Mon - Fri: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm | 990 Criss Circle, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
What’s the key to how to stop a fire alarm from chirping? With our simple fixes and tips, you can finally quiet your alarm for a peaceful yet protected home.
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 is 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.
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.
Most commonly, a fire alarm will emit beeping sounds if the battery is low, however, it is 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.
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.
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.
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.
One of the simplest answers to why do 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.
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 is no fire.
This often happens in the case 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.
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!
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.
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.
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:
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 Condition:
When there is constant beeping, it can become increasingly more annoying, which is why it’s key to know how to reset a fire alarm system at your commercial property. It is 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 is 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 was not corrected.
While we are 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 keeping you and your home safe from the threat of a fire. The basic rule of thumb is to replace batteries at least once a year and replace the alarm itself every ten years. It’s an easy task and one you should stay on top of for your own safety.
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 is done you can test your alarm.
For the safety and security of every commercial property, fire alarms are a must. It is 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, Forbel is here to help. We can handle engineering and consulting of any complex security system, Forbel alarms are your experts. Just contact us!
