Faulty fire alarms endanger life and can result in fines for a business. Fire and rescue services across the country can impose fines on businesses that are responsible for excessive false alarms (the number of false alarms that trigger a fine varies by region).
For example, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) can issue fines of almost £300 for premises visited three or more times in a year (BBC News).
Servicing and maintenance
The Office of National Statistics (2019) reported that 67% of false alarms are due to faulty equipment, highlighting the importance of servicing and maintenance.
To ensure that the devices are in full working order, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 recommends testing fire alarms weekly.
Safeguarding a property
To safeguard property against the threat of fire, one can learn what they should be looking for when conducting weekly tests in a video guide provided by the company.
Follow these steps:
- Test all call points on-site in rotation.
- Ensure each call point is checked for signs of damage.
- Make sure the alarm sounds clear from each call point.
- Record the test in your logbook, note down any issues.
Try not to schedule the tests at the end of the day, if any issues arise during the test you may be subject to out-of-hours call-out charges from technicians.
Servicing fire alarm systems
Churches Fire & Security service all fire alarm systems at least every six months according to British standard BS5839
Churches Fire & Security service all fire alarm systems at least every six months according to British standard BS5839. The technicians carry BAFE and ISO9001 accreditations, giving customers peace of mind that the servicing of their fire alarm systems is carried out competently and to a high standard.
As technicians are subject experts, they are fully trained on several models and types of fire alarms, including wireless, addressable and conventional systems. Churches Fire & Security has the qualifications and experience to help meet fire safety obligations whilst ensuring compliance with the relevant standards.
