Annual inspections

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A TURNKEY FIRE INSPECTION SERVICE

In Quebec, several standards and regulations are in force regarding fire safety. According to the regulations of the Building chapter of the Safety Code, it is required to carry out an inspection of the fire alarm system and its components once a year.

At Sécurité Novateck, we inspect, maintain, repair and annually certify our customers’ fire detection and protection equipment to ensure the safety and compliance of their buildings. Indeed, our varied service offer and our multidisciplinary team will meet the specific needs of your building. Ask for your freequote today.

ALARM AND COMMUNICATION

The fire detection and alarm system consists of various elements whose primary purpose is to detect and inform the occupants of a building of the outbreak of a fire. It is therefore important to carry out the periodic inspection of these components in order to ensure the safety of the occupants.

Daily, it is important to ensure that the fire alarm system is functional and that the fire alarm panel is not reporting any problems.

Monthly, tests must be carried out on several elements of the network to ensure that it is in working order.

Annually, more in-depth tests must be carried out by specialists and a complete inspection report must be obtained and kept.

If you have a voice communication network that is integrated into the fire alarm system and that is under electrical surveillance, the inspections are carried out as per the alarm system verification requirements mentioned above. On the other hand, if your voice communication network is not under electrical monitoring to detect a defect, you must carry out checks every month to ensure that it is working properly.

It is mandatory according to the Régie du Bâtiment du Québec to have at least 1 smoke alarm on each floor of a dwelling or a house, including the basement. A carbon monoxide detector is also required if your establishment has a combustion appliance (gas stove, fireplace, etc.), or if there is direct access between the house and an indoor parking garage. These alarms must be checked and maintained periodically.

Weekly, make sure that the indicator light on the device is on to indicate that it is working properly.

Monthly, the test button should be turned on to ensure that the smoke alarm is working properly.

Annually, the exterior case of the alarm should be cleaned using household vacuum, the condition and the type of batteries checked, the condition of the power cables and the connections. It is required to test the alarms and ensure that the connections are working normally.

Ten years after the date of manufacture of the alarm, it must be replaced. If no date is indicated or if it is unreadable, the smoke alarm must be replaced immediately.

Carbon monoxide detectors must be maintained, inspected and tested according to the manufacturer’s requirements. This is why it is important to keep and consult all the documentation offered by the manufacturer. In general, maintenance consists of testing them once a week to ensure that the alarm in functional and cleaning the outside of the detector with a vacuum cleaner once a month.

WARNING DEVICE

EMERGENCY LIGHTING

In order to allow the occupants of a building to circulate safely at all times, a minimum level of lighting ir required. Emergency lighting is necessary to ensure that there will be enough lighting in the event of a power failure to allow occupants to evacuate the building. Its periodic verification is therefore essential in order to ensure effective evacuation in the event of a fire.

Monthly, autonomous emergency lighting units must be inspected to ensure that the componentsare functional. Non-self-contained lighting units should be checked to ensure that they will be functional during emergency power shutdown.

Annually, self-contained emergency lighting units must be tested to ensure that they can provide a certain level of lighting for the required time and that the recharge time is compliant. In a residential building, exit stairs, means of evacuation and common corridors must be equipped with an emergency lighting system that can be kept in operation for at least 30 minutes in the event of a breakdown of the regular electrical system.

Fire protection systems include the various systems that allow a fire to be extinguished before the arrival of the emergency services. They must be checked regularly to ensure their effectiveness in the event of a fire.

Monthly, portable fire extinguishers should be inspected to ensure that they are visible, accessible and ready for use. Depending on the risks, some additional checks may be required.

Annually, a specialized technician need to apply an inspection label on the extinguisher certifying its conformity.

Every 5 or 6 years, extinguishers must be maintained by a specialized firm.

Weekly, a reading of the pressure gauges, a visual inspection and the verification of other components must be carried out. The person in charge of this inspection must have a minimum of knowledge to perform this task.

Monthly, a more complete inspection should be carried out.

Quarterly and annually, a specialized firm must be commissioned to carry out more in-depth inspections and tests, in order to provide you with a complete inspection report.

Every 5 years, 10 years or more, additional tests and inspections must be carried out by a specialized company and a complete inspection report must be obtained and kept for 5 years or 10 years, depending on the inspection.

Special extinguishing systems must be inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with the applicable standard or at least every 6 months.

Annually, the backflow prevention devices must be checked by a specialized firm. It is important to carry out these inspections in order to avoid water contamination.

FIRE PROTECTION

A support from A to Z

Complete electronic report

Following the inspection, we will give you your official inspection report containing our technician’s observations.

Recommendations and anomalies to be corrected

We will send you a list of recommendations and urgent anomalies to be corrected in order to obtain your certificate.

Estimated of work and repairs

We will send you an estimate for the necessary repair or maintenance work on your safety equipment, if applicable.

Obtaining certification CAN/ULC S536

Once the repairs and maintenance have been carried out, we will give you your annual inspection certificate.