A fire inspector asks when your smoke detectors were last sensitivity tested, and the binder can't answer. Here is what commercial fire alarm testing records a facility manager should keep under NFPA 72 (2022), what to request from a previous vendor, and why outdated records are often the first sign the fire alarm system itself needs an upgrade. GenX Security Solutions serves commercial buildings across SC, NC, and GA.

In any situation involving a system take-over the question is typically not "should we get new cameras" or "what brand is trending." Rather, in takeover scenarios the real question is whether changing integrators means writing a second check for infrastructure you already paid for and if it will go smoothy. At GenX Security Solutions sometimes we start from scratch for a company with all brand new security tech and integration. But we also take over many systems and monitorin

A commercial fire alarm does not necessarily need a traditional phone line. Modern systems can use approved communication technologies, including cellular and IP-based pathways, depending on the fire alarm equipment, system design, applicable code, and local Authority Having Jurisdiction, or AHJ. The bigger issue is whether three critical types of information can reliably travel from your building to the supervising station when they need to: alarm, supervisory, and trouble s

Updated 2026 NFPA 72 requirements now adopted across much of the Southeast, adding clarity around documentation, system verification, and what inspectors are prioritizing today. Together, the two articles provide a complete picture of both the fundamentals and the current expectations for commercial smoke detector testing. If you are responsible for a commercial fire alarm system, this update will help you stay compliant, inspection-r