Service & Commissioning

An overview of commissioning and services offered by Orbik to ensure fire alarms are installed and operating correctly.

Orbik's experienced and knowledgeable service department are committed to ensuring that our clients requirements are met from the initial project design, in the manufacture and delivery of our products, through to the final commissioning and maintenance of the system.
 
Our dedicated team of commissioning engineers ensure that fire alarm and emergency lighting systems are installed and operating correctly and that they also comply with appropriate British standards.  Orbik can undertake service contracts on installations featuring Orbik and other manufacturers products.  Our technical department are on hand to help with any service or technical support that may be required.
 
BS5839: Part 1: 2013 Recommendations for Weekly Testing by User
BS5839 Part 1: 2013 contains a recommended regime for the routine testing of fire detection systems from which the following brief resume has been taken.  We strongly recommend consultation with the standard is used as the basis for any inspection and testing. Each week a manual call point should be operated during normal working hours to confirm that the control equipment is both functioning correctly and that the fire alarm signal is received at any remote-monitoring centre.  The test should be carried out at the same time every week, using a different call point each week so that all call points are tested in rotation.  The results of these tests should be recorded in the system logbook.
 
BS5839: Part 1: 2013 Recommendations for Monthly Tests
Monthly tests are restricted to visual inspection of standby batteries and where installed, generators supplying standby power to the system should be started. At the end of the test, the generator fuel tanks, oil and coolant levels should be checked and then replenished as necessary.

BS5839: Part 1: 2013 Recommendations for Periodic Inspection and Test of the System by a Competent User
For a fire alarm system to remain compliant with BS5839, a competent person should undertake a periodic inspection and test of the system.  The recommended period between successive inspection and servicing visits should not exceed six months.


INSPECTION
 
System Logbook
The system logbook will be examined for faults and false alarms.
  • Any faults recorded must be investigated and receive appropriate attention.
  • The rate of false alarms during the previous 12 months will be investigated.
Visual Inspections
A visual inspection of the site will be undertaken to check for any structural or occupancy changes, and ensure compliance to BS5839-1:2013. The inspection will verify whether:
  • All manual call points are unobstructed and conspicuous
  • Any new exits have been created without the provision of an adjacent manual call point
  • Any new or relocated partitions have been erected within 500 mm horizontally of any automatic fire detector
  • Any storage encroaches within 300 mm of ceilings
  • A clear space of 500 mm is maintained below each automatic fire detector, and that the ability of the detector to receive the stimulus that it has been designed to detect has not been impeded by other means
  • Any changes to the use or occupancy of an area makes the existing types of automatic fire detector unsuitable for detection of fire or prone to unwanted alarms
  • Any building alterations or extensions require additional fire detection and fire alarm equipment to be installed. 
Batteries
  • The battery voltage will be measured with the mains on to check the steady state charge Voltage.
  • Batteries and their connections will be examined and momentarily load tested with the mains disconnected (other than those within devices such as  manual call points, detectors and fire alarm sounders of a radio-linked system), to ensure that they are in good serviceable condition and not likely to fail before the next service visit.
Cables and Fixings
  • A visual inspection will be made to confirm that all readily accessible cable fixings are secure and undamaged.
Fire Alarm Control Panel
  • In fire detection systems that enable analogue values to be determined at the CIE, it should be confirmed that each analogue value is within the range specified by the manufacturer.
  • All controls and visual indicators at CIE will be checked for correct operation, and replaced if necessary.
Automatic Fire Detectors
  • All automatic fire detectors and remote detectors will be examined, as far as practicable, to ensure that they have not been damaged, painted, or otherwise adversely affected. 
Fire Alarm Devices
  • A visual inspection will be made to ensure that all visual fire alarm devices are not obstructed from view and that their lenses are clean.

TESTING
 
Fire Alarm Control Panel
  • The cause and effect programme will be confirmed as being correct by activating at least one cause and observing the operation of effects.
  • All ancillary functions of the CIE will be tested.
  • All printers will be tested to ensure that they operate correctly and that characters are legible. It should be ensured that all printer consumables are sufficient in quantity or condition to ensure that the printer can be expected to operate until the time of the next service visit.
Automatic Fire Detectors
  • Every detector will be functionally tested. The tests used need prove only that the detectors are connected to the system, are operational and are capable of responding to the phenomena they are designed to detect. Where fitted, detector remote indicators will also be checked for correct operation.
  • Every heat detector will be functionally tested by means of a suitable heat source, unless operation of the detector in this manner would then necessitate replacement of part or all of the sensing element (e.g. as in fusible link point detectors or non-integrating line detectors).
  • Point smoke detectors will be functionally tested by a method that confirms that smoke can enter the detector chamber and produce a fire alarm signal (e.g. by use of apparatus that generates simulated smoke or suitable aerosols around the detector).
  • Multi-sensor detectors will be operated by a method that confirms that products of combustion in the vicinity of the detector can reach the sensors and that a fire signal can be produced as appropriate.
Beam Detectors
  • Optical beam smoke detectors, if fitted, will be functionally tested by introducing signal attenuation between the transmitter and receiver, either by use of an optical filter (or any similar method of simulating obscuration by smoke), smoke or simulated smoke.
Air Sampling Systems
  • Air sampling fire detection and fire alarm systems are functionally tested by a method that confirms that smoke can enter the detector chamber and produce a fire alarm signal. Furthermore, appropriate testing will be performed to verify that smoke is able to enter each sampling point (or collection of sampling points that are recommended by the manufacturer to cover the same area as a point smoke detector). This will be achieved by introducing smoke into each sampling point in turn and verifying a response at the detector. However, where access is restricted or other site conditions prevent this, other verification techniques should be employed such as: 
  1. verifying transport time from furthest hole or a dedicated test point and comparing with previously recorded results to identify deviations;
  2. confirming that the flow monitoring is capable of detecting loss of a single sampling point (or collection of sampling points that are deemed to be acceptable for the risks involved);
  3. inspection of flow readings and comparing with previously recorded results to identify deviations which would indicate a loss of detection performance;
  4. measurement of the pressure at each sampling point and comparing with previously recorded results to identify deviations which would indicate a loss of detection performance.  The technique used is dependent on the particular features of the ASD technology, the risk and details of the specific application.  Such techniques may also be supported by visual inspection of sampling points where this is possible but it is essential to verify that adequate detection performance is maintained. Details of the techniques used should be recorded and agreed with all parties.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
  • Carbon monoxide fire detectors will be functionally tested by a method that confirms that carbon monoxide can enter the detector chamber and produce a fire alarm signal (e.g. by use of apparatus that generates carbon monoxide or a gas that has a similar effect on the electro-chemical cell as carbon monoxide).
Flame Detectors
  • Flame detectors will be functionally tested by a method that confirms that the detector will respond to a suitable frequency of radiation and produce a fire alarm signal. 
Call Points
  • The switch mechanism of every manual call point will be tested, either by removal of a frangible element, insertion of a test key or operation of the device as it would be operated in the event of fire. 
Fire Alarm Devices
  • All fire alarm devices will be checked for correct operation. 
Radio Fire Alarm Systems
  • Radio signal strengths in radio-linked systems to which Clause 27 applies will be checked for adequacy, and the results recorded. 
Power Supplies
  • The standby power supply capacity will be checked to establish it remains suitable for continued service.
Monitoring
  • The operation of any facility for automatic transmission of alarm signals to an alarm receiving centre will be checked. Where more than one form of alarm signal can be transmitted (e.g. fire and fault signals), the correct transmission of each signal should be confirmed. 
On completion of the work, any outstanding defects will be reported to the premises management and a record of the inspection and test will be made on the servicing certificate.
 


 

 
 

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