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What is Maintenance?

Maintenance is carried out in order to ensure the proper functioning of a fire detection system. The procedures for eliminating the circumstances that prevent the operation of a part or all of the devices belonging to the system by observing, examining and physically interfering in as required or periodically are called maintenance.

Why Do I Need Maintenance?

The fire detection and alarm systems are the systems that require maintenance due to the structures of the devices they contain. Due to the structural conditions of the devices used in the system and regardless of the product quality, there may be a decrease in the performance of the system over time due to environmental conditions (dust, moisture, contamination, air movements). For this reason, necessary maintenance and corrections should be made by examining the operation and operation performance of the system with test or repair works at certain intervals. This situation is also required in accordance with TS CEN/54-14 Fire Detection and Alarm Systems Part 14, which is the annex of the Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings (2015).

How Should I Perform Maintenance?

The maintenance-repair method that gives the best results in fire detection and alarm systems is periodical maintenance. The probability of failure is considerably reduced by performing periodical maintenance, which is the most important factor of regular, continuous and stable operation. The type of maintenance defined in the relevant regulations and guidelines and required to be performed is periodical maintenance.

The periodical maintenance is a preventive maintenance and it is aimed to prevent the failures that may occur by detecting them in advance. The parts and/or devices that are required to be replaced as a result of the test are replaced. The performances of the devices and the system are examined. The installation condition is checked. Availability is checked according to the current version of the architectural structure.

In TS CEN/54-14 Fire Detection and Alarm Systems Part 14, the procedures to be performed and the frequency of maintenance are listed separately:

1. Daily control: It includes simple controls that the user can perform on his/her own.
2. Monthly control: The redundant power supply test includes monthly controls such as monitoring of failure indicators.
3. Quarterly control: The local tests include controlling the system register, checking the control and indicator assembly, testing the control and monitoring functions, and examining the structural modifications.
4. Yearly control: In addition to daily, monthly and quarterly controls, battery tests, accessibility of devices and tests involving the entire system where it is controlled that all sensors are functioning properly are performed.