The city inspects your business every year
Inside city limits, the City of Victorville Fire Department inspects every business once a year. A Fire Inspector usually gets in touch when your business license comes up for renewal. The department also carries out the inspections the State Fire Marshal requires for schools, health care facilities and family day care homes, on top of the yearly business check.
Got a fire alarm? Expect questions about it. Is the panel showing normal, and when was it last tested? A recent test on file before that visit beats booking one after the inspector asks.
Fire alarm testing in Victorville
NFPA 72 sets the schedule: the full system is inspected and tested at least once a year, and some devices need attention more often than that. A technician usually starts at the panel and works outward:
- The control panel, its trouble and supervisory signals, and its standby batteries
- Smoke detectors, heat detectors, duct detectors and manual pull stations
- Horns, strobes and other notification appliances
- The signal to your monitoring company, if the system is monitored
- Sprinkler waterflow and tamper switches tied into the alarm
Plan for some noise. Horns and strobes will go off during testing, so tell staff and tenants ahead of time and let your monitoring company know the system is in test before anyone starts pulling stations.
Then there's the paperwork. NFPA 72 calls for a written record of each inspection and test, showing what was checked and what passed or failed. Keep it handy for license renewal. If your lease makes the alarm your responsibility, your landlord will probably ask for a copy as well.
If a device fails the test
Detectors age, batteries lose capacity and wiring gets nicked during remodels. When a device fails, it goes on the test record along with what it needs. Repairs are quoted first. You approve the cost before work starts, and once the fix is made the device is tested again so the record shows it working. Our Victorville fire alarm repair page has more on fixing panels and devices.
Adding devices, remodeling or opening a new space
Changes to an alarm usually start with the city. Victorville's Fire Prevention Division reviews plans for fire alarm modifications, tenant improvements and new commercial construction, and it issues the construction permits for that work. Adding detectors in a remodeled suite, extending horns and strobes into new rooms or replacing a panel are the kinds of changes that usually go through review.
Opening soon? If you need a fire department appointment before your doors open, ask Fire Prevention what they'll want to see and schedule the alarm work around that date.
Who does the work
California work for 1 Pro Fire is done by Hedrick Fire Protection, which holds C-10 (electrical) and C-16 (fire protection) contractor licenses and is licensed by the California State Fire Marshal under Title 19 for extinguisher service and water-based systems such as sprinklers. One company can cover all three.
Victorville is in our service area. Call (909) 219-9411 or email socal@1profire.com with the address, the panel brand if you know it and a rough device count, and we'll give you the earliest date we can be there.
Related Victorville pages: our Victorville fire protection hub, fire sprinkler service in Victorville, annual fire extinguisher certification and a case study on weatherproof extinguisher tags for a Victorville carnival.
Outside the city? See fire alarm service in San Bernardino County, Riverside County and Los Angeles County.
Victorville fire alarm questions
Our current inspection company can't get here for two months. Can you step in?
Often, yes. Send the address and what you know about the system, and we'll quote and schedule the annual test. If a city inspector has already flagged it, mention that when you call.
How often does a fire alarm have to be tested?
NFPA 72 requires at least an annual test. Some devices are checked more often.
Do I need a permit to add or move alarm devices?
Usually it goes through the city. Victorville's Fire Prevention Division reviews alarm modifications and issues construction permits, so check with them before any devices move.
Are you located in Victorville?
Victorville is in our service area and our technicians come to your site. Ask for the next open date when you call.
Can a technician come out today or tomorrow?
It depends on that week's schedule. Call early in the day and we'll tell you the soonest opening we have, along with what the visit will need from you to go quickly.