Why use a third party?

There is a divide in the fire alarm and life safety industry. While policies are being funded and influenced by insurance companies and manufacturers, integrators and builders are trying to keep up. Building owners are faced with the expense of complying with codes that are open to interpretation by anyone involved.

Anytime a quote is requested for a project, the integrator uses their preferred product line and each one of those lines create a different launch point for price and capability. The only way to bridge this divide is to have someone involved in the process before that happens. Having someone who understands the technology involved and the codes that need to be satisfied while also understanding the construction processes can mitigate or remove the delays and smooth the process for everyone.

Life Safety Systems include fire alarms, sprinkler systems, ERRCS and BDA systems and even extend into emergency lighting and extinguishers present onsite. All of these systems require regular testing and inspections to make sure that they function correctly before they are called upon. While the actual systems can be costly and the testing and maintenance can be costly, they can and regularly do save lives. That is the purpose. If these systems prevent property damage, that's great but the primary goal is to save lives.

There are lots of reasons for system failure. It could be poor installation, poor design, outside interference, intentional damage, improper maintenance, or simply product failure due to end of life. Most of these can be prevented if proactively addressed. NFPA code states that once installed and commissioned, the systems installed become the responsibility of the building owner. That means if the system fails and it was preventable, the building owner is at fault and can be held liable. These systems are often forgotten about because, if done properly, they do not create a lot of attention or force interaction. However, much like insurance, it is always going to be better to have them in place and never need them than to overlook them or ignore the maintenance and when needed, they fail.

Let us help with the life cycle of your systems. We can spec the system required by code and assist with qualifying vendors. Once installed, we can provide an independent evaluation of the installation and commissioning to give you peace of mind. We can provide ongoing, timely inspections of your systems and advise you of recommended or required repairs to keep your systems code compliant.