Fire alarms
As part of your fire risk assessment, you may have concluded that a
Fire Alarm is necessary to adequately warn people of outbreaks of fire.
Fire Alarms and warning systems can be broken down into 3 major types:
1. Manual System:
If the workplace is small and open plan, and it is unlikely that a fire
could occur without being noticed and detected at a very early stage,
then there may be no need to have a sophisticated fire alarm as a
shouted warning, fire bell or gong may be sufficient.
2. Electrical System:
In slightly larger premises, where the layout or size of the
workplace mean that some people may not hear a shouted warning or
simple bell, or, if large numbers of people need to be warned, then an
electrical system is likely to be required. Such systems usually
contain a system of warning devices (electric sirens, bells or klaxons)
which are activated by the ‘break-glass’ type call-point method. This
need not include any automatic fire detectors if there are plenty of
people about in all areas of the premises, and it is unlikely that a
fire could occur without being noticed and detected at a very early
stage
3. Automatic System:
In premises where fire could start and grow undetected to the extent
where escape from any area of the building may be compromised, then an
automatic system is likely to be required. The range and coverage of
these systems vary considerably dependant on the premises. These
systems are usually designed and installed to recognised standards and
codes and consequently expert advice should be sought. Premises where
there is a sleeping risk (e.g. Hospitals, Residential Care Homes,
Hotels and Boarding Houses, etc) or where parts of the premises are
rarely visited or occupied are examples of premises that are
particularly likely to need an automatic system.
So is a fire alarm required?
The Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 (as amended 1999)
only require fire alarms and/or automatic detection if these are
necessary to give warning in case of fire. If your risk assessment
concludes that no automatic detection system or electrical fire alarm
system is necessary, this should be recorded (if there are more than 5
employees) as a significant finding in your risk assessment.
Download more information of fire alarms
Further information on reducing unwanted fire alarm signals is given in the ODPM publication: ‘A guide to reducing the number of false alarms from fire detection and fire alarm systems’.
Further guidance is available in the publication FIRE SAFETY – An Employers Guide
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