Fire Alarm Inspection & Testing
Commercial buildings in California are required to have their fire alarm system inspected and tested every year under NFPA 72 and Title 19. APFE Corp. performs annual, semi-annual and quarterly fire alarm inspections for offices, retail, warehouses, restaurants, schools, churches, apartment and condo buildings, and HOAs throughout Orange County, Los Angeles County, San Diego County, Riverside County and San Bernardino County.
Same-week scheduling. Report provided for your fire department.
Licensed & insured. CSLB License #861238 (C-10 Electrical, C-16 Fire Protection, C-36 Plumbing). Serving Orange County, Los Angeles County, San Diego County, Riverside County and San Bernardino County.
What’s included in our fire alarm inspection
Control panel & power
Panel status, trouble and supervisory signals, standby batteries (load tested), chargers and AC power.
Initiating devices
Smoke detectors, heat detectors, manual pull stations, duct detectors, waterflow and tamper switches – every device tested and documented.
Notification appliances
Horns, strobes, speakers and bells checked for operation, audibility and visibility.
Monitoring & interfaces
Signal transmission to the central station, elevator recall, door holders, HVAC shutdown and sprinkler supervision.
Smoke detector sensitivity
Sensitivity testing on the NFPA 72 schedule so detectors neither false-alarm nor fail to respond.
Written report
A complete NFPA 72 inspection & testing report with any deficiencies and a repair quote.
Required fire alarm testing frequencies
| Item | Frequency (NFPA 72 / Title 19) |
|---|---|
| Full functional test of all devices and notification appliances | Annually |
| Control panel, batteries, power supplies | Semi-annually |
| Smoke detector sensitivity test | Within 1 year of installation, then every 2 years (every 5 years after two passes) |
| Supervising station (monitoring) connection | Annually |
| Standby battery replacement | Typically every 3–5 years |
Why building owners and property managers choose APFE
- Licensed C-10 fire alarm contractor – not a sales office that subcontracts the work.
- One company for alarm, sprinkler, extinguisher and exit lights – fewer vendors, one report binder.
- Repairs on the same visit when possible: batteries, detectors, horn/strobes and panel trouble.
- Fast scheduling when the fire department has given you a deadline.
Fire alarm panel trouble? We fix that too.
If your panel is beeping, showing Trouble, Ground Fault, Low Battery or Comm Fail, see our fire alarm trouble & repair page or call us – we diagnose and repair Silent Knight, Fire-Lite, Notifier, EST, Simplex and more.
Service Area
APFE Corp. is based in Orange County and sends licensed technicians throughout Southern California:
- Orange County – Anaheim, Irvine, Santa Ana, Orange, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Tustin, Brea, Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest
- Los Angeles County – Los Angeles, Long Beach, Torrance, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, Whittier, Downey, Norwalk
- San Diego County – San Diego, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Escondido, Chula Vista
- Inland Empire – Riverside, Corona, Temecula, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino
Outside these areas? Call us – we also take on work in Ventura and Kern counties.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does a commercial fire alarm system need to be inspected?
NFPA 72 and California Title 19 require a full functional test of a commercial fire alarm system at least once a year, with certain components (such as batteries and some sensors) checked semi-annually. Your local fire department (the AHJ) may ask to see the annual report at any time.
What do you test during an annual fire alarm inspection?
We test the control panel, batteries and power supplies, every initiating device (smoke detectors, heat detectors, pull stations, waterflow and tamper switches), notification appliances (horns, strobes, speakers), the monitoring connection, and any interfaces such as elevator recall or door holders. Smoke detectors are sensitivity-tested on the schedule NFPA 72 requires.
Do I get a report for the fire marshal?
Yes. Every inspection comes with a written NFPA 72 inspection and testing report that you can hand to your fire inspector, insurance carrier or property manager. If we find deficiencies, the report lists them with a repair quote.
What fire alarm panels do you service?
Silent Knight, Fire-Lite, Honeywell, Notifier, Edwards / EST, Simplex, Gamewell, Potter, Kidde and most other commercial low-voltage panels. If you are not sure what you have, send us a photo of the panel and we will tell you.
How much does a fire alarm inspection cost?
It depends on the number of devices and the size of the building. Call 800-784-8942 with your address and an approximate device count and we will give you a firm price, usually the same day.
Call for a quote – most inspections are priced the same day.