Introduction
Many building managers in the UAE are not proactive when it comes to ensuring the ELV systems in their buildings are properly maintained and functioning as designed. They often do not even realize they have ELV systems until something goes wrong. For example, the CCTV goes down, the access control reader stops working, or the fire alarm panel has an error and no one knows how to fix it.
When this happens, it is an emergency call, an emergency engineer’s visit, and an invoice that was not previously budgeted for. This does not have to be the case. Buildings with a formal AMC carry out proactive maintenance of ELV systems, resulting in up to 60% fewer ELV failures than buildings that only perform reactive maintenance of their ELV systems.
What Is an ELV AMC and Why Does It Matter?
An agreement between an ELV supplier and an ELV customer to provide ongoing service, inspection, and maintenance for all ELV systems at the facility. Services are conducted regularly throughout the year. The type of systems covered under this contract include, but are not limited to, CCTV, access control systems, fire alarms, structured cabling systems, and public address (PA) systems. All are crucial to effective operation of a company’s building, so any failure could result in significant costs. As such, the maintenance of these systems is imperative.
Because of the extreme environmental conditions (heat, dust, humidity) that affect the ELV hardware in the UAE, the degraded condition of that hardware will occur faster than it would have in a more temperate location. With respect to outdoor components such as cameras, gate barriers and cable terminations, they are likely to fail sooner than their indoor counterparts.
What does an ELV AMC Actually Covers ?
When it comes to an ELV AMC, a properly planned out AMC does much more than just perform annual checkups. Depending upon the contract you will have different activities covered. For general coverage you may have;
- CCTV Maintenance – Cleaning Cameras, Checking Lenses, Verifying Recordings and Checking NVRs
- Access Control AMC – Calibrating Readers, Checking Credential Databases, Inspecting Door Hardware
- Fire Alarm AMC – Testing Detectors, Diagnosing Control Panel, Checking Batteries, Certifying Compliance
- Server Room Maintenance – Checking Temperature, Testing UPSs, Managing Cables, and Checking Airflow
- Structured Cabling Inspections – Testing Terminations, Checking Patch Panels, and Inspecting Cable Trays for Integrity
- 24/7 ELV Support – Emergency Response for Critical System Failures Outside a Scheduled Visit
The frequency of visits to each site depends upon system type and occupancy rates. High Traffic Facilities such as Hospitals, Hotels and Logistics Hubs typically get their inspections completed quarterly. Whereas standard commercial buildings generally have inspections completed every six months with a 24X7 emergency cover included.
The Real Cost of Reactive Maintenance
The true costs of reactive maintenance to businesses in the UAE. If a CCTV system has a fault, it will not record footage. If the access control fails, you are faced with either locking everybody out of the building, or leaving it unsecured. If a fire alarm panel malfunctions, you face the possibility of failing an audit; and the expense of an emergency engineer will be at a premium rate.
According to the UAE FM reports, the cost of an unplanned ELV failure to a building is up to 3-5 times more than if it had been detected and repaired as part of a planned maintenance service. This includes emergency response fees for calling an engineer out, after hours rates for labour, and parts that have been expedited to site, before even considering the operational impact.
- Cloud-based CCTV installers are also subject to SIRA regulations
- Any building that has a CCTV system installed to SIRA requires that an undocumented CCTV system failure be reviewed by SIRA.
- The best method of protecting yourself from a compliance review due to an undocumented system failure is to have a maintained system with proper service history.
How Preventive Maintenance Extends System Lifespan ?
Capital investments in ELV are major. When it comes to mid-level buildings in the UAE, the amount of money spent on its CCTV, access control hardware, and fire detection system can be in the range of hundreds of thousands of dirhams for both the equipment itself and installation.
- By performing regular maintenance of your CCTV system in the UAE, you not only extend the useful life of your system investment, but you can also significantly reduce repairs that would otherwise be necessary to replace the CCTV cameras prematurely.
- Regularly cleaning and calibrating the cameras will help to ensure they continue to perform for an extended period of time.
- Regularly inspecting and adjusting the access control hardware can help to extend the useful life of access control hardware well beyond the normal operating life of that hardware.
Preventive maintenance will not only reduce the likelihood of your systems failing, but will also help to preserve your capital investment and prolong the cycle of replacing your systems that would typically occur with a typical reactive only approach.
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Preventative maintenance is typically more affordable than reactive maintenance — less direct cost, lower operational disruption, and reduced risk to compliance. Buildings in the UAE that implement regular, scheduled maintenance (at least one scheduled service per month) for their structured ELV systems enjoy fewer system failures, better overall operation of the system, lower operating costs, and compliance without the frantic effort that generally accompanies it.
We can provide you with an AMC for all of your commercial facilities across the UAE that will include regular scheduled service at a price you can live with. Request an AMC proposal to receive a written maintenance plan that clearly outlines the anticipated costs of maintaining your ELV systems with no surprises and no emergency callouts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How often should ELV systems be maintained under an AMC?
This varies based on the type of system/building – usually, fire alarms are tested 4 times per year, while CCTV and access control systems are serviced twice a year (with emergency support available 24/7).
What is typically not covered under an ELV AMC?
AMC agreements usually only cover labor and parts replacement as part of a scheduled service. If there is a major hardware failure (vandalism, flooding, power surges), separate arrangements have to be made through other avenues or via an all-inclusive contract, which includes parts.
How quickly does emergency ELV support respond in the UAE?
The response time to service calls varies based upon the vendor and level of AMC contract service. Critical system failures have an average response time of 2-4 hours under premium AMC contract types.
Is an AMC mandatory for SIRA-regulated CCTV systems?
While SIRA compliance doesn’t always hold up in court, it does require that systems are operational, and documented as being operational. The best way to ensure system compliance is through an AMC.
