USER TESTING

Regular testing of your fire, security, monitoring and  other systems is critical to ensure your system remains in good working order. NFPA  72, 2010 Edition, The National Fire Alarm & Signaling Code requires commercial fire alarm equipment to be tested up to four times per year and residential fire alarm equipment once a year.   

  NFPA 731, 2011  Edition, Standard for Electronic Premise Security Systems states
1) the test frequency shall conform to the manufacturer's recommendations
2) to verify the correct operation of the system
3) accordance with a security vulnerability assessment

            PDS recommends testing according to the above standards or once per week for security systems in lieu of a security vulnerability assessment. We also recommend testing the equipment after any of the following occurrences: phone work, cable work, network work, electrical outages, lightning storms, vandalism, tampering, building construction, changes to the premises or any other circumstance that may affect proper equipment operation.

Who can  professionally test the equipment or system?
Industry standards NFPA 72 & 731 states
1) testing shall be performed by qualified personnel who is certified by the equipment manufacturer
2) a person who is licensed and certified by the local, state, or federal government
3) a person certified by an industry-recognized program acceptable to the Authority Having Jurisdiction.

              Call for a FREE phone consultation regarding your system testing and maintenance requirements.

Service, Inspection and Testing Contracts Recommended

How to Perform a Self-Test:
Step One
If your system is monitored: Call the Monitoring Center and request that your system be placed on test.  Have your name, account number and pass code available.
Step Two
For Security Systems, arm the system and allow the exit time to expire. At that point you can open the doors and windows to trigger the alarm, walk in the coverage area of all motion sensors and trigger any other equipment you have such as panic buttons, glass break sensors, smoke detectors, per the manufacturer's instructions if it is within your capability. When complete follow steps Four and Five.
Step Three
For Fire systems
Follow Step One and begin triggering the equipment i.e. smoke detectors, heat detectors, pull stations, interface equipment, etc. per NFPA or the manufacturer's instructions if it is with-in your capability. When complete follow Steps Four & Five.
Step Four
Verify the operation or non-operation of each device and verify with the monitoring center that all signals were received correctly. 
Step Five
After testing reset or return all the equipment back to normal condition and have the Monitoring Center remove your account from test status.
               
Call PDS for repair service if the system did not work correctly or you are unable to perform the testing.

PDS RECOMMENDS PROFESSIONAL TESTING AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON ALL FIRE AND SECURITY SYSTEMS.

Call PDS for Service or Information (215) 744-3500