×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Fire Panels - replace or refurbish?

Fire Panels - replace or refurbish?

Fire Panels - replace or refurbish?

(OP)
Hello,
I'm responsible for a large portfolio of buildings many of which that date back to 60s and 70s. I'm being asked to approve the replacement of fire panels in these building with modern ones for $10s of thousands each. Justifications given by the facility operators are things like:
a) Fire marshall says this needs to be done.
b) Panel is getting unreliable due to age.
c) False alarms sometimes.

1. Could I have your opinions whether this is really necessary?
2. Aren't these old panels just a bunch of relays that can be replaced individually for much less money?
3. Are new panels going to provide any other benefits?

Thank you,
I.

RE: Fire Panels - replace or refurbish?

Quote (OP)

a) Fire marshall says this needs to be done.
If the fire marshal is saying this in writing then that is sufficient justification.
I remember bidding a fire alarm upgrade for a large hotel in the 70's. The low bid was over $500,000.00

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

RE: Fire Panels - replace or refurbish?

You needed only go as far as a). The technology has changed so much since then that trying to refurbish would just be good money after bad.

RE: Fire Panels - replace or refurbish?

Agree with David. If the fire marshal has stated this, then that's that. You could appeal, but I certainly wouldn't with systems that old. Recent high rise fires should be a good reminder that this is not where you want to scrimp or defer.

Fire alarm panels are UL-listed and generally cannot be modified by the owner without loss of UL certification, although perhaps field certification might be possible. I'd also be concerned about state of detectors and wiring. New systems offer vastly more options and capabilities, but don't overlook need to replace detectors and perhaps wiring.

RE: Fire Panels - replace or refurbish?

Run this by your company's legal team. They will not hesitate to back repalcement...

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources