According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in 2016, there were nearly 1.3 million fires in the U.S., which resulted in 3,275 deaths and nearly 16,000 injuries. As large as these numbers may seem, the trend is nevertheless downward, in part because of improved residential and commercial fire safety systems. The team at Construction Management Inspection, a property inspection and construction management company based in Honolulu, HI, devotes much of their time to conducting building inspections of residential and commercial life safety systems, a task they feel is exceptionally important. Below, they discuss why building owners should make fire safety inspections a priority and how these building inspections ultimately pay off.

3 Important Reasons to Schedule Fire System Building Inspections

1. Functioning Fire Safety Systems Save Lives

Smoke detectors, heat detectors, and fire prevention methods such as sprinkler systems provide early warning of fire and prevent fires from spreading throughout a residential or commercial building. This saves lives, but only if the fire safety systems are operating properly. Many types of failure can occur: Sensors go bad, wires corrode, power failures occur, and other problems arise. This means that regular inspections are crucial to home and workplace safety.

2. Many Buildings Have No Sprinkler Backup

Fire system building inspections are particularly important in structures that don't have a sprinkler system in place. The lack of sprinklers leaves the fire detection or smoke alarm system without a backup, so it is doubly crucial that sensors are operational, alarms are audible, and that the entire early warning system is working as it should.

3. Older Buildings May Not Meet Current Code Standards

Similarly, older buildings often do not meet current code standards regarding the recommended number and placement of firewalls and fire doors, or the mandated use of firestop foam and sealants to prevent the spread of fire through the wall, floor, and ceiling. Because of this, it becomes even more vital that any existing fire safety systems are working properly to warn residents and slow the spread of a fire.

For the safety of your residents or employees, Construction Management Inspection, an experienced building inspection service in Honolulu, HI, can make sure you have the proper fire safety systems in place and that they're fully operational. Visit their website to fill out a contact form, or call (808) 422-2132 to speak with a friendly expert.