In accordance with the standards established by both the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the International Code Council (ICC), all commercial buildings are required to have fire alarms. Having adequate commercial fire alarms in place is essential for the safety of all occupants and the general public. Here is a brief guide to help you better understand how this may affect you and your business.

Why Should Fire Safety be a Priority?

According to FEMA’s March 2020 report, fires were reported in 103,600 nonresidential buildings in 2018, involving 85 deaths, 1,025 injuries, and $2,656,600,000 in damages nationwide. Over a ten year period, that shows a 26% increase in nonresidential fires with a 40% increase in deaths. These statistics prove that fire safety needs to be made a high priority in every commercial operation.

What Commercial Operations Need Fire Alarms?

If your commercial operation can be placed into any of the following categories, you need fire alarms installed:

• Assembly
• Business
• Educational facility
• Industrial site
• Hazardous location (chemical, mechanical, etc.)
• Institutional
• Mercantile
• Residential
• Storage
• Utility

How Many Do You Need? 

While the exact number of devices depends on the type of occupancy of your commercial operation, the size and layout of the building, and the number and location of people inside, there are some general rules that you should bear in mind.

For both residential and commercial fire alarms, all separate rooms and hallways should have their own smoke detectors, all detectors need to be placed so that there are no obstructions that could delay or prevent smoke from reaching them, and they should be placed at least ten feet away from stoves, ovens, or showers. Manual Pull Stations may be required for commercial applications as well.

How to Maintain Them

Replace batteries at least once per year, and test stand-alone units periodically to ensure functionality. The manufacturer’s instructions should come with any unit you install and detail their optimal maintenance details, but most units will need to be replaced every ten years. Have your commercial system inspected at least once a year.

If you’re in Virginia and you’re looking at options for commercial fire alarms, look no further than Hawk Security Systems Inc. They’ve been locally owned and operated since 1990, offering custom system installations on a per-client basis. Their highly trained technicians are on standby 24/7. Call them at (540) 434-4295 or visit their website to request a quote today.