Commercial Fire Alarms
Commercial fire alarm installation, inspection, testing, monitoring, and repair for businesses across Southern California and Idaho. NFPA 72 compliant service and a 24/7 emergency line.
Commercial Fire Alarm Installation
When it comes to fire alarm systems, nothing matters more than reliability and expertise. At Hedrick Fire Protection, we aim to safeguard your business with the most dependable commercial fire alarm installation available. With our extensive coverage across Southern California and Idaho, we bring top-tier protection to your doorstep.
Expertise You Can Trust
Our team, boasting over 150 years of combined experience, expertly handles the complexities of fire alarm services. Our emergency line is available 24/7 for immediate service needs, and our staff is eager to prove to you why customer service is our priority.
How a Fire Alarm System Works
A commercial fire alarm system has three jobs: detect a fire, alert everyone in the building, and call for help. Initiating devices sense the fire and signal the fire alarm control panel, which sounds the notification appliances, transmits the alarm to a monitoring station, and triggers safety functions like shutting down air handlers and recalling elevators.
- Detect: smoke detectors, heat detectors, manual pull stations and waterflow switches sense a fire.
- Control: the fire alarm control panel receives the signal.
- Alert and respond: notification appliances (horns and strobes) sound, the monitoring station is notified and calls the fire department, and building controls shut down HVAC, recall elevators and release doors.
Our Fire Alarm Services
Select a service below to see what it includes.
Installations & Expansions
We design and install commercial fire alarm systems sized to your building and occupancy, and we expand existing systems as your space grows or your layout changes. All work is installed to NFPA 72 and coordinated with your local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), including the reacceptance testing required after any change to the system.
New Construction
For new buildings and tenant build-outs, we handle the fire alarm scope from device layout and panel selection through installation, AHJ coordination, and final acceptance testing, so your certificate of occupancy is not held up by the life-safety system.
Repairs
From a single faulty detector to a panel in trouble, we diagnose and repair the problem and then retest the affected devices to confirm the system is back to normal. Our emergency line is available 24/7, because a fire alarm system in trouble cannot wait for business hours.
Annual, Semi-Annual & Quarterly Testing
NFPA 72 sets a layered schedule. Waterflow switches and supervisory devices are tested quarterly, certain devices are tested semiannually, and a comprehensive functional test of the panel, detectors, notification appliances, and monitoring connection is performed annually. We test on the right cycle for each device, document every result, and provide the report your AHJ and insurer require.
Comprehensive Services for Your Alarm Systems
We offer a full range of commercial fire detection systems. Our staff is certified to handle the leading fire alarm brands, including:
Contact Us for a Consultation
Do not just let anyone handle your commercial fire alarm installation. Trust the experts at Hedrick Fire Protection. Contact our expert staff today to schedule a service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does a commercial fire alarm system need to be inspected and tested?
NFPA 72 uses a layered schedule. Trained staff perform weekly and monthly visual checks of the control panel, waterflow and supervisory devices are tested quarterly, certain devices are tested semiannually, and a comprehensive functional test of the whole system is performed annually by a qualified technician. Your local Authority Having Jurisdiction may require more frequent testing.
What is the difference between an inspection and a test?
An inspection is a visual check that a device is present, undamaged, and unobstructed. A test is a functional check that confirms the device actually works, for example that a smoke detector responds to smoke, a horn reaches the required volume, or a pull station sends its signal to the panel. NFPA 72 requires both, at different intervals, for every device.
Can my staff perform the inspections?
Trained building staff can perform the routine weekly and monthly visual inspections, such as checking the panel for trouble indicators and confirming devices are unobstructed. The functional testing of detectors, batteries, waterflow switches, and the monitoring connection must be performed by a qualified, licensed technician with calibrated equipment.
How long do fire alarm batteries and panels last?
Backup batteries are inspected and tested on a recurring basis, and sealed lead-acid batteries are typically replaced about every four years. Control panels do not have a fixed retirement age; replacement is based on condition, such as when the manufacturer drops support, the panel cannot support required cellular or IP monitoring, or it can no longer pass functional testing.
What happens if my fire alarm system fails inspection?
Every deficiency is documented in a written report. Depending on the severity, you may be given a timeline to make corrections before re-inspection, or in serious cases the AHJ may require immediate corrective action. We repair the deficiencies and retest so the system returns to compliant service.
What is Reg 4 fire alarm testing?
Regulation 4 is the Los Angeles Fire Department requirement for the periodic testing and certification of fire alarm systems by an approved testing company. If your building is in the City of Los Angeles, we can perform the testing and file the certification on the required schedule.