FAQs

BC Fire Code Section 6.3, CAN/ULC S536 and NFPA 72 require periodic testing of fire alarm equipment throughout the year. This testing includes daily, monthly, quarterly and annual inspections.  See a list of the required fire alarm inspections.

Qualified technicians must carry out the annual inspection. The monthly inspections can be undertaken by on-site personnel. Fraser Valley Fire Protection can train your designated staff members (at no cost) to carry out these tests. However, for your convenience, we offer monthly and quarterly inspection services to ensure your equipment is fully functional.   Find out more about fire alarm inspections.

An addressable system provides more detail to first responders, such as which devices may have been activated. A conventional fire alarm will alert of a potential fire within a more general area.

For the best outcome, we recommend and only allow that qualified electricians to install hard-wired smoke alarms. Some smoke alarms have auxiliary equipment connected to them, such as sprinklers and strobes. A qualified electrician should carry out the work to ensure functionality is maintained.

It is recommended that both battery-operated and hard-wired alarms should be replaced after 10 years. With battery-operated alarms, batteries should be replaced at least once a year.

Ionization smoke alarms pick up flaming fires more quickly while a photoelectric smoke alarm responds more rapidly to smoldering fires. For you best protection, you should use a combination of both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms in your building.

Keep the mnemonic PASS in mind to remind you of the steps for operating a fire extinguisher: (1) Pull the pin. (2) Aim low. (3) Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly. (4) Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side.

Use a fire extinguisher only on a fire that is confined to a very small area, such as a sink or wastebasket. If the fire seems to be getting larger, exit the building and call your local fire department.

At this time, we only provide fire protection and fire suppression services for multi-dwelling, commercial and industrial buildings.

The NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. This association is responsible for national fire protection codes and provides fire protection training and education. Learn more about the NFPA at NFPA.org / Codes & Standards

BC Fire Code Section 6.4 and NFPA 25 require periodic testing of sprinkler systems throughout the year. These include daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly annual, 3-year and 5-year inspections. See a list of the required sprinkler inspections.

Qualified technicians or fitters must conduct annual, 3-year and 5-year inspections. The monthly inspections can be undertaken by on-site personnel. Fraser Valley Fire Protection can train your designated staff members (at no cost) to carry out these tests. For your convenience, we offer monthly and quarterly inspection services to give you peace of mind that your equipment is fully functional. Find out more about Sprinkler Inspection Services.

Look for corrosion, paint, damage, or large amounts of dust on their sprinkler heads. If you see these issues please contact us so we can come to ensure your sprinkler head’s effectiveness.

For wet sprinkler systems, it is important to ensure the building’s heating system is working and able to adequately warm areas where there are pipes.

Dry pipe sprinkler systems must be serviced before the cold weather each year. This involves draining the drum drips until they are moisture-free. Closing the top valve and opening the bottom to drain water. This is repeated until no more water comes out.

Even though your fire sprinklers have not been activated, you should still have them inspected to determine that all the seen and unseen components are in proper working order. With the passing of time, components can degrade or flaws in a component can become apparent. Without an inspection, you would have know way of knowing if your system will be fully operational when you need it to be.

A fire sprinkler system reduces heat, flames and smoke arising from a fire in order to increase the amount of time building occupants have to safely escape from a building and minimize damage.