The use of electronically managed fire safety operation logs is becoming increasingly widespread. They are now considered useful not only by maintenance companies, manufacturers, and institutions but also by large facility management enterprises operating extensive property portfolios.
Operating and maintaining fire safety equipment is a highly responsible task. Keeping accurate records of these activities is equally important, though often time-consuming.
The adoption of electronically managed fire safety operation logs was enabled by the National Fire Safety Regulation (OTSZ), which came into effect on January 22, 2020. This regulation allows authorized personnel to document both maintenance work and operator inspections electronically, without the need for paper.
The fiREG software, operated by fiREG.hu Kft., recently surpassed its 3 millionth electronically documented inspection.
“We are very proud of the maintenance teams and operators who choose paperless solutions—or as it’s now commonly called, ‘fiREG-ing.’ Today, not only maintenance providers but also operators enjoy the benefits of the cloud-based system,” said Attila Fekete, Head of Development at fiREG.
The electronic logging platform brings together maintenance staff, operating personnel, and area managers in one place. Regulatory bodies such as insurers, auditors, and authorities see organized, up-to-date, digital results instantly—something operators find extremely valuable.
Avoiding redundancy and supporting manual work with automation, large institutions, automotive suppliers, and retail networks with multiple branches now enjoy the advantages of electronic operation logs. Their authorized representatives can record completed activities digitally on any smartphone and generate logbooks on-site at the press of a button.
“By presenting the platform and its advantages, facility management (FM) companies have also begun adopting electronic logs,” explained Attila Fekete. “The large numbers of diverse fire safety devices, geographic distribution, and involvement of many subcontractors are overwhelming for them. At the same time, the increasing requirements—such as choosing environmentally friendly, sustainable solutions—demand new steps. In such cases, a software solution that ‘does it all,’ or a targeted, specialized solution, can help.”
According to the expert, a “jack-of-all-trades” software can often be useful, but in most cases requires lengthy preparation, planning, and development, with implementation timelines measured in months or years. A specialized software solution, by contrast, may not cover everything, but it fulfills its specific mission perfectly, immediately, and without complex implementation.
Facility management companies cannot operate without supporting software. However, general-purpose solutions typically do not fully address the specifics of fire safety equipment maintenance.
“The opportunity arose for companies to manage their fire safety equipment portfolios separately as part of their services, or to integrate them partially with existing large-scale record-keeping systems. The electronic log offers facility managers numerous opportunities to raise the quality of their services. Record-keeping has never been more accurate, and instead of tedious manual preparation and closing tasks, automation takes over. Clients always have access to accurate, up-to-date results, without manual work. It’s a great achievement that companies providing facility management services—such as leading automotive manufacturers—are already using electronic logs for their fire safety equipment. Equally forward-looking is the fact that large real estate portfolio managers have also recognized the advantages of digitalization,” concluded Attila Fekete.
In recent months, many companies operating dozens or even hundreds of properties, or service providers managing operations on their behalf, have adopted electronic logs. This further demonstrates how the regulatory environment introduced in 2020 is having an increasing impact on fire safety, maintenance, and documentation.