Notification appliances are intentionally designed to disrupt normal building operations. Horns, speakers, and strobes must attract attention and prompt occupants to take action during an emergency.
The downside is that these same devices often need to be activated during routine inspection and testing activities. Depending on the size and occupancy of the building, testing can interrupt normal operations and affect tenants, residents, employees, customers, students, and patients.
Self-testing notification appliances help address this challenge. Rather than requiring prolonged activation throughout a facility, these devices can verify operation and report results back to the fire alarm control panel with only a brief activation lasting approximately one second while maintaining compliance with applicable inspection and testing requirements.
The first video below shows how a self-test can be initiated directly from the fire alarm control panel.
The second video shows a self-testing notification appliance completing its test cycle.
For comparison, the final video shows a more traditional notification appliance test.
Autocall fire alarm systems incorporate self-testing notification appliance technology that can significantly reduce testing disruptions in many occupancies.
Fire Defense is an authorized Autocall partner for fire alarm system installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, and service.