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HOW TO AVOID UNWANTED FIRE ALARMS FROM AUTOMATIC DETECTION SYSTEMS
Your automatic fire detection system should be designed and installed
in accordance with the requirements of BS5839: Part 1:1988.
Many false alarms are caused by unsuitable or badly installed and
maintained equipment.
Owners/occupiers are recommended to source their installation and
maintenance from companies certified by an appropriate body issuing
certificates of compliance such as that developed by the British
Fire Protection Systems Association and the Loss Prevention Certification
Board. Used properly and maintained to this standard, your system,
with its fast response to incipient fire, can be a significant factor
in reducing the risk to life and the limitation of damage to your
property in the event of fire. Unwanted alarms
can result in loss of production, interruption of daily business
and even financial loss.
It is important that a responsible person should be appointed ie.
Fire Warden, with an understanding of the system and responsibility
for weekly testing, with a qualified engineer carrying out regular
maintenance, as detailed in BS5839: Part 1.
The ability to react quickly can also reduce unwanted fire signals
caused by activities other than a real fire. Visiting contractors
should be made aware that an automatic fire alarm system is present.
This can prevent the activation of the system by work that involves
generation of smoke, dust or paint spray. It is important that
temporary covers or substitute detectors are removed on completion
of the work. This type of false alarm is a cause for concern
for the Fire Service as it dilutes fire cover available for other
incidents, endangers public safety and fire crew safety when making
a speedy attendance and is a waste of money. Continual false alarms
may lead to a lack of confidence in the system by your personnel,
affecting their willingness to take action when the alarm activates.
Any fire detection and alarm system is deemed unsatisfactory
if:
• There are 2 or more unwanted fire signals over 4 weeks
• There are 3 or more unwanted signals in 6 months
• The cause of the unwanted signal has not be identified and
corrected within 7 days.
Another option available to reduce false alarms is to install a
transmission delay unit. This device delays any automatic signal
being sent through to the Fire Service and the subsequent evacuation
for a limited time, allowing an investigation to be carried out
and the signal cancelled if the cause is not due to fire. If fire
is present the operation of a call point, an override switch near
the fire panel or activation of another automatic detector head
will then transmit the signal directly to the Fire Service, as further
delay is unacceptable. The set period for the transmission delay
is not allowed to exceed 5 minutes, and should be based on the time
required to access/investigate the remotest part of the premises.
In all cases the approval of the insurers and the Fire Service should
be sought.
Note. This type of device is only practicable if the premises
have security/reception staff who can monitor the fire alarm panel
at a central location and react to it immediately at any time when
the premises are in use.
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