If you’ve invested in fire roller shutters for your home you’ll no doubt be equally as invested in ensuring they are properly maintained. Ensuring they are ready to perform at their peak capacity as intended in a fire emergency is absolutely essential.

So how often should you be servicing your roller shutters, is it really necessary and what does it involve?

In this guide, we’ll delve into the details of why shutter servicing is so important. We’ll look at when and how often this should occur and what to expect, so you can be confident your shutters are ready for use when needed.

Why Do Fire Roller Shutters Need To Be Serviced?

Precisely engineered, fire roller shutters are made using a combination of durable materials and intricate mechanisms with many moving parts.

While they are designed to withstand extreme heat and embers, they are not immune to wear and tear, damage or degradation from environmental factors and unexpected operational challenges.

Without regular servicing or maintenance, there is a much higher chance of components degrading and of mechanical malfunction. Even simple things such as accumulated dust, dirt and other debris can greatly reduce the integrity of the shutters.

Consequently, neglecting to maintain your fire shutters could put you at heightened risk during fire emergencies, compromising the safety of your loved ones and potentially exacerbating damage to your property.

Servicing – The Ideal Solution

By following a regular servicing regimen and being proactive about maintenance, you can ensure your shutters can work as expected, giving you much-needed peace of mind.

Additionally, properly caring for your fire roller shutters also helps to enhance their longevity, minimising the risk of any potentially costly repairs or premature replacements.

When To Schedule Servicing

Fire shutter maintenance frequency can vary from home to home. As a general guideline, it’s recommended to conduct routine inspections and maintenance checks at least twice per year.

However, for installations in high-traffic areas or environments prone to harsh weather conditions, more frequent servicing may be necessary.

Determining your ideal servicing schedule should involve consideration of various factors, including but not limited to:

• Usage intensity or how often you use your shutters. Regularly used shutters naturally experience more wear over time.
• Environmental conditions. For example, proximity to coastal areas where salt spray is a common occurrence or very dry dusty environments can see your shutters needing more regular servicing.
• Regulatory requirements. In some states or with some insurers regular maintenance may form part of continued fire safety compliance.
• Warranty upkeep. Your manufacturer’s warranty may also stipulate a maintenance schedule within their terms and conditions.

The Importance Of Continued Vigilance

Implementing a consistent maintenance schedule is just one step towards ensuring your fire roller shutters remain fully operational. It is just as important that property owners remain vigilant during day-to-day use for any signs of irregularities or malfunctions in their fire roller shutters.

Even if your shutters have just been serviced, the occurrence of any new or unusual noises, sluggish operations, or visible damage should be promptly investigated and swiftly repaired.

Taking a proactive approach and remediating issues as soon as they arise is the best way to avoid any further damage and uphold the fire safety benefits offered by these shutters.

What Is Involved In Servicing Fire Roller Shutters?

Routine servicing of fire roller shutters involves the performance of a variety of tasks, with each of these being aimed at preserving functionality and ensuring any potential issues can be easily identified.

These tasks typically include:

Visual Inspection

This step involves making a thorough visual examination of each shutter, looking closely for any obvious signs of damage, corrosion/rust, or obstructions. Any obvious obstructions such as leaves, twigs or items leaning up against the windows should be removed.

Structural Assessment

As part of your visual inspection, you should also pay close attention to the structural aspects of the shutter assembly and its installation.

This means checking the shutter tracks, guides, and support mechanisms, to ensure they are still properly fixed in place and to detect signs of wear or damage.

Testing

There is no complex process involved with this task, this simply means performing some basic operational tests to check how responsive and functional the shutters are.

This includes checking that all remotes are working properly and that each shutter is closing and reopening without any issues.

Cleaning

An essential part of proper servicing, cleaning your fire shutters helps to remove debris, dust, and other contaminants that may impede proper functioning or compromise fire resistance.

Using a hose, wet down your shutters while closed and then with a soft cloth or brush wipe them down with a mix of water and gentle detergent. Once done, rinse and let them fully dry before raising them.

Electrical Checks

Verifying the integrity of electrical components, such as motors, control panels, and wiring can help to avoid the risk of electrical failure.

Should you notice any worn wiring, or control panels that are unresponsive or slow to respond or similar, we recommend reaching out to your original installer for support and guidance on the next steps.

Titan Shutters – Your Local Fire Roller Shutter Experts

With decades of industry experience, Titan Shutters offers unmatched service and advice. Not only regarding the initial installation of fire roller shutters but also for their continued upkeep.

We deeply understand the role of servicing and maintenance concerning fire roller shutters and how this relates to their proper functioning.

Our goal is to ensure that homeowners get the most out of their shutters and that they are well prepared to defend their homes and loved one’s safety during a bushfire attack.

Whether you are seeking to install new fire roller shutters or need assistance in servicing or repairing them, we’re the team you can count on to handle it with professionalism and efficiency.

Call today at 1300 020 001 to learn more.