We take care of coordinating the implementation and of programming and testing the systems. Your quotation shows the equipment and services included in your purchase.
What does the law require of an installation company?
The installation of fire alarm systems is regulated by the Act on Certain Fire Safety Equipment (191/2024). The Act applies to fire alarm systems whose installation is based on legislation, a building permit or another permit issued by an authority, or which are connected to the Emergency Response Centre.
Under section 8 of the Act, the installation company must ensure that installation and maintenance work is carried out competently and carefully, in accordance with good technical practice. Before the system is taken into use, the installation company verifies that it meets the requirements set for it and carries out comprehensive functional tests. Finally, it draws up an installation certificate and hands it over, with its appendices, to the system holder.
The installation company is also responsible for arranging the verification inspection. The verification inspection is carried out by an inspection body before the system is taken into use and after significant alteration or extension work on the system (section 15). PAP Group is entered in the Tukes register as an installation company for fire alarm systems.
Reviewing the plans and preparing the implementation
We go through the project plans and the starting points for the implementation. Our project services include plan checking, working drawings and zone plans.
At the same time, we clarify the project schedule, the division of work and the interfaces affecting the implementation. This gives all parties to the project a shared understanding of what is being implemented and what commissioning requires.
The starting point is the statement of the system’s basic specifications. Under Decree 976/2024, it describes, among other things, the design rules to be followed, the extent of monitoring and protection, the connection of fire alarms to the Emergency Response Centre or another monitored location, and interoperability with other systems.
Equipment deliveries and logistics
PAP takes care of the equipment deliveries and logistics included in the order. We time deliveries according to the progress of the project and the installation work. You can view the equipment and accessories to be delivered in advance in our product catalogue.
The combination of equipment, accessories and plans is reviewed as part of the project. Any changes and their effects are agreed with the parties to the project.
Coordination of the implementation and installation work
TOIMI project services provide work and project management as well as supervision of the installation. We coordinate the implementation and the connections between systems.
PAP also provides installation services. This means you can get equipment deliveries, installation and commissioning through the same service package.
Errors in loop cabling are best found at the electrical installation stage rather than at commissioning. How a loop tester helps with this on site is explained in the article A loop tester improves the quality of installation work.
Programming, testing and interoperability
We program the systems according to the plans and carry out the commissioning work. Our services also include safety system interfaces, interoperability tests and commissioning of graphical user interfaces. Workstations suitable for the user interfaces can be found in our range of computers.
We test the system functions and their connections to the property’s other safety technology. At commissioning, we verify that the functions defined in the plans are in place.
The fire alarm system’s control outputs must not interfere with the operation of the fire alarm system itself. Under the Decree, the design and installation of the operation of controlled equipment, such as smoke ventilation or fire doors, are not part of the fire alarm system implementation, so their interfaces are agreed between the parties already at the preparation stage.
Preventing false alarms starts with installation
Under Decree 976/2024, the system must suit the activities in the protected premises, and the implementation must take into account the expected behaviour of the building’s users, so that unintended activation is as unlikely as possible. In practice, this means a detector type and placement suited to the space, and protecting devices against damage. Detector types are discussed in the article The smoke detector as part of a fire alarm system.
How the implementation proceeds
- Initial information and quotation. Our sales team reviews the site, the systems and the project stage and puts together a quotation.
- Plan checking. The plans, working drawings and zone plans are reviewed before installation.
- Deliveries and installation. The equipment is delivered in line with the work stages, and the installation is supervised to the agreed extent.
- Programming and testing. The system is programmed, its functions are tested and interoperability tests are carried out.
- Inspections. We carry out inspections of our own work and take part in the inspection body’s verification inspection.
- Handover. The installation certificate and handover documentation are handed over and the responsible persons are given induction.
Inspections, handover and user guidance
Our services include inspections of our own work, installation certificates, participation in inspections and handover tasks for the site. The tasks of the authorities and independent inspection parties are separate from these.
We familiarise the responsible persons with the use of the system and go through the handover documentation and contact arrangements. This way, the use and maintenance of the system get off to a clear start.
Handover documentation checklist
Decree 976/2024 lists what the installation certificate or its appendices must contain. At handover, check at least the following:
- contact details of the installation company and its responsible person
- information on the design rules applied and on changes made to the basic specifications
- implementation drawings and dimensioning calculations
- information on the inspections and tests carried out
- an account of the programming and the parameters used
- information on the conformity of the equipment and accessories
- the instructions and diagrams needed for operation, and the zone plan
- information and instructions for drawing up the maintenance programme
- as appendices, the statement of the basic specifications and the verification inspection report
It is worth storing the documentation so that it can be found during maintenance and inspections. TIETO Tallelokero brings it together in one service.
What happens after commissioning?
The first periodic inspection of a new system is carried out within 12–18 months of the verification inspection and every three years after that (Act on Certain Fire Safety Equipment 191/2024, section 16). The system holder is responsible for arranging the periodic inspection. It is also worth agreeing on maintenance and the maintenance programme at commissioning, so that upkeep starts from the right information straight away. Read more about our maintenance and servicing.
Who is the project service for?
The service is suitable for building and electrical contractors as well as property owners, property managers and asset managers. You can make use of PAP’s expertise in managing the entire implementation or in a limited programming and commissioning task. There is a separate page for contractors.
Finlandia Hall: from plans to commissioning
In the renovation of Finlandia Hall, PAP checked and supplemented the fire safety plans and took care of commissioning the systems and programming and testing the control panels. The project also included coordination of the official inspections.
Explore the Finlandia Hall project
Do you also install systems to replace old ones?
Yes. In a replacement, the installation is planned so that fire safety on the site remains under control throughout the work. The implementation can sometimes be divided into phases. After a significant change, a statutory fire alarm system requires a verification inspection before it is taken into use. The options are discussed in the article replacing and renovating a fire alarm system.
Who orders the verification inspection?
Under Act 191/2024, the installation company is responsible for arranging the verification inspection. If the installation company neglects this obligation or is unable to fulfil it, the responsibility passes to the system holder. The inspection is carried out by an inspection body, and its report becomes an appendix to the installation certificate.
Is the fire alarm system connected to the Emergency Response Centre?
That depends on the requirements for the site. The decision is recorded in the system’s basic specifications together with the arrangements for alarm transmission and link fault monitoring. Alarm transmission is also tested at commissioning. After that, the system holder is responsible for testing the transmission link every month.
What information should you include in a quote request?
Tell us the location of the site, the systems, the project stage and the target schedule. Attach any plans available and let us know whether you need installation, programming, commissioning or the full project service. Our sales team will put together a quotation.