Fire Alarm Systems

I am so glad to have found this site I am responsible for the management of a 1960/70s small bock of 6 flats (3 x 2)with garages below and an external balcony leading from the back of each flat an open air cement stairway. It is a sixties block on two floors, one brick thick with a pitched roof. We are about to change large front crittall windows (metal) to double glazed windows as well as a small window and door at the back of these very small flats. It has been suggested that we need to delay the work update our buildings risk assessment before we start any work because the materials being used by a company in the light of the recent fire in the tower block. …

I am looking for some advice on requirements for a new cold room we are having built shortly. The cold room will be approximately 13m x 7m, however, this will be split into 2 cold rooms (-20 and -27). The entrance to the first cold room (-20) will have a large manual sliding door (no vision panel) and at the rear of the (-20) there will be a manual pedestrian door leading to the (-27). As there is a room within a room do we need to have fire alarms installed, or any other fire equipment? Many thanks Dylan

Hi, I hope you can clarify please, I've read BS 5839-6 is not for domestic common areas, e.g. a common stairwell leading to ground and first floor flats in a converted house. Is there an overlap with BS 5839-1 with regard to coverage of domestic common areas? Thanks, Scott

I live in a 2 storey block of flats, the bin cupboard and gas meters are within the building adjoining ou bedroom, should there be smoke alarms fitted.

How long does the fire alarm need to sound for the weekly test? We have 2 alarm systems, the first quick (literally a beep and then its off). Mine is longer, to the point that some people complain. A colleague seems to think it should be between 30-60 seconds. That’s unacceptable for the office. To my understanding it needs to be heard so would have thought between 3-5 seconds of sounding is sufficient.

I have a house with 4 holiday let apartments. All self contained but the fire officer says HMO for fire reg purposes. That is fine by me. We have 3 floors each with an individual accommodation. I would like to know if a L2 system with a two wire, 8 zone, wireless connected, control panelled system would conform to BS standards.Each zone relating to a bedroom/apartment. Thanks in advance

Hi i have been asked to check residential accommodation for CO and smoke detection. Also a high street property which is one building with three separate businesses occupying it. A stationers, a insurance services and a accountants. Would this particular property require a hard wired fire alarm system with automatic and manual detection? Or just mains smoke detection? I would be grateful for any advice you could offer me. Jamie

I am one of the three leaseholder residents in an Edwardian 4 storey terraced building which was converted to 3 flats in 1988, none are tenanted. A fire risk assessment was commissioned by the vendor when I bought my flat last year as a condition of the sale (there was no FRA in place) Most of the work is now complete, i.e. fire doors fully upgraded and the electrical meter cupboards and cabling fireproofed in common areas, all by a third party accredited company. The recommendation given re smoke alarms was quite vague, just that we should have them in the common areas, but no grade of system was specified. I went back to the company for further guidance, to be told tha…

Hi - Hoping I can maybe pick someones' brains a little. I am finishing up a course of Fire Safety in tall buildings and the final 'project' is a hypothetical building situation for me to solve. The Rubrik is here: Your fire detection system is a ‘closed protocol’ system with bespoke features and software. You have just been informed that the company has ceased trading and gone into liquidation. This poses an immediate question mark over spares and replacement parts for the system. Closure, partial closure or business disruption are directed to you as ‘unacceptable’. I just wanted a little advice if anyone would be able to help - I am looking at increased routine maint…

Hi, Is there a 'standard' percentage for loop capacity for addressable fire alarm panel / loops? i.e. Kentec/Apollo 126 unique address numbers available _ 10% left off at installation (for future modifications etc.) = approx. 113 devices to be installed, with 13 'spare' spaces. I hear 10%, 15% & even 20% space 'requirements' for future expansion. Thanks, Brad.

I understand that the sounder need to be a certain level at bed head but does the fire alarm need to be at a certain db outside of a building ? Many thanks

Do you have to have a separate fire alarm zone for the attic/loft area to the floors below? I know Zones should not cross floors but is the attic/loft classed as a separate floor?

Hey, I work in residential building which has more than 100 flats. I am the only person during my shift. The fire alarm system has been down for almost two months and there is no temporary alarm system or solution for now. The management knows about the issue and has not provided temporary solution for this. Should I be working in the building ? Any advice would be highly recommended. Thanks.

Hello, I did post this as a guest but now posting as a member. I am installing new apollo s65 smoks on a existing system (SAFT, France, panel) and they work as normal. The problem appears when I install a remote led on it, when activated the panel shows fault and not fire, if I disconnect the remote led while the detector is activated, it then goes into fire. There is no details on the panel to say who made it and all is well with the new detectors until I install the remote led. I have not measured the voltage at the remote led and not sure if this would be of any use to me, but will do this just to see what is there. I have never came across this problem until now …

I work in a facility with 50 call points, a different one is tested each week. Our stores warehouse which is separate from the main building has three call points on a separate system and is only manned when deliveries are taking place or goods being made for despatch so is not manned most of the time, does a call point in this area still need testing weekly?

Hi If adding a few extra detectors to an existing fire detection system which does not have a zone plan, is it the installer's responsibility to provide one (or update an existing one if they have one) or is it simply noted on the certificate that it is a non-conformity?

Hi, I am looking for some advice as I do not know a lot about fire alarms. My cat was recently diagnosed with asthma however I still have a feeling someone in the house is still smoking their ecigarette in the room with her even after being warned of the dangers by the vet. I was wondering if you have any recommendations for a sensitive alarm that will respond to the vapour being smoked in one particular room? I hear and ionized alarm would be best? Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Hi Went to a property today which had a very old fire alarm system installed. It's wired in 3 core flex with multiple faults. Parts are proving difficult to get for the current setup. I was thinking can Iuse the existing wire and install inter-inlinked smoke alarms ???? I'd disconnect the call points. Thanks in advance.

Hi all, I have an interconnected mains alarm system with CO monitor (rechargeable lithium battery), Heat Sensor, two off Optical Smoke sensor and 1 off Ionisation Smoke detector. There is a hard wired test/silence/locate switch. All electrical tests show more than 200 Mohms between each of the 3 conductors (Line, Neutral, Interconnect, plus earth) so can rule out wiring fault. In operation, there is zero DC or AC voltage on the interconnect so nothing funny their. The system is wired in Fire Alarm cable (Prysmian FP cable) The power consumption of the 5 wired inter connected alarms is 60 watts. If all the alarms are removed from their bases, the po…

Hi all. We recently had a Electrical Condition and Inspection Report done. One of the items flagged up for remedial work was the fact that the supply cable was not wired in fire rated cable and not supplied via a two pole isolator. I intend to rectify this by installing a new supply in the correct fire rated cable via a two pole isolator. My question is it ok to run this cable in existing trunking with another 240v supply. I assume it it because its not low voltage. I would appreciate peoples thoughts on this. Regards Stephen Goldsmith

Hi All, I am a Building Manager who recently appointed an installation team to complete a brand new fire alarm installation within my property. I have not had these kind of works done before, I have been through BS5839, but was looking for some pictures of very good installation so I can compare. Just some basic pictures of 2nd fixing all devices wrong and right and general good workmanship

Thank you for your help!! The centre is trying to fix the problem but the contingency plan is to turn off the alarm and have members of staff to manually alert is if there is a fire. Is this legal? During last night the fire alarm had a fault which resulted in Us Evacuating twice. I am a teacher on a school trip where we have 48 children sleeping across three floors. Hello.

Hi Just wondering if any of you can help... Is it allowable to add an additional detector to a fire alarm system which is installed in LSF cable (Non compliant with current BS) by using FP200 cable on the new part? If it is do you note this on the installation certificate that the existing part if non complaint but the new part is complaint? All advice grateful of. Thanks

Hello there, I am a business development manager for a DIY retail business on an industrial estate, which has been running for 30 years. We are currently looking at all the HSE systems/policies and most things are in place, however, we have a breakglass system and no automatic systems on the site at all. Is an automated system required? The other thing is there are no smoke alarms or sprinkler systems. Do we need to have some put in or is it ok as is? Kind regards Selma

Scott Regards Hi,I am aware that smoke detectors should be replaced every ten years and it is my responsibly as a service engineer to inform my customers this needs to be done,however as you can imagine many customers do not take kindly and often use words like,well the last company never said that,so I wondered if it means there system does not conform if I recommend the detectors are in need of replacing as customer says no as at the end of the day it is my signature saying the system has been tested and is in good working order but as you can imagine I need to keep myself covered against any issues occurring should the customer have a fire?