in sensors, sprinklers, or pumps. The fire alarm panel can be reset after the Supervisory condition is fixed. If it’s not, the beeping will start again.
What If You Still Don’t Know What to Do?
Sometimes the panel is installed in an area where people aren’t trained to operate it. And while fire alarm panels have similar functions and features, they have different ways to control them. If you don’t have the system’s instructions handy and don’t know how to proceed, call a professional. At Phoenix Pacific, we have experienced, certified technicians ready to help you identify any issues with your system and solve them quickly. Beeps aren’t alarm conditions, but they must be addressed for the safety of your building and its occupants. Like your car, fire alarm systems need maintenance and checkups too. Our customized maintenance plans can address your facility’s specific needs and ensure your system meets all the current codes and regulations.
At Phoenix Pacific, we are deeply committed to helping you keep your business and staff safe. If you need help with your fire alarm systems, reach out to our team right here or drop us a message in the chat box below to learn more. We look forward to working with you!