A fire system stays on standby for most of its life, and its readiness is only known by testing it. A fire system maintenance contract (AMC) turns inspection from “when we remember” into a clear schedule with documented reports.
What should the contract include?
- A list of the systems and devices covered (sprinklers, gas, foam, water mist, pumps, alarm).
- A schedule of inspection and test visits.
- Fire pump testing and valve exercising.
- Detector, alarm panel and battery checks.
- A written report after every visit.
- A way to track findings until they are closed.
Preventive versus corrective maintenance
Preventive: regular inspection that finds issues before they become failures. Corrective: fixing a fault that has already appeared. The contract should define each, with its scope and cost, and any response commitments should be written into it explicitly.
What does a good report contain?
- Visit date and the systems inspected.
- Test results and readings.
- Findings and their priority.
- Proposed corrective actions and who owns them.
3 questions before you sign
- Is there a written report after every visit?
- What exactly is inspected?
- Who owns a finding when it appears, and how is it tracked?
Warning signs
- A generic contract that does not list systems covered.
- No reports, or only a short certificate.
- No clarity on what falls outside the contract.
Frequently asked questions
How often are systems inspected?
It depends on the system type, the applicable requirements and the manufacturer’s recommendations, such as NFPA 25 for water-based systems and NFPA 72 for fire alarm. The schedule is written into the contract.
Does the contract replace authority inspections?
No. A contract helps keep systems ready and documents their condition, but inspection and approval are set by the relevant authorities on each project.
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