When it comes to fire safety, few processes are as critical and as often overlooked as commissioning. Building owners, operators, and occupants rightly place their trust in professionals to specify, install, and certify fire detection and alarm systems. But how confident can we be that the commissioning process has been completed comprehensively and recorded accurately?
This is where AMX from Drax Technology offers a smarter, more reliable approach to commissioning. Let’s explore the common challenges in fire alarm commissioning and how AMX transforms this essential process.
The Challenges of Traditional Commissioning
Commissioning ensures that a fire alarm system not only meets design specifications but performs as intended in a real-life emergency. But the reality of commissioning is complex, and several factors can affect system performance:
Resource Limitations
The fire alarm industry has long faced a shortage of skilled technicians, particularly those qualified to carry out commissioning. Organisations such as the Fire Industry Association are helping address this through specialist training programmes and competency tracking. Many manufacturers, recognising the need for well-trained professionals, restrict access to commissioning software to those who have completed approved training.
Design Oversights
While the Responsible Person typically oversees fire system design, commissioning engineers play a crucial role in ensuring that design intent is met in practice. Issues like a smoke detector placed too close to a wall, or a manual call point installed at the wrong height, can compromise performance and are common indicators of inadequate commissioning. These details matter: inappropriate device placement or selection can significantly increase the risk of unwanted alarms.
Preparation and Planning
Effective commissioning depends on comprehensive preparation. Engineers need detailed information before they even step onto site, including:
The system specification
Fire safety strategy and evacuation plans
As-installed drawings and device schedules
The intended cause-and-effect strategy
Details of any plant interfaces
Access limitations
Risk assessments and method statements
Without this, the commissioning process is at risk of delays and errors.
Site Challenges
Commissioning is often the final task before project handover, and time pressures can be intense. Engineers face challenges such as incomplete documentation, unresolved hardware issues, or site conditions that hamper testing. These pressures can lead to shortcuts that undermine the integrity of the system.
Poor Record-Keeping
The shift towards a compliance culture based on the Golden Thread means that accurate, comprehensive records are more important than ever. Traditional paper-based or even simple digital records often fall short of capturing the true detail of commissioning activities.
AMX: A Smarter Approach to Commissioning
This is where AMX from Drax Technology steps in, bringing intelligence and clarity to the commissioning process. Used as a data-logging tool, AMX automatically records every event from connected devices. The result? A complete, tamper-proof picture of activities - from initial connection through the life of the system.
With AMX, commissioning engineers and building owners can:
Verify that every device has been tested
Record the exact date, time, outcome, and operator for each test
Assess actual analogue values to confirm device performance
Check that device zoning matches the design
Confirm that the cause-and-effect strategy works as intended
Compare results against the intended evacuation zones
Demonstrate compliance through accurate, digital records
Combined with AMX’s intuitive graphics module, it’s simple to:
Visualise the system’s performance during commissioning
Prove that 100% of devices were tested and passed
Spot discrepancies in as-installed drawings
Create a robust Golden Thread record for regulatory compliance
The Benefits for Building Safety and Compliance
By using AMX, commissioning shifts from a pressure-driven task to a rigorous, transparent process that enhances fire safety and compliance. Engineers work smarter, not faster, and building owners gain the peace of mind that comes with solid evidence that their fire alarm system will perform when it’s needed most.
And as systems grow more complex and regulatory demands increase, the ability to track, record, and review commissioning activities through a platform like AMX will no longer be optional - it will be essential.
Commissioning is a critical stage in ensuring that fire detection and alarm systems protect lives and property as intended. But the process is often challenged by skills shortages, site pressures, and gaps in record-keeping. AMX from Drax Technology provides a smarter solution capturing every detail, supporting compliance, and helping ensure that fire alarm systems work flawlessly when it matters most.
To learn more about how AMX can enhance your fire safety strategy, get in touch with Drax Technology today.
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