TURVA maintenance services include periodic maintenance, a survey of the overall system set-up and maintenance planning. Maintenance work is based on the equipment on site and its manufacturers’ instructions, not on a generic checklist.
What does the law require for fire alarm system upkeep?
Under section 12 of the Rescue Act, fire detection and alarm devices must be kept in working order and appropriately maintained and inspected. The Act does not lay down a single maintenance interval for all systems. The upkeep of fire alarm systems is regulated in more detail in Decree 976/2024 of the Ministry of the Interior.
Under the Decree, the system holder – the owner or occupier of the building or the operator – is responsible for keeping the fire alarm system in working order, monitoring its condition and repairing any faults found. Among other things, the holder must take care of the maintenance programme, the monthly testing of the transmission link to the Emergency Response Centre or another monitored location, and the induction of the persons responsible. Maintenance and upkeep measures carried out must be recorded.
Maintenance and inspection are two different things. For a statutory fire alarm system, an inspection body approved by Tukes carries out a periodic inspection every three years; for a new system, the first one takes place within 12–18 months of the verification inspection (Act on Certain Fire Safety Equipment 191/2024, section 16). Maintenance keeps the system in good order between inspections, and the maintenance records are available for the inspection.
Planned fire alarm system maintenance
When maintaining a fire alarm system, we follow the maintenance instructions for its devices and for the system. System information, previous maintenance reports and any problems observed help us prepare the maintenance and identify repair needs.
Under the Decree, the maintenance programme takes into account the intended use of the system, the activities carried out on site and the operating and maintenance instructions, and the programme must cover the planned life cycle of the system. The programme and the zone plans are kept up to date when changes are made to the system or the site.
What does the maintenance and servicing service include?
Survey of the overall system set-up
We establish which systems are on site and how their maintenance is organised. The survey helps identify current needs and forms a basis for future maintenance.
Maintenance planning
We compile maintenance programmes from the manufacturers’ instructions for each item of equipment. The programme helps you keep track of maintenance tasks and when they are due. The schedule of maintenance visits and the practical arrangements are agreed with the property’s contact person.
Periodic maintenance and improvement proposals
We carry out the agreed periodic maintenance and highlight any repair and improvement needs observed. Findings from maintenance also help prepare future system purchases.
Records and documents
Maintenance information is recorded so that it can be found at the next maintenance visit and at the periodic inspection. TIETO Tallelokero brings maintenance reports and system documents together in one service.
When entering into a maintenance agreement, it is worth checking not only the price but also which systems the agreement covers and how fault repairs and documentation are handled. The points to check are set out in the article What should you find out about a fire alarm system maintenance agreement?
How maintenance proceeds
- Initial information. Tell us the location of the site, the systems and the current maintenance situation. Equipment details, the maintenance programme and previous maintenance reports speed up preparation.
- Survey and quotation. We establish the scope of the systems to be maintained and any missing information. The quotation shows which systems are included in the service.
- Maintenance programme. Maintenance tasks and their timing are compiled into a programme on the basis of the equipment instructions.
- Maintenance visit. The date and practical arrangements are agreed with the contact person before the visit.
- Report and follow-up. You receive the maintenance records and information on any repair and improvement needs observed. Repairs are agreed separately.
Checklist for the system holder
Under Decree 976/2024, these matters are the responsibility of the system holder, even if maintenance has been outsourced:
- a maintenance programme has been drawn up and is up to date
- the details of a contact person who can be reached in an alarm situation are displayed at the fire alarm system’s main operating panel
- the fire alarm transmission link is tested monthly and link faults are monitored
- there are instructions for disablement, malfunctions and activation
- the rescue department can access the system without delay in an alarm situation
- temporary safety arrangements have been planned for situations in which the system is partly or entirely out of service
- the persons responsible for operation and upkeep have been given induction
- maintenance and upkeep measures are recorded
A fire alarm system log book is a good way to support record-keeping. Our training services can help with staff induction.
Systems we maintain
Voice alarm system maintenance
We maintain voice alarm systems in accordance with their maintenance instructions. Maintenance takes into account the system equipment, the announcement functions and the connections to other fire safety technology.
Emergency lighting and exit sign maintenance
We maintain emergency lighting and exit sign systems so that escape routes remain visible during a power cut. Decree 977/2024 requires the working order of the lighting to be monitored and maintenance work to be recorded.
Read more about emergency lighting maintenance and inspection
Smoke ventilation maintenance
We maintain smoke ventilation systems. Maintenance takes into account the smoke ventilation controls and their connections to the property’s other safety technology.
Alarm transmission maintenance
PAP provides maintenance for alarm transmission. The tasks of the transmission link service provider are kept separate from the maintenance of the property’s equipment.
Sprinkler system maintenance
We also look after sprinkler systems. Up-to-date system and maintenance records support continuity of maintenance.
Gas extinguishing system maintenance
Gas extinguishing systems are part of our maintenance offering. Changes to the protected space and to the activities in it are taken into account as part of maintenance.
Portable fire extinguishers and fire hose reels
Our maintenance also covers portable fire extinguishers and fire hose reels. The number, types and locations of the equipment and previous maintenance records help prepare the work.
Fire doors and smoke curtains
PAP provides maintenance services for fire doors and smoke curtains. Maintenance also takes into account controls and connections to other systems.
Civil defence shelter maintenance
PAP provides maintenance services for civil defence shelters. The shelter’s information, documents and previous maintenance work help in managing the shelter as a whole.
Rescue plan
PAP prepares the rescue plan and sets it up on the digital Codeax®SAFE platform. There you update the plan yourself when the property’s operations, premises, responsible persons or contact details change, and we help when needed. Planning work complements the maintenance of the property’s systems.
Yrjö ja Hanna Foundation: maintenance with one partner
The Yrjö ja Hanna Foundation centralised the maintenance of rescue service equipment at all its sites with PAP. The reference describes how annual maintenance for several properties is handled centrally and how maintenance reports are added to the sites’ rescue plans.
Read about the Yrjö ja Hanna Foundation’s homes
How often is a system maintained?
Maintenance tasks and their timing follow the equipment manufacturers’ instructions and the site’s maintenance programme, which brings them together. The same maintenance interval does not apply to all systems. The periodic inspection of a statutory fire alarm system every three years is the task of an inspection body and does not replace maintenance.
Are fault repairs included in maintenance?
Periodic maintenance and the pricing of fault repairs are separate matters. Your maintenance agreement shows how repairs and spare parts are invoiced. When you contact us, let us know whether you need periodic maintenance or help with a fault you have noticed.
Who tests the transmission link every month?
Decree 976/2024 makes the monthly testing of the transmission link the responsibility of the system holder. Who does it in practice is agreed on site, and the test is recorded like other upkeep measures. The guide to alarm transmission explains how alarm transmission works.
Can you buy maintenance if the system was installed by another company?
Yes. The survey establishes the system, its documents and its maintenance history. Any missing information is completed while the service is being prepared. The Panasonic systems installed by PAP are open, so their maintenance can also be put out to tender.
When do maintenance findings lead to replacement?
Recurring faults, declining spare part availability or a change in how the premises are used may raise the need to assess the system more broadly. The decision is made on the basis of the site’s overall situation. Read more in the article replacing and renovating a fire alarm system.
Tell us about your property’s maintenance needs
Do you need fire alarm maintenance or a wider maintenance package? Let’s work out together how best to look after your systems now and in the future.