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Fires are a serious safety hazard that cost millions of pounds in damages and put human lives at risk. In the UK, many businesses and commercial properties are victims of deadly fires every year, which often puts them out of business as they are unable to recover from the losses.
Due to the devastating nature of fires – and the fact that, in many cases, they are both avoidable and controllable – fire safety legislation in the UK has been put into place to reduce the likelihood of a fire and protect lives and property in the form of fire alarm regulations.
These fire alarm regulations apply to almost all non-domestic properties in the UK which include office buildings, retail stores, educational buildings, healthcare facilities, hospitality businesses, leisure and entertainment centres, transport hubs, and industrial properties. In England and Wales, they apply to shared parts of residential buildings such as blocks of flats as well.
Read on for a detailed guide to UK legislation regarding fire alarm regulations, key responsibilities under UK Fire Safety Regulations, and the types of fire alarms for different types of properties:
REGULATIONS FOR COMMERCIAL FIRE ALARMS IN THE UK
There are 5 main pieces of legislation regarding fire safety for commercial buildings in the UK:
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO) – applies to all non-domestic properties, including commercial businesses, and emphasises the importance of conducting fire risk assessments and implementing appropriate fire safety measures.
- BS 5839 – a suite of British Standards and a key standard for commercial businesses that provides guidelines on the planning, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of fire detection and alarm systems, along with the type of systems and components that should be used.
- BS EN 54 – the European Standard for fire safety that provides a benchmark for the quality of fire detection equipment and specifies the requirements and testing procedures for fire alarm systems and their components.
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 – while not directly linked to fire safety, it places responsibility on employers to provide a safe working environment for their employees, which includes protecting them from the risks of fire.
- Local Building Regulations – specific requirements for various jurisdictions regarding fire safety and the need for having adequate fire detection systems to ensure that buildings are constructed with the right fire safety measures.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER UK FIRE ALARM REGULATIONS
Appointing a Responsible Person
As per the fire safety regulations in the UK, there are a few key responsibilities that need to be fulfilled by the ‘responsible person(s)’ in order to stay compliant with UK law and legislation. This legally designated individual could be an employer, owner, landlord, occupier, or anyone else in control of the business or other non-domestic premises, for example, a building manager, facilities manager, or risk assessor.
These responsible individuals undergo proper training to undertake set duties that are both preventative and reactive. They are an integral part of any organisation and also play a crucial role in case a fire breaks out by trying to minimise the damage and assist other people with safe evacuation.
Carrying Out a Fire Risk Assessment
A fire risk assessment is, as the name suggests, a thorough assessment of a building to identify the risks present in relation to fire safety. It is an organised and methodical audit that involves evaluating and examining the premises, the activities carried out within them, and the likelihood of a fire starting and causing harm to those present in and around the premises.
The main steps included in a fire risk assessment are:
Step 1: Identifying potential hazards that may cause fires, such as any sources of ignition, fuel, or gases, including heaters, air conditioners, and waste build-up.
Step 2: Identifying the people at risk, such as those working near flammable materials, working alone or in isolated areas, elderly people, or those with physical disabilities.
Step 3: Evaluating the extent of the risk and removing it by enforcing a safe smoking policy, keeping flammable materials away from sources of ignition, and installing fire alarms and detection systems.
Step 4: Recording the findings, preparing an action plan to be followed in the event of a fire, and training everyone to ensure safe evacuation from the premises
Step 5: Reviewing and updating the findings to ensure everything is up to date and in line with the changing level of fire risk over time, due to several reasons such as a change in the number of occupants or the nature of work being carried out.
Installing and Maintaining Fire Safety Equipment
As part of the responsibilities under UK fire safety regulations, every building must be equipped with appropriate fire safety equipment depending on the level of risk present. For some properties, the risk may be higher, and they may need a more comprehensive and advanced system to tackle the risk.
Some of the most common fire safety equipment includes:
- Portable multi-purpose fire extinguishers,
- Sprinkler systems,
- Fire hose reels,
- Emergency lighting, and
- Fire alarm systems.
The need for a fire alarm system depends on factors such as the size of the building and the nature of activities undertaken within the premises. For this reason, it is not a legal requirement for every business to have a fire alarm system in place. Every business, however, is required by law to have an appropriate fire detection system that can easily detect the threat and warn the people in and around the premises of the danger present.
Maintenance of fire safety equipment is just as important as its usage and installation. Regular upkeep and maintenance ensure that all the systems and equipment keep working properly and remain fault-free. It minimises the likelihood of false alarms and helps stay compliant with legal as well as insurance requirements.
Commercial fire alarm maintenance includes two types of checks. One is undertaken by the users of the system and is carried out weekly or monthly. The second type of test is carried out by a competent person, such as a trained engineer, and is done a minimum of two times each year.
Preparing For Emergencies
Emergency preparedness is an integral part of fire safety. Knowing what to do in an emergency can be what stands between a safe evacuation and a life-threatening situation. Having an appropriate fire detection system and an emergency plan is the best way to minimise danger and help save human lives and property.
Clear procedures and protocols must be established for raising manual fire alarms, calling emergency services, and using firefighting equipment if the need arises, along with designating responsibilities to clarify who is responsible for what.
A clear and mapped-out evacuation plan must be created which highlights the evacuation routes, emergency exits, and assembly points. It must also include information about the firefighting equipment present on site including fire extinguishers, fire blankets, sprinklers, fire buckets, fire hose reels, and fire hydrants.
Fire safety training and awareness must be prioritised to ensure all the occupants of the building are familiar with the evacuation procedures and escape routes. This also includes making sure everyone knows how to activate the fire alarm system and assist others, if the need arises.
Fire drills must be carried out at least once a year, or more, depending on the need, to familiarise everyone with the emergency protocol and to ensure they stay calm and are prepared in the event of an actual fire breaking out.
TYPES OF FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS
There are several types of fire alarms designed to meet varying fire safety needs and requirements. Selecting a suitable system must be based on the findings of the fire risk assessment and factors such as building size and potential fire risks.
Fire alarm systems are broadly categorised into two basic types based on how they are triggered:
- Manual Fire Alarm Systems require human intervention and rely on people in the building to detect a fire and manually raise an alarm using call points installed in various key locations throughout the property.
- Automatic Fire Alarm Systems use a range of detection devices, including fire, smoke, heat, and gas detectors, to spot the earliest signs of a fire and automatically raise an alarm.
According to fire safety laws in the UK, a manual fire alarm should suffice on your property if it is small and low risk, with limited occupants and proper escape routes. Automatic fire alarms are more suitable for high-risk properties and are often combined with manual systems for better coverage.
Fire alarm systems can be further divided into the following types based on the system architecture:
- Conventional fire alarm systems – can be set up in zones with each initiating device linked to the control panel on its own wire. When the alarm is triggered, the system can help identify the location of the fire by identifying the zone on the system.
- Addressable Fire Alarm Systems – each device on the system has a unique address which the control panel uses to identify the exact location of the fire, making them the perfect choice for large commercial properties such as multi-storey buildings and huge complexes.
- Wireless fire alarm systems – use radio frequencies instead of wires and cables to connect the detectors to the control panel and provide the exact location of the fire. This makes them suitable for properties that want to go the wire-free route due to aesthetics or accessibility.
Fire alarm systems are also divided into various categories depending on why they are used and the type of protection they offer. The three main categories are category M (manual), category L (life protection), and category P (property protection).
- Category M – All manual fire alarm systems fall under this category.
- Category L – made for life protection and are further divided into 5 types: L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5, with L1 being the most advanced and L5 offering only localised protection.
- Category P – focused on protecting property and is divided into 2 types: P1 and P2, with P1 offering complete protection for the earliest possible warning and P2 for only specific parts of a building.
FIRE ALARM INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE
The way in which a fire alarm system in installed and maintained play an important role in how well they provide protection from fires. A poorly installed and ill-maintained fire alarm system can lead to issues such as delayed response, false alarms, and even complete system failure.
Fire alarm installation is a complex task requiring expertise in the field, which is why it is best done by professionals. While there are no specific laws on who can and cannot install a fire alarm system, the UK fire alarm regulations do state that it must be someone competent.
By choosing a certified professional, you can ensure safety, reliability, and the best overall results in terms of the performance of the fire alarm system. They are familiar with the main makes and models of different fire alarm systems, can assess your requirements and suggest the right type of fire alarm system for your needs, can design a fire alarm system to meet the grade and category requirements, and have a proper understanding of the British Standard BS 5839.
In terms of the legal requirements for fire alarm maintenance, a commercial fire alarm system must be periodically tested and inspected so that faults can be identified and preventive measures can be taken to ensure the continued reliability of the system.
According to BS 5839, all the detectors, call points, panels, and circuits must be tested every six months by a competent person with specialist knowledge of fire alarm systems.
The duration of the inspections may vary as outlined during a fire risk assessment and is dependent on the size and complexity of the system and the level of risk. For large and high-risk properties, it may be best to have the system serviced every four months instead of the recommended six.
During the fire alarm maintenance, a competent person follows a fire alarm maintenance checklist, carries out a visual inspection of the building and the system for any obvious signs of damage and deterioration, and conducts a thorough inspection of all the devices and components.
CONTACT CALDER SECURITY
At Calder Security, we offer you a comprehensive solution for all your fire safety needs that includes professional installation, maintenance, monitoring, and repair.
We understand that every property is different, and the specification of the system depends on several factors, including the type and size of the building, the number of occupants, and how high-risk it is.
We can help you cut through all that and advise you on the best fire detection system for your building that complies with British Standards, HSE, Building Regulations, and Fire Officer Guidelines, in addition to meeting the requirements of business insurance.
We also understand fire regulations and provide professional maintenance checks and reminders for when the checks are due to help you stay compliant with the law. We work fast to restore your fire alarm system to excellent condition and always strive to meet your expectations.
We offer various levels of monitoring via a 24-hour monitoring centre using Dualcom and BT Redcare signalling, which is the most secure alarm monitoring system and the largest supplier of intelligent alarm signalling services in the UK.
If your system starts to malfunction, you can rely on our highly skilled engineers to restore your system to full working order in one visit. We offer a 24-hour call-out service for customers and can also repair fire alarms not installed by us, thanks to our extensive knowledge and experience.
Contact us here or call us today free on 0800 612 9799 for more information on fire safety and fire alarm regulations in the UK.
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