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Installing new fire alarm systems in old buildings can require a lot of legwork to assess what parts of the old system can and cannot be used. The cost savings for integrating the old system with the new can, however, be significant.
The prospect of retrofitting an existing fire alarm system can be very troubling to building owners and facility managers because of the many possible pitfalls. Apart from potential interruptions to normal business operations, upgrading a fire alarm system can cause a great deal of anxiety regarding design and installation costs.
Because building owners and operators are understandably concerned about the value that they are getting when upgrading their fire alarm systems, they naturally opt for curtailing planning to get an expedient installation. However, well-executed due-diligence planning not only has the potential to save substantial sums of money on first costs, but can result in significant long-term savings associated with reduced upkeep and maintenance.
To upgrade-or not
There are many reasons why a building owner or facility manager may want to upgrade or even replace an existing fire alarm system. A few of the more common reasons are discussed below.
Code compliance- The need to comply with federal, state, and municipal codes or requirements is perhaps one of the most common motivations for replacing or upgrading fire alarm systems. Although buildings that undergo a change in use or occupancy would certainly be expected to comply with the current requirements for the design and installation of fire alarm systems, even fairly minor renovations to a building can trigger fire alarm upgrades. Specifically, compliance with state and federal accessibility requirements may necessitate that notification appliances be brought up to current code even in areas that are not directly being altered.
Furthermore, accessibility upgrades are not only triggered as a result of voluntary alterations or additions, but also can be required during the course of repairs to a building following a fire, earthquake, or similar catastrophic event.
Wear and tear- Older high- and low-voltage systems that have been in operation for many years may start to show their age through an increasing number of system troubles, false alarms, or system down-time events. These occurrences reveal more fundamental underlying reliability concerns associated with aging or poorly maintained...