How Do I Know My Fire Alarm AMC Vendor Actually Did the Work?
Short answer: Ask for evidence, not a signature: a dated report for every visit listing each device tested, what failed and what was fixed, with photos of replaced parts. Then check it against what the fire alarm system itself recorded. Continuous monitoring makes this easy, because every alarm, fault, test and fix is logged with a timestamp, between visits as well as during them.
Your AMC vendor is probably doing their job. The problem is that neither of you can prove it. A signed register says a visit happened; it does not show what was tested, what was found, or what happened to the system in the weeks between visits.
What a good service report contains
- Date, time on site and the engineer's name
- Every device tested, with the result, not just "system checked OK"
- Faults found, the cause, and how each was fixed
- Parts replaced, with photos
- Battery and charger readings
- Anything left open, with a target date to close it
Check the report against the system's own record
Device tests during a visit appear in the fire alarm system as events. If the report says forty detectors were tested, the event record for that day should show it. Faults are the other check: a fault raised between visits should appear in the next report with how it was resolved. The difficulty is that a panel's own memory is limited and older events get overwritten, so the record you need is often gone by the time you look.
Make the evidence automatic
FlareSens Pulse watches fire alarm panels of any brand between visits and keeps a timestamped record of every alarm, fault and fix for three years. You see how fast faults were closed; your vendor gets proof of every job done. AMC providers can also deliver FlareSens to their own clients through the partner programme. For a fuller comparison, see fire monitoring vs a traditional AMC.
Frequently asked questions
What should a fire alarm AMC service report include?
The visit date and engineer, every device tested and the result, faults found and how each was fixed, parts replaced with photos, battery readings, anything left open with a target date, and a signature from both sides.
Should I replace my AMC vendor if I cannot verify the work?
Usually not. Most AMC vendors do the work; the problem is that neither side can prove it. Giving both of you the same timestamped record of alarms, faults and fixes settles the question and rewards a vendor who does the job well.
What should I add to my fire alarm AMC contract?
A response time for faults, a per-visit report in a fixed format, the evidence expected for each test and repair, and a monthly summary of open faults and how long each took to close.