How to Stop Fire Alarm from Beeping at Your Business

Fire alarms are designed to make loud sounds when in alert mode, however, when a fire alarm is beeping or chirping incessantly, there can be a serious underlying issue. This may be connected to the system's sensor fire alarm panel.

Commercial fire alarm systems are much more complex than residential alarms, therefore for commercial properties, it’s highly recommended to contact a professional fire alarm service to check your building's alarm system and smoke detectors.

The reasons for the annoying beeping and chirping may be more serious than simply a battery charge issue, for commercial fire alarms, there should be consideration of either upgrading it or an entire fire alarm system retrofit.

Step 1: Check the Battery

The most common cause of beeping noises in commercial fire alarms and smoke detectors is low battery power. Regularly check and replace the batteries in your alarms to prevent this issue. Ensure new batteries are properly installed in battery-operated units.

Step 2: Clean the Detector

Accumulation of dust particles and dirt in the sensor chamber can trigger false alarms or cause your smoke detector to beep. Use compressed air to carefully clean the detectors to ensure they remain sensitive and functional.

Step 3: Reset Your Alarm System

For hardwired alarm systems, a reset might be necessary following a power outage or system malfunction. Safely turn off the power source from your business’s electrical panel, wait a few minutes, and then restore the power to reset the system.

Step 4: Check for Environmental Factors

Environmental factors, such as high humidity or significant temperature changes, can cause alarms to beep unexpectedly. Ensure that smoke detectors are placed in optimal locations within your business premises, away from areas with fluctuating temperatures or excessive moisture.

Step 5: Contact Professionals

If you encounter persistent issues with your system, or if you suspect a detector is malfunctioning, it’s advisable to consult professionals. They can conduct a comprehensive assessment to determine if your system requires a battery backup, a new battery installation, or a complete system overhaul.

While these steps address common issues effectively, they are just the start. For more complex situations, continue reading to gain a comprehensive understanding of your commercial fire alarm system and learn when professional intervention is necessary.

There is a distinct difference between a smoke detector beeping or a fire alarm autocall — the malfunction is connected to the type of alarm or where the problem originates from to identify the issue.

• A FIRE ALARM: A system that uses different devices to detect fire and alert occupants or first responders. It also can act to control or stop the fire.
• A SMOKE DETECTOR: A smoke detector detects fires by using sensor technologies to identify small particles in the air, once they are discovered the alarm will sound.
• THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO: A smoke detector will detect the smoke while a fire alarm will act, and a fire alarm system will have a smoke detector as one of its crucial components.
• A FIRE ALARM PANEL: A fire alarm control panel is the component of a fire alarm system that will control notification in the event of a fire by using sensors placed throughout the commercial property.

Related article: Different types of fire alarm systems and their detectors

Most commonly, a fire alarm will emit beeping sounds if the battery is low, however, it’s important to know that many other issues can be connected to the annoying beeping sounds. Troubleshooting the issues must be a priority for commercial building managers.

Common Causes of Fire Alarm Beeping and Solutions

Low Battery Issues:

• The primary reason for beeping in fire alarms and smoke detectors is often a low battery.
• Regularly changing batteries in all devices simultaneously prevent this issue from recurring.

Alarm Malfunctions:

• Alarms may malfunction and sound off unexpectedly, disrupting operations and posing safety risks.
• Addressing this promptly is vital, and for commercial buildings, we recommend seeking professional assistance.

Wireless Interference:

• Modern fire alarm systems, often wireless or with wireless capabilities, can experience interference from other nearby alarms.

Battery Connection Problems:

• Irregular chirping without consistent intervals may suggest a loose battery, particularly in hardwired alarms.
• Ensuring a secure connection can resolve this issue.

End-of-Life Indicators:

• Inconsistent chirping might signal that an alarm is nearing the end of its useful life, increasing the risk of malfunctions.
• Prompt replacement of these alarms is crucial for maintaining safety.

Dirty Sensors:

• Accumulated dirt or dust in the sensor can lead to beeping or chirping sounds.
• Regular cleaning of the sensor can prevent this problem.

Related article: 7 fire safety tips for commercial buildings

There are many other reasons not mentioned here above that could be the origins of the unnecessary beeping. It’s always best to consult with a professional to ensure the safety of your commercial property.

OTHER REASONS

Your Alarm Isn't Installed in the Right Place

While it's important to have fire alarms throughout the commercial property to ensure the safety and security of your space, installing them in the right spots is essential. Keep in mind when installing alarms that they must be at least 3 meters from cooking appliances. Remember - doing your due diligence and following installation instructions is key to reaping the benefits of fire alarms.

Battery Peg or Pull-Tab Is Impacting the Alarm

Wondering, “why does my fire alarm keep beeping?” It may be due to the peg or pull tab. When you change the batteries on your alarm, you may simultaneously have adjusted the peg or pull tab. Typically, when removing a battery, the security peg will be pulled out. If it's not pushed back in after replacing the battery, this may cause the alarm to chirp and beep. Similarly, with a pull tab, if you didn't remove the pull tab upon installation, it will beep to alert you to do so.

Battery Isn't Installed Right

If your alarm is improperly installed, it may result in a beeping or chirping sound. This is a way to notify you that the alarm isn't working as it should due to its improper application. For your safety and security, make sure all your alarms are properly installed to ensure that they are functioning to the best of their ability.

Battery Drawer Might Be Open

One of the simplest answers to why fire alarms chirp is that the battery drawer was left open. It's necessary to change the batteries on fire alarms to make sure they are up and running at all times, but it's also key that it's properly installed in the slot and the drawer is shut. This will protect the battery, and your alarm will let you know that it's not with that unwanted chirping and beeping we know all too well.

The Temperature Is Disturbing the Fire Alarm

Fire alarms, at their core function, are in place to detect when temperature drastically rises. For this reason, when there are large fluctuations in the temperature or humidity, this may cause the alarm to sound, even though there’s no fire.

This often happens when the alarm gets too cold, such as in unheated rooms or basements. Or, on the other hand, if it's in a steamy room. To avoid this, keep the fire alarm near doorways so that they experience airflow and better detect when there is actual danger and not just an unthreatening temperature change.

Alarm Errors Can Be the Problem

With more high-tech, smart smoke detectors, the alarm system actually saves errors in the processor. Sounds fine, right? While this helps the alarm adapt, the errors can actually build up, causing the alarm to go off. Wondering how to get a fire alarm to stop beeping in this case? Restarting the alarm is a quick, simple fix!

Check Your Electrical Breaker Line

So, have you checked all the other options for why your alarm is beeping and it's still going off? It may be time to check your electrical breaker line. Look for a “smoke alarm” label on your breaker, turn it off, and then turn it back on after a few minutes. Did the alarm stop? You've solved the issue! If you want to be sure the beeping is handled, you can head back over to your alarm and hit the test button. If it sounds off briefly and then stops, it's up and running as it should.

Related Article: Integrating fire alarm systems with other security measures

Everyone can recognize the sound a fire alarm system makes when in Alarm Condition — it is loud and obnoxious to save lives. However, it can get a bit troubling when the fire alarm panel starts beeping. When the control panel of the fire alarm beeps it tries to send us a message, a notification that something in the system is not operating properly.

Two types of beeps could be emitted by a fire alarm panel, either Trouble Condition or Supervisory Condition. The different beeps of both these conditions are uniform noises through most models of fire alarms on the market today.

TROUBLE CONDITION

A trouble condition happens when the alarm system discovers an issue with the equipment. It is important to address this problem right away because this could cause the problematic devices to fail in the event of a fire.

Examples of Trouble Condition:

• Low batteries
• Power outage or other electrical disturbance
• Dirty smoke detectors
• Faulty, cut, broken circuit wires
• Missing devices

SUPERVISORY CONDITION

Supervisory conditions happen when a supervisory device goes into alarm mode. A supervisory device can have an impact on the system's operations in the event of an emergency but is not part of the fire alarm that dispatches emergency vehicles such as fire trucks to the building.

Examples of Supervisory Conditions:

• The water flow in the sprinkler pipe causes an alarm. Closing the water valve causes a supervisory condition because the valve is not fully open.
• The outputs from other systems like Door Holder Power Supplies.
• Duct smoke detectors are a supervisory, not an actual alarm as office smoke detectors. Dirty detectors can trigger a supervisory condition.
• Monitor Modules that are connected to other devices such as Fire Pumps.

Related Article: What’s the difference between addressable and conventional fire alarm systems?

When there’s constant beeping, it can become increasingly annoying, which is why it's key to know how to reset a fire alarm system at your commercial property. It’s essential to understand how to turn off the fire alarm in a commercial building: Modern fire alarms typically come equipped with 3 buttons on the device: Silence, trouble silence, and acknowledge; these will temporarily stop the beeping. To stop the noise from reoccurring in the case of a trouble condition, the issue must be resolved.

In the event of a supervisory condition then the system must be restored to its normal condition. It’s important to reset a fire alarm panel for the latter condition. If the beeping returns once everything has been reset, it means that the issue wasn’t corrected.

Related Article: How to test the fire alarm in your commercial building

While we’re on the topic of how to stop a fire alarm from beeping, let's refresh the battery life of your alarm. With old batteries being the primary culprit for a sounding fire alarm, knowing when to replace yours is key to not only preventing that unwanted sound but also keeping you and your home safe from the threat of a fire. The basic rule of thumb is to replace smoke alarm batteries at least once a year and replace the alarm itself every 10 years. It's an easy task and one you should stay on top of for your own safety.

First, ensure the battery is properly installed and the battery replacement is done correctly. If the problem continues, the entire unit might need a replacement, especially if the smoke alarm beeping continues.

Related Article: How to change smoke alarm batteries: step-by-step guide

Unlike the typical stand-alone fire or smoke alarm, hardwired smoke alarms may not always reset after the batteries are replaced. These types of fire or smoke alarms that are connected to electricity may require that you fully disconnect the power inside your house to stop the beeping and chirping of the alarm.

The best way to troubleshoot smoke detectors that are wired is by flipping the switch off at the circuit breaker that feeds electricity to that area. With a partner, make sure the LED light is off and that the beeping stopped. Wait a few minutes before switching the breaker back on. Once that’s done, you can test your alarm.

Related Article: Fire security: how long do smoke detectors last?

For the safety and security of every commercial property, fire alarms are a must. It’s critical to hire or consult with a professional who can fix the problem and retrofit not just your fire alarm but your entire security system at your commercial property.

Whether you operate a warehouse, store, or multifamily complex, we’re here to help. We can handle engineering and consulting on any complex security system, Forbel alarms are your experts. Simply contact us to get started!