Fire alarm maintenance in schools during school hours.

[Ark Angel]

With the schools that I come across some ask the very question, "what happens if I have a real fire while your testing"? to combat this the school provide a body who sits in front of the panel watching it. I tell him where I'm testing and then he keeps an eye on fires coming in. Should he see a fire from another area where I'm not working he makes a desicision based on the school's procedures to investigate or sound the alarms.

I've known colleagues who have had systems disabled and then real fires have occurred. Not a nice situation to be in!

[Ryan]

That would be very rare though

[Ark Angel]

Indeed it is very rare, but nowadays who wants to take that chance? Certainly not me. I always tell the customer that the system will be disabled prior to testing and let them make their own arrangements.

[IrishFire]

Very rare that I get asked that question, but if you think about it it's up to the client to provide fire watch during your servicing.

[FireFly40]

Wee Brians right schools are nasty places to roam around when kids are particularly with smoke pole and bgu test keys I always do them out of hours. If you must do them occupied take a panel watcher and radios. If the kids find out the fire alarms off watch for loads of smashed glasses (they used to switch the fire alarms off round here on the last day of term for same reason) Another thing to check is staff are aware of non working alarm and alternative arrangements. In about 1985 I was walking around a job smoking and poking - panel reseting with the old reset unit walked into office explained to bloke testing fire alarm etc etc He asked me stuff I told him stuff carried on (nice bloke, I thought) next thing over tannoy everybody out dangerous health and safety issue I thought the chemical place next door had had a leak so made my way to grass with 1500 other people only to have site manager tear into me in front of them all.No it was me turning off bells on FA .He didnt tell the amassed crowd that I had been doing it for years
and it was him who asked for no bells when testing.(the bloke was shop steward)
If you do have to take bells off on a live building get H&S persons signature first
A lot of maint. Companies have a disclaimer like this in their certificates.
 Always think of your own backside your company will shovel s**t onto you if it goes into the fan. I once went confidently into a bo**icking meeting with a gaffer - only
to have him say to the panel and heres the man responsible and walk out
When the chips are down youve got no friends and take no prisoners!

[Graeme]

i have the standard bs that alarm devices were not permitted to be tested but were tested last on-date-person-signature etc.

[PhilHallmark]

A second engineer at the panel, whereby both the servicing engineer and the guy at the panel - sounders disabled - linked with a radio, is a good solution in many cases. As long as the salesman selling the contract has allowed for it!
2 men per service should be standard practice to ensure the alarm can be fully activated if required. Oh and danger money for working allongside the little darlings.