Fire-protection systems at thousands of buildings throughout Long Beach will be better inspected, tested and maintained by the city’s fire department, thanks to a web-based system approved by the Long Beach City Council Tuesday evening.

“Fire-protection systems save lives,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “We are using technology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our current system by enabling the Fire Department to quickly access this crucial information electronically.”

Currently, about 15 licensed firms test fire-protections systems in the city. They submit documentation by email or fax to the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD), which logs them into a spreadsheet, fire officials stated.

Officials said the new system, Compliance Engine, collects, organizes and categorizes the annual third party inspection reports. The system tracks building fire-protection systems and knows whether they are compliant, which is essential to keeping occupants and firefighters safe, officials added.

“Compliance Engine will proactively drive compliance, increase efficiency by maximizing staff resources, decrease false alarms, and reduce repeat calls and re-inspections,” said Fire Chief Mike DuRee.

The fire department will first use the new system for the 78 high-rise buildings in the city that have multiple fire-protection systems, and then add commercial, assembly, educational, industrial and eventually residential buildings, according to officials.

The system is funded by the inspection and service companies that enter the data into Compliance Engine, resulting in no cost to the city.