Fire Alarm Systems

Does anyone know if it is a mandatory requirement for fire alarms in Care Homes / Hospices in England to be linked directly to an Alarm Receiving Centre? I believe in Scotland that it is (following Rose Park Care Home) but cannot find anywhere in writing that says it must be linked in England? I have seen some FRA's where the assessor recommends it (especially in cases where staff turnover is high or they use agency staff who may not appreciate / understand the importance of ringing 999 immediately). But have searched high & low and cannot find anything else... Or does it come down to the FRA as to whether or not it is linked? If anyone has any g…

We have been told by the fire officer that we need to upgrade 40year old manual alarm system. Can you advise who should determine the category of alarm in accordance with BS5839? Should it be stated in the Fire Risk Assessment? Your advice would be appreciated

Hello I am a leaseholder of a flat, one of 32 in total, arranged in 3 separate attached blocks, each with their own 2 entrances. Arranged over ground. first and second floors. The 3 blocks are 28 years old and there is a common Fire alarm system fitted, with simple central alarm that will sound in all 3 blocks in the event of fire. I understand it is L4+M type of system. There has been 2 Fire risk assessments done over the past 2 years (by different companies), where both reports suggest that a Fire Alarm system is not required. There is a StayPut policy in force. So despite not being required, the unit still needs to be serviced…

Hi i recently did a service on a two wire system fire alarm and noticed the the cable used for the zones was wired in twin and earth cable, does this have to be replaced as it also provides the supply to the multi sensor heads which incorparates the sounder also? Any advice you could send me on this subject would be much appreciated, thank you Wayne

Hi All, When looking at fire alarm panels and the delay indicator light is light up, what does this actually mean? Thanks in advance.

I am due to hold a conference and the venue has told me there will be a fire alarm test at a time that is inconvenient to us as conference organisers. They tell me the time of the test cannot be changed. Are they able to dictate the time and is there a legal requirement for them to hold the alarm at a specific time? I obviously understand the need to hold alarm tests and I am happy for them to test the alarm during our event - but not at the time they specify which would cause inconvenience to our delegates. What are the rules?

Hello. Please can you advise if a company should check the alarm pane when installing new fire alarms to a system. Alarm pane started beeping the following day and showed 'Battery Impedance Test Failed'. Managed to silence the beep but the panel didn't respond to reset. I've been told I have to pay for them to come out to sort the battery. Does this sound right?

If i live in an apartment block with 9-18 floors should there be Manual call points on each level, as the one i live in only has them at the final exit doors on the ground floor? What are the legal requirements?

Hi, Clause 4.1 in above COP states ' manual fire detection' - I interpret this to mean fire detected by a person - or is it a typo - your views please??????

Evening All, I have a small office which comprises of 2 office areas a kitchen and Bathroom, I am Looking for some advice on what systems would allow me to meet the required standards. Thanks in advance Reece Bullen

Hi, I require some advice please. My office recently had a new Fire Alarm installed, and it appears that the battery has been installed externally from the alarm panel under a local desk with a car / motorcycle trickle charger atached. Can someone please advise on regulations on this. it just dont look right... Many Thanks John

Hi All, If one sounder/bell/strobe should get caught in a fire what do we think should be the result? (i) All of the warning devices should continue to operate except one (the one that is actually on fire) or (ii) All of the warning devices should cease to operate except one (the one next to the front door)

I have been working recently in a number of buildings which have been converted into flats from previous uses as warehouses or factories. There seems to be no pattern as to what fire alarm system is provided. Generally, compartmentation seems to be sound. Fire doors are fitted, common parts kept sterile etc. As it is often impossible to tell the date of conversion I am wondering as a general rule of thumb, what level of fire alarm system should be provided? The buildings tend to occupy 3-6 floors and anything from 10-30 flats. Should common parts have smoke detection provided?

Hi all I wonder if you can help. I've previously seen fire alarm service companies use long poles to puff smoke into detector heads as part of the routine service of the fire alarm. During a recent inspection and visit to a site when I was discussing this, the site indicated that this never happens and they are certain of this. I'm not sure if there are other ways to check the detector heads. If anyone can help clarify how smoke detector heads should be serviced that would be great. Does it need to be manually checked in this way or can it be done remotely / via electronic signals Any help would be appreciated Kind regards

Converted house with 4 flats. Pre 1991 One flat is a basement flat, with a separate entrance.You then have a ground floor flat, first floor and second floor flat.All owner occupied. The building has a small communal hallway, and two flights of stairs. The guidance seems to be that a Type LD2 Grade A installation is required, for the communal area. The basement flat is not connected to the communal area, and has its own entrance. Will that flat require a detector/sounder installed? Thanks

Hi all, I was after a bit of advice. I live in a block of flats (4-storey). We have an alarm system which is linked to smoke detection in the communal area and a heat detector with sounder base in each flat. My problem is the panel is a one zone panel and there are no sounders in the communal areas. A friend of mind who notice the panel recently said that one zone is required per floor and we would have to get a new fire alarm system installed. Would this be a requirement or a recommendation. Many thanks- J.

Installed EU fire alarm it’s giving general fault and flashing all 8 zones and sounder fault when try to reset any one can help thanks in advance

Fire Detection and Alarm System requires new inspection certificate following repairs? Block of 7 flats. Fire system failed inspection with 8 faults in May 2017. The faults were not repaired. It was next inspected by the same electrician in January 2019 and failed again on the same 8 faults. The faults were not repaired. It was next inspected by the same electrician in June 2019 and failed again on the same 8 faults plus another 2 with 4 of the faults now identified as urgent. The faults were not repaired. I became aware of the situation 4 weeks ago. The block managing agent tells me that the electrician has now repaired the faults and has shown me his invoic…

Hi, Our large building is around six years old and has approximately 25 red call points. Most are either the two prong plastic key reset type, or the circular socket type, but some are the slide down type. We have four which are none of these and none of us can work out how to test them, as to all intents and purposes, they appear to have no means of release/reset? No holes or access points. Any advice gratefully received - Thanks Wroughtironron

Do you need a smoke detector/sounder in a small plant room off a landing within an existing building which has undergone a change of use to a guest house with an existing pub on ground floor? The plant room is on the 1st floor hallway and does have a 30minute Fire door and is locked shut.

Hello, I am the freeholder of a Victorian building, that has been converted into 3 separate and self contained flats, one one the ground floor, one first floor and one second floor. I have responsibility for the structure of the building, but not the inside of each flat as they are sold on ling leases. I do have responsibility for the communal area of the block, which comprises of a stairwell only, and then some outside space. I have recently installed extinguishers and signage in the stairwell, but I am looking to understand what responsibility I have for smoke/fire alarm system in the communal area. Please could you indicate which section I should be looking in…

We have a communal alarm system in the block of flats with sounders in the flat. How often should the company who maintain the fire alarm quarterly check the sounders within the flats?

A fire alarm system has cause and effect programmed to sound 'evacuate' in the detected zone with the zones next to it just to sound an intermitant alert. Can an interface be added to the circuit in each zone programmable to only switch when the sounders are in evacuation? Any help greatly aprechiated, Chris

Hi All We manage a block that has two stairwells with one AOV in each stairwell. The maintenance company have since told me the openings do not conform (this is some 5 years after installation, it has passed every service) as they do not open to 140 degrees; and they want to replace the whole system at a cost of ~3k per vent Having spoken to some other companies there does seem to be disagreement about whether this sort of opening is required (they open to about 60 degrees, 1m x 1m vent) Does anyone have any input please? Thanks in advance

Hi I wonder if you could tell me the regulations for the positioning of smoke detection in retail outlets in the UK. I am currently working on a well known retail company who at present have only call points in the shop floor area, they have absolutely no automatic facilities on the ceilings or voids, which in some cases can be as much as 2 metres between the ceiling grids and the roof. They only have smoke detectors in the office and warehouse areas. Should they have smoke detectors in the public shop floor area?. If so where can I find legislation to prove this law Thanks for your help Kenny