Fire Alarm Systems

Hi there, I work in a multiplex office building (small businesses in a larger unit). The fire alarm gets tested every week. Each zone goes off at the same time, however in our office, the alarm continues for another 3 - 5 minutes, when everywhere else is finished. The landlords say the fire system isn't reprogrammable and is fixed. When they do it from the panel, it's a bit less time. From the fire alarm points it's hellish. Can this be true (honestly the alarm is on for about 7 min in total ,it's hellish in such a small space). The system I noticed they have is an Anatec Pro explorer panel. It's just I'm wondering if they don't want to pay to get it fixed. Any ideas. P…

I have recently been advised that I do not require fire detection in an area that operates at +3C as the likelihood of a fire starting is low. However there are a lot of electrical apparatus in the area and the area is only manned during night operation so is left unmanned during the day. I feel that this area should have fire detection - please could you provide some guidance for fire detection at low temperature. Kind regards

We have a Fire Alarm system installed at our Offices / workshops premises. These have been maintained by Chubb but we are now looking to carry out the Inspection / maintenance In house using our Electrical staff. What would be the minimum Qualification we require to meet Legislation to carry out this work. Regards Martyn

On Saturday the fire alarm for the building in which I work went off. It was the general alarm for the whole buiding and therefore not looked after from our company. The alarm went off for a long time and I noticed that it was not linked to anyone, is that normal? Should it not be linked to either the fire brigade or an appointed person? Otherwise it would just ring without anyone taking care of it. The landlord said that it does not have to link to anyone but I just would like to double check with you. Thank you.

do we by law have to have a service contract in place for the fire alarm system on our premises and is it correct that a service visit has to be done twice annualy.

We are a small office with just 8 employees. We are in a one room open plan office (1232 sq ft) where in the centre along one wall there is a toilet a separate toilet/shower and a small kitchenette. There are 2 fire exits. There is also a self contained flat above (converted house). We have recently had an assessment done, and they have stated that we need a fire alarm and emergency lighting fitted. They have quoted BS 5839-1:2013 and BS 5266-1:2011. The quotes that we have received are very expensive, and as a small company, we just cannot afford it at this present time and to be honest we feel that this is a little bit of over the top for our needs! We have…

If a premise has a 2 stage fire alarm. Is it acceptable for a call point to activate the first stage alarm only and therefore not evacuate the building?

I live in a retired people block.We are having our alarm system upgraded. They have placed a new call point in a Lobby outside our Secure door, where it is vulnerable to nuisance activation and malicious damage. Can this device be sited just inside the door, so that it will be just as usable but not at risk from vandals. Many thanks from John

Good morning, I test my fire call points on a weekly basis and log the results in my fire log book. How long do I need to keep these records for? At present I have 7 years worth.

My company occupies one floor in an eight storey bldg in London. Our sounders sound intermittently when activated, whereas the landlord agents say the sounder should be continuous as per the other floors. Tried checking BSI 5839 but couldn't access it, so can you advise me at all? As soon as the alarm sounds, all our staff are aware when they hear the sounders, so there is no H&S issue as far as I can see. Thanks in advance for any advice/guidance. Regards Allan

Hi, i was wondering if you could help me out, im quoting for some electrical work in a large domestic dwelling and the client requires a fire alarm system for the property, currently there is only battery operated smoke alarms dotted around the house and i was hoping to install a grade D LD3 system which would be an improvement on what is already there, but i am unsure if i will be able to do this. The property has two floors and a basement with one or more of the floor areas being over 200m2, i believe a grade A LD2 system is needed, i have no problem supplying and installing the system but in order to comply with building control i believe (i maybe wrong) it needs to be…

Good Afternoon, I have a question regarding a refurbishment project we are currently working on involving a hall which incorporates office space and an external building acting as an reception school class. Both building share a common external courtyard which is only 3m in width to exit the premises. This situation is only temporary and will only stand for 1 year, however, the contractor has suggested we use smoke detectors hard wired linked together to alarm at the same time should one detect smoke, no fire alarm panel or manual call points. Also we are only adding smoke detectors to the office and class space as this is the boundry of the refurbishment. I would really…

What would be the time required for Standby battery Back up in fire alarms for Warden Aided premises which is manned 24 hours a day. Regards John

Fire alarm control panel got wet from a leaking roof. Water entered all the circuit boards but the system was not energized. Already developing rust in some areas on the boards; how do I clean and dry it completely before I power it on to test it?

Is there a minimum distance requirement between each call point? Thanks, Dan

Hi I'm looking for some advice as I'm struggling to find any information at all regarding this certain subject. My father is currently employed by a well known company and has accidentally caught a fire alarm switch , it was located inbetween two fuel tanks, their is no signs saying it was a fire alarm and it had no cover over the switch and he was not informed about this on the induction he was on , he pressed the switch as the fuel tanks had tripped due to low fuel in them and he believed with it being located between the fuel tanks that it was a reset switch, my question basically is , should this switch be correctly identified and should it be located between two fuel…

Hi for a small fish and chips can you please advise if it's a legal requirement to have a fire rated cable? Currently I have interlinked alarms. I don't plan to upgrade it just yet but would like to know the legal requirements please

Hi, I'm A fire and security engineer operating in the north west. I recently installed and programmed a fire alarm for my company. However I don't feel I have enough knowledge of the standards to sign a commissioning sheet. When the sheet was produced by my line manager I explained that im not comfortable in signing the certificate. On the certificate it said - signed on behalf of the the company (Then My Name In print) Position - Engineer Then Signature Which My Manager Ended Up Signing. I'm now worried because my name is on the sheet but not my signature. Is the certificate a legal document. Has my manager commuted fraud. I'm frightened that something may happen to th…

I write to enquire whether it is a legal requirement that smoke detectors in our church halls complex MUST be replaced now that they are 10 years old. They are serviced regularly and none has been proved to be in any way faulty so far but the fire alarm company we use say that they must all be changed! An expensive business. I look forward to your early reply. Thank you,

How can you switch off power to a fire alarm panel? Is that in the fuse box or does there have to be a seperate switch? I have seen these with 'Fire Alarm - Do not switch off' written on them. Mo

I hope you can help, I am a security and safety manager for a large company and we recently started a major refurb of the office. We are about 20% through the works but they have now been cancelled due to finances. A second newer fire alarm panel has been fitted where the refurbed areas were supposed to be and the old panel servicing the non-refurbed areas. As the works have been stopped, it is being proposed that we have both fire alarm panels in place rather than moving all devices over to one of the panels...I do not like this idea due to different operating procedures for the different panels !....my question is...is it OK to do this ???...hope you can help

Could you please advise whether all call points have to be the same ? we have a mix of old and new points and our new contractor has said they need changing and must be the same. Can you please advise if this is the case. Many thanks

Hi there, i live in a flat (one of 3) the lease holders are testing the fire alarm every week at great cost to us, they insist its law and has to be done this many times a year, yes 52 times a year!!! i am disputing this and have found info on your website that testing the alarm every 6 months would be minimal legal requirement, is this the case.(we have asked for tests every 4 months) Many thanks Silas

Could you please advise if there is any legislation regarding siting of fire alarm sounders...we are 3 ladies in a very small office and have a sounder in there...it is so loud and when weekly tested (not same time every week) we are left deafened. Have enquired about having this resited but not much luck. Many thanks

Hi Our company is forming a new meeting room which, we think, results in relocating a break glass unit. We are thinking of forming a meeting room in the corner of an existing office but this would mean ‘enclosing’ a break glass unit and a sounder which are in the existing office currently. The meeting room would have its own fire door leading directly onto a staircase. The remainder of the existing office outside the meeting room has its own fire door and leads to a lobby leading to the same staircase – 3m travel. There is also a bgu in the lobby 3 – 4m from the office door although not in a place that can be seen straightaway on leaving the office. Questions; Wou…