It can be very tempting to accept the cheaper quote for a Fire Alarm System, especially from a trusted Electrical Contractor.
However, paying less to get an electrician to install a Fire Alarm System could be more hassle than you know...
Electricians aren't always trained and fully versed in Fire Safety Legislation, which means issues with their installations often arise.
In the following case, in addition to ignorance of legislation, the problem lay with commissioning the equipment...
A business we worked with a few years ago in Essex had a new Fire Alarm System installed by an Electrical Contractor who was also carrying out their Electrical Installation.
The business didn't want to pass up the opportunity to save some money but little did they know the trouble they were in for...
All was well until problems surfaced during commissioning of the new system. The Fire Alarm wasn't working, so Blake's were called in to finish the job for them. The issue turned out to be more complex than initially anticipated, requiring extensive troubleshooting and adjustments. Fortunately, Blake's Fire Alarm Maintenance team quickly identified the root cause and implemented a solution that ensured the system was fully operational. Their expertise not only resolved the immediate issue but also provided peace of mind for the future.
Whilst commissioning the system, we discovered the recently installed equipment was at least 10 years old.
It must have been sitting, unused on the shelf for the previous decade!
An old system is obviously cheaper than a new one, but the choice of outdated equipment means it will need to be replaced ten years sooner!
And to make matters worse, the cabling was not installed to the correct British Standard - it was not clipped to the fabric of the building.
The system needed to be completely reinstalled at a substantial cost.
If it seems too good to be true, seek professional advice!
The next time you wonder if you should hire that electrician to install a Fire Alarm System in your business, remember this cautionary tale with an important message:
Always get your Fire Alarm System designed and installed by a professional accredited company to get the job done correctly, first time. Or you could be paying out more than you bargained for.
Not only did the company have to pay for the system to be installed properly by the professionals, they also had a fire alarm system that wasn't operational - putting everyone's safety at risk.
We know that cost is a big factor in anything for a business. That's why we wrote a book about it! Click here or tap the image below to download your free guide to Balancing Budget and Fire Safety today.
Keep your people safe and your accountant smiling!
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