Fire Safety – Public Advice
Users Guide to Fire Detection & Alarm Systems
Ref
FS- PAN029
Issue/Revision Date
01/02/2012
Review Date
30/11/2014
Version: 5.0
INTRODUCTION
The first consideration should a fire break out in a building is the safety of the occupants. On being
given an early warning of the outbreak of fire they should have time to evacuate the premises in
safety. Early warning of a fire should be integral to your fire risk assessment plan and in general it will
be appropriate to install some form of fire alarm system in every type of building to give this early
warning.
WHAT FIRE ALARM SYSTEM DO I NEED
As the type and size of buildings vary, so does the type and size of fire alarm system. To ensure you
install the correct fire alarm system for your premises you need to refer to the Communities & Local
Government Fire Safety Risk Assessment Guides particular to your premises. The guides are
available on their web site:www.communities.gov.uk/fire/firesafety/firesafetylaw/aboutguides
You should also employ the services of a competent fire alarm company for all aspects of an
automatic fire alarm system which would include design, installation, commissioning and maintenance.
West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service recommend the use of third party certificated companies as a
means of satisfying you that the goods and services you have purchased are fit for purpose and as a
means of demonstrating you have complied with the law.
A list of companies recognised as providing third party certification schemes for fire alarm design,
installation, commissioning and maintenance can be obtained through UKAS.
UKAS, 21-47 High Street, Feltham, Middlesex, TW13 4UN or www.ukas.com
WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIRE ALARM
The person defined under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 will be ultimately
responsible for all aspects of the fire alarm. This person however may decide to nominate a
‘Competent Person’ who will have enough training, knowledge or experience to enable them to
properly assist in the management and maintenance of the fire alarm system in line with British
Standard 5839 Part 1:2002 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings (and Part 6:2004 if a
dwelling)
TESTING, INSPECTIONS & MAINTENANCE
Fire alarm systems should be tested and maintained by competent persons in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instruction and in line with BS 5839 Part 1:2002 and Part 6:2004. Your fire alarm
installer / maintainer will be able to give you details.
RECORDS
A log book needs to be kept for the purpose of recording all events that occur in respect of the fire
alarm system. This will include: Details of the Responsible Person
 Details of the maintainer
 Details of all fire alarm signals, including, Tests, Fire drill, Fires, False alarms (also giving cause of
false alarm)
 Details of all tests
 Details of all faults and defects
 Details of all testing, inspections and maintenance
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This log book is essential and will help the maintainer on their inspection programme and will also
provide some evidence during a fire safety audit under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order
2005, that the fire alarm is compliant with the legislation.
LIMITING FALSE ALARMS
If an automatic fire-detection and fire alarm system is used and maintained properly it is effective in
reducing the risk to life and limit damage to property. However, features that provide this fast
response can also cause false alarms.
WEST YORKSHIRE FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE POLICY FOR THE REDUCTION OF FALSE
ALARMS & UNWANTED FIRE SIGNALS
Due to the increasing and unacceptable number of false alarms from fire alarms attended by the fire
service, West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service have introduced a policy for the reduction of false
alarms and unwanted fire signals.
Details of this policy and other information regarding all aspects of fire alarm systems can be found at
our web site www.westyorksfire.gov.uk – About Us – Department & Functions – Fire Protection
ACTION TO TAKE FOLLOWING THE FIRE ALARM SOUNDING
When the fire alarm sounds, everyone in the building should immediately follow the fire action plan
(this plan must be well publicised within your building).
Trained members of staff may then investigate the actuation in line with the fire risk assessment.
Should the actuation prove to be a false alarm there will be no need to call the fire and rescue service.
Following a false alarm where there is no apparent cause for the actuation, follow the procedure
described below.
1
Silence the fire alarm but do not reset the control panel, as this will get rid of the information
you need to further investigate the cause of the false alarm.
2
Re check the message on the control panel and confirm where in the building the false alarm
came from.
3
Re visit that area and locate the break glass box, heat detector or smoke detector that set off
the alarm.
4
Try to find out why the break glass box or detector was triggered.
5
If you are having difficulty finding the detector that was triggered, it may be in a duct or above a
false ceiling. You should have a plan showing where all detectors are located.
6
If you cannot find or access the detector that was triggered, call in the maintenance company
as they should know where detectors are within the fire-detection system.
7
If the control panel does not show where the relevant detector is, or if no detector was
triggered, call in the maintenance company as the problem may be due to faulty equipment.
8
Accurately record all the information about the false alarm in the system log book. This
is very important, as you may need the information at a later date.
9
If false alarms continue and you cannot find the cause, analyse when the false alarms happen
and where they come from. This will help you to see if there is any pattern that may help you to
identify the cause (for example, cooking before meal times or a boiler switching on early in the
morning).
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10 Your investigations should show you that the false alarms are the result of faulty equipment,
malicious acts, human error or activities near detectors.
11 Always liaise with the fire alarm maintenance company to rectify the causes of the false alarms
as soon as possible.
FOR THE ATTENTION OF FIRE ALARM COMPANY MAINTAINERS
All fire alarm company maintainers will be required to comply with BS 5839 Pt 1:2002 with regards to
limiting false alarms and maintaining systems. All fire alarm systems should be maintained by persons
competent to do so, therefore we promote the use of third party certification schemes. Certification
through United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) (or equivalent) provides valuable reassurances
and assists in the making of informal decisions as to the competency of the service provider.
West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service promotes 3rd party UKAS certification schemes as a means of
demonstrating competence.
In brief, the current approved schemes are:
For design, installation, commissioning and maintenance:



BAFE adopted LPS 1014 – Requirements for certificated fire detection and alarm systems
BAFE adopted SP 203 – for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire
detection, alarm and suppression systems.
LPS 1048 – Requirements for certificated sprinkler installers, supervising bodies and
supervised installers.
For Alarm Receiving Centres:


LPS 1020 – Requirements for alarm receiving centres
BS 5979:2000- Code of Practice for remote centres receiving signals from security systems.
CONCLUSION
If everyone follows the above advice they should obtain an effective and efficient fire detection and fire
alarm system. Failure to do so may result in enforcement action being taken against you under current
fire safety legislation or the fire service not attending a fire alarm actuation. A fire alarm system that is
generating an unacceptable number of false calls is doing so because of a reason and therefore may
not be considered to be suitable and sufficient in the circumstances.
More Information
Regarding Fire Alarms can be obtained from;
West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service
www.westyorksfire.gov.uk
FIA (Fire Industries Association)
www.fia.uk.com
BAFE (British Approvals of Fire Equipment)
www.bafe.org.uk
NSI (National Security Inspectorate)
0845 006 3003 or 01628 637512
www.nsi.org.uk
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LPCB (Loss Prevention Certification Board)
Tel No 01923 664100
www.redbooklive.com
SSAIB (Security Systems & Alarms Inspection Board)
Tel No 0191 2963242
www.ssaib.org
Other useful links
CFOA (Chief Fire Officers Association)
Tel No 01827 302300
www.cfoa.org.uk
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