Are you up to date with the required testing of your fire alarm system within your facility? Believe it or not, in the State of Ohio, all fire alarm systems are required to be inspected and tagged by a Licensed Fire Alarm Technician.
The adoption of these two new requirements is important because it means that we will see the enforcement of required Fire Alarm System Test & Inspections begin statewide. Until now, few municipalities in our state put much emphasis on these inspection requirements. Now that an Inspection Tag is required, it will be much easier for fire code officials to enforce building owners to make sure their building fire alarm system is in proper operation. Now, when the fire safety officer enters a building to inspect for things like properly working emergency lighting, clutter free exits, un-padlocked fire doors and a tag on the fire extinguisher, he will also be able to check for a fire alarm system Inspection Tag. A glance at this tag will tell the inspector at once whether or not the building fire alarm system is under contract for regular test and inspections by a licensed fire alarm company. No building owner in the state will want to leave their system un-repaired for very long; a red “Out of Service” tag will be posted on their fire alarm control panel.
Fire alarm systems need this inspection for many reasons. They determine the deficiencies within the facility that need attention as well as routine maintenance required. By having the required testing completed it will lead to a longer lasting system, and minimal false alarms. Let’s face it; less false alarms result in more productivity of the facility.
Should an emergency arise in your facility, do you have the documentation to present to the Insurance companies? With the annual test and maintenance you are provided with the proper documentation.
This code by Ohio was adopted a couple of years ago and is as follows;
The first code adoption requires an Annual Inspection Tag be completed and attached to every fire alarm system (OFC 901.6.3) – both new and existing systems included. Although the inspection of these systems has always been required, the tag rule is new. This tag should be completed and placed at the FACP or other "approved location" when the fire licensed technician performs the site’s annual, semi-annual or quarterly inspection. Secondly, our Ohio Fire Code now requires an Out of Service Tag be placed on any required fire alarm system or portion thereof that is non-operational (OFC 901.7.2). 
For further information on this specific code requirement, or to schedule a test & inspect, please contact me at 330-723-9795 ext. 124.
View the Ohio Fire Code: http://www2.iccsafe.org/states/ohiofire/OH_Fire/fire_frameset.htm
Keith Riggs, SET
NICET IV Engineer
keithr@safety-technologies.net
