As a business owner, you’ll do anything to protect your business and your assets. However, if you’re like most homeowners, one form of preventative maintenance skips your attention far more often than you care to admit: testing your smoke detectors. These simple devices are the easiest way to keep your company safe from the dangers of fires. However, even the most experienced business owners and managers are not aware of how to properly test their facility’s fire alarm systems. Here are the most important steps to take to make sure your system is up and running properly.

A Guide to Testing Smoke Detectors

Every residential smoke alarm comes equipped with a “test” button. While it may seem like the perfect way to examine the responsiveness of your system, it’s far from reliable. This button only checks the quality of the battery. 

To adequately test your smoke detectors’ sensitivity to smoke, you’ll need to introduce smoke to the room. While overheating machines are an easy way to trigger the fire alarm, it does so at the expense of your business’s equipment. However, there are more controlled ways to check your system. Light a match and blow it out promptly. Hold the smoldering match beneath the smoke alarm. If it sounds, your system is likely in good condition. If nothing happens, you may have a problem.

Common Problems to Address

If your smoke alarm doesn’t go off to a small amount of smoke, you most likely have a dead battery. Try replacing the unit’s battery with a fresh model and hold a smoldering match beneath it again. If the battery was the underlying problem, the system should trigger the alarm. However, if the unit stays silent even after a battery replacement, you’ll need to replace your smoke detectors with a new model.

If you’re worried about the safety of your company’s smoke detectors and fire alarm system, contact the team at Taylor Fire Protection Services, in Wasilla, AK. Their experienced staff will help you keep your business’s fire detection system up and running properly, no matter what it’s exposed to. Learn more about their services online and call (907) 373-1760 to schedule an appointment.