Fire Alarm Systems

We came across a site that is approx 20 years old, they asked us to take a look at the fire alarm whilst onsite and I noticed that the smoke detectors / sounders were wired in twin & earth mains cable. Is this allowed or do they have to upgrade the wiring to FP?

I live on the ground floor of a mid-terraced Victorian house which was converted into two flats (upstairs and downstairs) in 1992. I am in the process of selling my flat and the buyer’s solicitor has requested that I get a fire risk assessment completed for the communal hall. However, I am concerned that the assessment might recommend the installation of a hardwired linked alarm system between flats. I can’t see how this could possibly work as both flats have their own independent electricity supply paid for by the respective occupants and there is no single supply available to split between the respective landlords. Would I be exempt from implementing such a recommendati…

I recently moved into a flat in what I understand is a converted warehouse building. Whilst there are no smoke detectors in the 'common parts' - there are detectors in my flat. One in the kitchen and one in the hall. When should these be tested? Is that down to me? There is no fire alarm panel at our main entrance and the leaseholder I'm renting from hasn't been the clearest with their response. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, Currently I have an Kentec Addressable Fire Alarm System, Is there any way manual call points which are not the addressable type be added to the system? Also what is the requirements for joins in fire cable, I.e best practice Any advice would be great thanks.

I am an owner/occupier living in the basement flat of a four storey Victorian house. I own a share of the freehold. The three flats above me are all occupied by rental tenants. These flats share a communal access via the main street entrance and staircase. I have my own front door with direct street access. The building is due a fire assessment and I would like to know whether I am obliged to contribute to costs of fitting any fire safety alarms/lighting etc to the communal areas above me which are completely separate to my own dwelling. And indeed am I required to have safety equipment fitted to my own flat. I currently have installed battery operated smoke detectors - i…

Hi, im doing a fire alarm on a social club, not too sure whats the best detection for a hall that could potentially be using smoke machines. Im planning on using an Zeta ID2 system. Thanks

If the agent of a block of purpose built Leasehold apartments arranges for a fire alarm test to take place other than the weekly test. Should the agent, by law have to inform the residents of any such tests.

Hello, For a LD2 Gade D 2 storey domestic building, is there any regulations that requires the fire alarm to create a fault sound if a detector is removed from it's base? If so could you please point me to this regulation? Many thanks!

I hope someone can help answer my question I live in a block of 55 flats over 5 floors and it appears that when the fire alarm is activated by pressing the break glass points the residents do not actually hear an alarm, (the lift stops working though) is this legal? There is a fire panel on the ground floor showing where the alarm was raised/pressed. If there were to be a fire how are we supposed to know to vacate especially if its the middle of the night, there are no fire extinguishers either but there are water risers hoses type things on the staircases presumably for the fire brigade to use. I cant get any answers from the landlord (a major housing assoc) or the pr…

Good afternoon. I have been asked to comment on the mains supply circuit for a proposed fire alarm & fire detection installation and would welcome some advise please. The premise in question is a 6 flat Victorian built property. The mains intake area is within an outside basement, which seems not to be adjoining the main building. The CIE is required within the ground floor communal lobby entrance. There does not seem a direct route from electrical intake to mentioned lobby. Where holes could be drilled, there is a risk of hidden electrical / plumbing services, becoming damaged. Due to the difficulty of wiring a dedicated mains supply, is it ‘acceptable’ to wir…

How many sounder circuits are required on a four zone system across three floors.

Hi, When is a linked alarm system not required between occupancies, especially where sleeping is involved. To my knowledge the minimum for systems not to be linked is 60 min fire resistance between occupancies and the residential occupancy has its own escape route completely separate to the commercial premises, is this at all correct? When I say the phrase 'linked alarm system' I mean sounders in the sleeping accommodation linked to detectors in the commercial premises. Thanks in advance. Regards

I am an advocate for a Seniors Tenant Association in my apartment complex. Recent extended alarm testing sessions covering 2 days, 6 to 6 1/2 hours each day, approximately every 5 minutes in each apartment, so over 12 hours of decibel exposure ! The management screwed up on the notification of said testing dates and times! So 198 apartments, 4 floors of apartments with that 12 hours of exposure levels, both residents and their pets were exposed to this most miserable torture ! What can be done for the next annual testing to avoid this extreme exposure which has caused headaches, earaches, a couple people complained about vertigo, nausea but no seizures, thank G…

What is the best detection system for a coffee shop downstairs ( no cooking facilities ) and living accommodation upstairs ? I am thinking L2 for the early warning for both parties ? its in renovation at the moment .

I need to provide a method to connect two wires for a monitored connection from a device to a CIE, but I want that to be a chassis mounted connector on the device so the installer doesn't have to open the box. The connectors themselves are UL94-V0 rated (both the chassis socket and the terminal plug), but the shroud that goes around the terminal plug is only rated to UL94-HB. I'm aware that according to BS5839 pt1 2013 any cable support must be non-combustible if it were a means of cable support, but the primary support for the cable is via the screw terminals in the plug. Is it acceptable to use a UL94-HB shroud in this way? Thanks, Mark.

Hi I want to hold art classes in an outbuilding. It measures 12m x 4.5m and is one undivided space. Can anyone advise if I need a fire alarm system of some sort. I wondered if a bell on the wall would be sufficient. Anyone shouting fire in the room would be heard by everyone. (My plan is to teach no more than five students at once. and I have push bar doors at each end. I would really appreciate some advice

We have rented a building on a temporary contract, 12 months at a time with the option to take a new 12 months at the end of each term. The building is two story and does not have a fire alarm. There are normally four staff and at times two visitors only on site. Two of the staff have been fire warden trained. We did a fire risk assessment and identified that we could have a single point manually operated siren on the ground floor, we only use the ground floor. Last week we had an audit by the landlords insurance company. They have stated that an alarm system must be installed "without an automatic fire alarm system a fire condi…

Good afternoon , Is there a one month leeway for fire system maintenance ? we carry out 3 month servicing and my understanding is that you can carry out the checks one month either side of the due date. Is this correct, I am certain it is contained within BS5839. Many thanks.

Hi We have just purchased a large commercial site with one fire alarm system covering the entire site. We are planning to have tenants in some of the buildings. Should we still cover the entire site with one large fire alarm system or should this be broken up into separate alarm systems, basically one per tenant? Thanks Garry

We have a member of staff in school who is severely hearing impaired (not sure if legally classed as deaf). There have been three instances in the last two years where she has not heard the fire alarm during fire drills. Each time a member of staff has found her completely unaware of the, sometimes, unbearably loud alarms. She works alone as a sort of general assistant (cleaning, doing odd-jobs), so she is not often in classrooms. I have been asked to investigate possible solutions, so I asked for a quote from the company that maintains our fire alarm. Their recommendation is a Deaf Alerter system, at a total of nearly £9000 for the system and necessary integration w…

Dear all. I have a error with Kidde AEGIS Single Hazard Agent Releasing Panel. 120/240 V, 50/60 Hz AC Input. With 7 Initiating, 3 Notification, 2 Release Circuits & 4 Relays in Red Enclosure (84-732001-001). This is Primary PSU Output Voltage. I replace the power supply and battery, check Voltage Input is 230V and Output 24V. I think everything is correct. But when i press system reset, the light of PSU TBL are still on. Plese tell me why and how to fix this. Thanks so much.

Afternoon I understand that it depends on the job time taken to plane etc but what price range should you be getting quoted for the design of a new fire alarm system etc Lets just say in my case a medium 2 floor office. If anyone does designs who can advise what I roughly should be getting quoted it would be appreciated (design only not inc equipment). James

A large residential building of five floors with a single a storey staircase & access to the roof area for maintenance,etc. There is a reciprocal means of escape with an adjoining building,however it has been securely fastened & not available for use. There is afd in the common areas on all floors & the final exit leads to fresh air, so my query would be: Should the reciprocal fire exit be reinstated or once persons are in the 30 minutes protected staircase would this be sufficient to relax this requirement? Apologies, one further question....I would be keen to extend the fire alarm system to provide a sounder at roof level, in order to giv…

I am presently working on a proposed blocks of apartment. In this design process, i intend to make sure all safety standard are met at a reasonable level. Be informed i am from a country with power challenges, in the case all alternative power sources fails (municipal supply, or generators), are there self powering protected circuit and smoke/fire actuators that are self powered? What are the general/passive design guidelines that you would suggest for locations with power challenges?

Is there a correct abbreviation or specific way to identify in writing a joint/combined manual and automated fire alarm system. For example ML3 or L5N? Thank you