Fire Alarm Systems

Had a recurring fault on an Advanced panel with Hochiki devices for a while. It’ll turn up randomly one day and then disappear for weeks. Starts off on the log with “interrupt - unknown device”, then immediately goes to “corrupt data” and then eventually goes back to normal. I’ll link a short video of the log. My first thought is to replace the detector, but the issue is it’s at the top of a lift shaft so have to get the engineers out to give me access. Anybody got any ideas of what it might be without having to go up there? Thanks.

In a retirement complex with 67 flats we have recently had a fire alarm system upgrade. We have had a new fire panel, removed fire bells from flats as the fire risk assessment said as we are a stay put site we shouldn't have them and replaced the bells in the corridors with sounders. Existing cabling was used. Where the bells have been removed from the flats the remaining cable has been joined using plastic choc blocks. These are (mostly) inside the existing round metal conduit junction box but without a lid. This is fixed to the wall and the plaster board is dabbed onto the wall leaving a gap between. Then on the flat side (apartment side) of the plaster board a metal pl…

Hi all, Does anyone know in what instance it is recommended/required that a general needs block of flats has fire alarm monitoring? We manage many blocks with alarms, but only two have alarm monitoring systems, neither are HRBs or present any unusual risks to my knowledge. The fire strategies do not mention alarm monitoring. Thanks in advance

We are a fairly small village hall and have recently had our Fire Risk Assessment updated by a professional company. Whilst we currently have a basic fire detection system it is an intruder alarm with some smoke detectors connected. It's generally effective when someone burns something in the kitchen but far from a BS5839 system. As expected the assessment report calls for a full BS5839 system. We therefore need to go out to tender for a new fire alarm system. However to be confident in determining what is necessary and not be oversold a solution when quotes come back, I would appreciate some basic advice. The building is all single storey with the original buil…

Hi, 2/3 storey residential block. Two scenarios: 1. Fire alarm system in common part escape route with no detector heads in units 2. Fire alarm system in common part escape route with detector heads in units Does the backup battery need to be 72-hour? Thanks in advance. Tom

Hello I am working in victorian property that was converted into three flats in 1986. It has a communal hallway and there are three flats over three floors. The FRA has confirmed that a Grade A LD2 system is to be fitted along with other upgrades to the hallway fire protection. Heat detectors will be fitted into each flat but I was told by a tenant that they should be fitted in the kitchens but this would involve long cable runs across the very ornate plaster ceilings. Running the cabling in the ceilings /under the floors of the flat above is restricted by solid oak flooring and surface mounting seems the appropriate instal…

Note to Admin: I am not sure if my guest topic was submitted successfully so I have re-posted as a registered user. Hi I have 2 flats converted from a converted corner terrace house. As such each flat has a separate entrance and there is no common space between the flats. The property was converted in the early eighties. The ground floor has it's own entrance to a small hall area, leading to a lounge which access a corridor to the rear of the flat. The corridor leads to the bedroom and kitchen. The kitchen access the rear yard and the bathroom. The upper flat has it's own entrance, a stairs leads to a landing area from where the two bedrooms, bathroom …

Hi client has an underground car park not totally enclosed, concrete ceiling no open penetrations, fire doors to stairs to office accommodation above. There is a sprinkler system fitted and only a manual call point installed. I would have expected to see some smoke detection installed as if there was a fire with no one was around to operate the call point then it lacks any early warning until the sprinkler activates?

Hi, How would I get hold of a zonal plan for a fire alarm system in a building I look after. I have already emailed the maker of the system with no reply this being Protec. Thanks Mick

Hi I know british standards state alarms should be tested weekly. My question is two fold, as I understand it BS are not a legal requirement would you agree? But a good idea to follow like HS guidance. The other question is the weekly test, do they actually need to be weekly. If a building is used infrequently could the fire alarm test be say monthly? Thanks Mick

Visited a three storey 7 bed air b n b this morning, the only detection in place were smokes to the landings and heat in the kitchen all interlinked. He had also assessed it using the making your small paying guest accommodation guidance, he obviously didn't read "single premises of ground floor, or ground and first floor, providing sleeping accommodation for a maximum of 10 persons, with no more than four bedrooms on the first floor" The owner was a little dismayed that I pointed out that he needed linked detection in all of the rooms. The unit will only be let out to groups, max 20 people with one lead person. Owing to the size of the property over three floors would m…

Hi, I own a flat in a converted Victorian terrace comprising of 3 flats on separate floors with a communal entrance, hallway and staircase, and a 4th flat in the basement with its own entrance. in late 2023 we commissioned a fire alarm system, which was completed in early 2024. The surveyor had recommended an Ld2 system. The zoning was split into 2 zones. 1 zone is the basement flat, and the second zone are the 3 flats with the separate entrance and staircase. We recently had the annual maintenance check, and the fire safety rep stated that we should have had 4 zones. I know that the total floor area of the 3 flats combined into 1 zone are less than 300m squared, is…

We have a chips shop with a 2 bedroom apartment on top, the apartment has its own side entrance through the alley way which also has a separate back door for the chip shop do I need a fire alarm system which inter connects to the apartment above using a repeater panel so many panel in the shop and repeater panel in the apartment zones loft unused - zone 1 Apartment - zone 2 chip shop - zone 3 basement unused - zone 4 or can I install domestic smoke alarm and heat alarm in the apartment and a Ctec fire alarm system in the chip shop

Good Morning, Wondering if anyone is able to help/give advice - we have had a well known fire alarm company install devices and service our conventional fire alarm system, and passed it with a certificate at 100% compliance. (This has been the case for the past 7 Years) I have noted that; - MCP's are not installed correctly to the correct boxes - Heat detectors installed throughout the premise (despite FRA saying only in kitchen areas) - Detectors sited in wrong positions (e.g. Next to beams, Air Con Units etc) - System devices wired to panel with Twin Earth cable rather then Fire Cable - Mixed sounders on the system Some of the above were also …

Hi. We have a building that has been converted from offices and shops into retail/commercial on the ground floor and residential units above. The building has not been converted in accordance with Building Regs. The Fire Risk Assessment has recommended a BS 5839-1 system in the common areas to the residential and commercial, linked to detection in the commercial units and hallways to the flats. A fire alarm installer is disagreeing with this (without having visited site). He is saying it should he BS 5839-6 (and citing P.55 of the Fire Risk Assessment in Sleeping Accommodation guidance book). Please advise whether part 1 or part 6 is correct. I would have though…

Hi all. I've recently been to look at a fire alarm system in a school. It was built in 2003, when the recommended minimum category of fire alarm system recommended under BS5839 was L4. However, current schools guidance is L3. 4 years ago the fire alarm panel and detection was updated on a like-for-like basis. Should the system have been upgraded to L3 at that time, or is it acceptable to stay with the original system design?

I have a timber framed 4 storey block of flats. Issues with compartmentation which is confirmed. Went into the roof void which the wall that seperates the protected corridor and flat does not extend into the roof void & into the eaves. Present silent L4 in the communal for Aovs. LD3 in flats to support stay put. I have asked for SD in the roof space connected to the communal system and an interlinked Heat detector past the flat front door to alert residents to a fire in the roof and for change to simultaneous untill we get the compartmentation resolved. Also to not we can not confirm yet if the compartmentation is sound in the communal corridors. In…

Hi, just trying to establish testing requirements in sheltered housing. I know part 1 system Grade A requires testing weekly and 6 monthly service. Grade D again weekly service annually. But when it comes to the Part 6 Grade D system within the flats. I am not sure of what the testing frequency is. specialised housing says monthly and so does BS5839-6. But if ARC is installed in the flats then how often should these be tested?? 94.16 Where the fire strategy for the building relies on remote transmission of signals from detection within residents' accommodation to an alarm receiving centre (ARC), at the time of the weekly fire alarm test, transmission from t…

check 4 zone panel can I put 2 call points together on one zone without any other detectors panel. Cp1. Cp2. ......eoline

I have a flat in a purpose built 2 storey building. There is one flat on each floor, so two in total. Built in about 2005 and would be fully compliant with fire separation building regulations at that time. There are no common parts internally or externally. Each flat has its own external entrance. Does there need to be a fire risk assessment? If so, is each individual owner responsible for his own risk assessment on his own flat or does the freeholder have to commission a report for the building? There is no managing agent for the building.

Just out of curiousity, does anyone know what fire alarm sounder this is? Here are some images. I am interested in old media from the 90s and 2000s and this particular piece of media is from (2002) and I noticed these fire sounders in the building. I am interested in old sounders and would like to work with fire alarms eventually. In the next part of this media a year later (2003) these sounders had gone.

I am managing a HMO which has regular alarm certs. I have attached photos of the heat and smoke alarms which show no manufacturer's date or expiry. I belive these to be well beyond 10 years and should be replaced. appreciate any help

Good afternoon. can I please get some advice. What is the minimum legal requirement for fire detection in a commercial premises with accommodation above. Thanks

Hi, I work at a dental practice which is set up like a house. We have a three surgery set up set over three floors. Its a small practice. It is a listed building. We have smoke alarms in the reception first floor and second floor and emergency lighting. Do smoke alarms suffice? Any patients with poor mobility are seen on ground floor. A shout is audible from the first floor to second floor. We have had a RA done who has said we are "not compliant" we were under the impression fire alarm systems are not a legal requirement. Help!

Hello, I'm looking for some advice on the scheduling of fire alarm testing - the company I work for are in contract with an NSI gold company for maintenance for fire alarms across our estate, I have been having issues with the scheduling of appointments recently (instead of 6 months apart it is regularly trying to be scheduled for 3 and 9 month intervals - on querying this with the company they just keep telling me: "Maintenance schedules are set up on commencement of contract dates and are due from that month and not from the date of the last maintenance visit, We have 28 days prior and after the due dates to comply with NSI regulations." When we set up the co…