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By Joanna Ku
Don’t Compromise Fire Safety While Responding to COVID-19
The following blog post was provided by BuildingReports’ Service Member, Performance Systems Integration. For more information or to contact them regarding inspection, testing and maintenance services in the Pacific Northwest, visit www.psintegrated.com.
As COVID-19 continues to change the world we live and work in, many businesses are forced to send their workers home. Therefore, some employers and building managers may feel that maintaining and complying with fire and life safety measures during the pandemic is unnecessary.
However, it is still important that these systems are maintained, code compliant, and operational for both “non-essential” and “essential” businesses alike.
For businesses that are deemed “essential,” ensuring that fire and life safety systems are functional is integral to the protection of employees as well as the business itself. When it comes to “non-essential” businesses, system functionality is equally as important because safety guidelines still apply whether there are people in the building or not.
If you’re aiming to become fire safety compliant right now, there’s no need to stress. You just need to catch up on the important guidelines and know how to go about implementing them.
First, let’s take a closer look at what sort of life safety maintenance is required for “non-essential” businesses and unattended facilities in general.
Life Safety Maintenance Checklist for Unattended Facilities
As the shelter-in-place order persists in the Pacific Northwest, it is important that “non-essential” businesses maintain the life safety systems of their unoccupied facilities. The first step is to follow the NFPA Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance (ITM) schedules crucial to system operations by choosing a qualified service provider.
Next, it’s important to review the key NFPA codes that will ensure your life safety systems are fully operational if your facilities remain vacant for an extended period:
- Fire Sprinkler Systems (NFPA 25)
- Fire Alarm Systems (NFPA 72)
- Portable Fire Extinguishers (NFPA 10)
- Kitchen Systems (NFPA 17A and NFPA 96)
Click the link below for a PDF of the full life safety maintenance checklist, which explains the requirements for each code in detail. It also includes some great advice for reducing face-to-face interaction while maintaining your systems during the COVID-19 pandemic.
DOWNLOAD PERFORMANCE SYSTEMS INTEGRATION’S CHECKLIST
Most useful fire prevention services during the pandemic
As businesses continue to forge ahead right now, it’s important that fire and life safety remain an integral part of their plan. When it comes to implementing fire and life safety requirements, you’ll want a vendor that performs the following services:
- Inspections and testing — Is your company complying with NFPA and government regulations? An experienced vendor can inspect and test your system to ensure they are operational and in compliance with the law.
- Emergency/service calls — Even as the COVID-19 pandemic gets figured out, you can count on your fire and life safety vendor to respond promptly to emergency/service calls.
- Maintenance — The key to an effective fire and life safety system is routine maintenance. This includes maintaining fire extinguishers every 6 months, servicing sprinklers semi-annually, and alarm systems annually.
- Monitoring — Fire and safety vendors provide real-time monitoring of your systems allowing them to respond immediately to system failures, errors, and emergencies.
- Installations — Upgrading and installing new fire and life safety systems is important for the continuation of business operations.
PSI continues to provide trusted fire and life safety services during this pandemic
For nearly two decades, Performance Systems Integration (PSI), has provided unparalleled fire and life safety services to businesses throughout the Pacific Northwest. Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, PSI remains vigilant and is proud to be an essential part of the security and safety fabric of society, delivering trusted service to hospitals, assisted living facilities, IT firms, universities, hotels, and other businesses across Oregon and Washington.
Recognizing the seriousness of this pandemic, PSI has implemented extensive protocols to protect customers and the public. All of our field and shop teams adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for social distancing and hygiene.503-512-5812
To learn more about fire and life safety code compliance, call our Oregon/SW Washington Office at (503) 512-5812, or our Washington State Office at (425) 947-1149, or contact us online.
Category: Building Inspections | Building Management | Codes & Standards | Industry Perspective
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