FAQs

The building owner or property manager is responsible for ensuring emergency and exit lighting systems are tested, maintained, and compliant with applicable codes.

Dim or flickering lamps, batteries that no longer hold a 90-minute charge, cracked lenses, or units that fail monthly testing all indicate the fixture should be repaired or replaced.

Failed units must be repaired or replaced promptly to restore code compliance and ensure occupant safety. Unresolved failures can result in citations, fines, or failed AHJ inspections.

Compliance is confirmed through regular inspections that test your lighting functionality, battery condition, and fixture placement against NFPA 101 and local code requirements.

FSS Technologies provides end-to-end support for your emergency lighting, from installation and testing to maintenance and compliance documentation, all performed by certified life safety professionals.

Commercial fire alarm systems are larger, code-driven, and typically require addressable devices, voice evacuation capability, central station monitoring, and AHJ-approved documentation. Residential systems are generally simpler, self-contained, and may use local-only notification.

Fire alarm systems are primarily governed by NFPA 72 (National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code), NFPA 70 (National Electric Code) for electrical installation, and NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code) for occupancy-specific requirements. Other national codes and local standards from Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) may also apply.

Fire alarm system requirements are determined by occupancy type, size, and use as defined in the International Building Code (IBC) and NFPA 101. For example, assembly occupancies exceeding 300 people, hotels with three or more units, and certain business occupancies based on occupant load all require fire alarm systems.

The main types are conventional (devices grouped by zone), addressable (each device has a unique address for pinpoint location), hybrid (combines both), and wireless (ideal for historic or hard-to-wire buildings). The right type depends on building size, complexity, and code requirements.

A typical fire alarm system includes a fire alarm control panel (FACP); initiating devices such as smoke detectors, heat detectors, and pull stations; notification appliances like horns, strobes, and speakers; primary and backup power supplies; and communication devices that transmit signals to a monitoring station.