Fire Service Response to Automatic Fire Alarm Systems

In an effort to reduce unnecessary brigade response to false alarm activations caused by automatic fire alarm systems, a number of fire services across the UK have amended their response criteria.

This excludes premises where there could potentially be people on-site such as hospitals, care homes, hotels, hostels, domestic homes and halls of residence. It also excludes sites that are either under the Control Of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015 (COMAH), or the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2019 (REPPIR).

However, a number of fire services will not respond to non-confirmed fire alarm signals at any time of day or week for the following:

• Industrial premises
• Commercial premises
• Offices
• Shops
• Licensed premises with no sleeping risk
• Places of Worship
• Public buildings

Regional variations in response procedure can make the difference between a partial and total loss of the premises. Therefore, it is paramount to ensure that persons responsible for premises protected by remote signalling automatic fire alarm systems are aware of their local fire services policy regarding fire alarm response, and that their fire risk assessment takes this into account.

Your business may need to nominate additional key holders closer to the premises to confirm activation of the alarm, or perhaps enter into an agreement with local businesses that have 24-hour operation/security guards to provide confirmation.

Aon has conducted a study into the Fire and Rescue Service response for each area across the UK. For a copy, email our panel of experts at [email protected]