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Fire Alarm Testing in Residential Buildings

Fires in residential buildings are a common occurrence with Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) attending over 15,000 fire-related incidents in England in 2019/20.

They can be caused due to several reasons with the most common ones being electrical faults, cooking and heating appliances, smoking, and candles.

A lot of this has to do with the way these buildings are built, how well the electrical and heating work is laid out, and how careful the residents and other occupants are in keeping the risk under control.

However, sometimes fires may erupt despite you being careful and, to combat the ever-present threat, fire alarms must be installed on the premises to detect even the earliest signs and control it from spreading.

According to the Home Office Statistics, in the previous year, fires, where an alarm was present but failed to operate or raise the alarm, accounted for 31% of all dwelling fires.

The reason that the fire alarm did not function as expected included issues with the battery, faulty installation, area not covered by the system, or the system simply not turned on.

A faulty fire alarm system is just as good as having no fire alarm at all since it fails to alert and protect you. Therefore, if, and you most definitely must, have a fire alarm system installed in your building, you need to have it regularly tested.

Read on to find out all there is to know about fire alarm testing in residential buildings and why it is so important:

FIRE ALARM TESTING

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to every type of building, including residential and commercial, and states that any person(s) responsible for the property must take the necessary steps to reduce the risk of fires and ensure the safety of the people.

A new Fire Safety Bill has recently been passed to improve fire safety in buildings and to prevent a tragedy like the Grenfell Tower fire from ever happening again.

A fully functional fire alarm is a regulatory requirement for residential buildings according to the British Standard BS 5839, making regular testing an integral part of fire safety to check if they are working correctly or not.

Testing is different from fire alarm servicing and is done every week. Servicing includes a more thorough investigation, whereas fire alarm testing is a quick test to identify any issues that may cause the system to falter.

You are responsible for fire safety and carrying out weekly testing if you are anyone in a controlling position, which includes the owner, manager, or landlord of the building.

There may be more than one ‘responsible person’ and, if that is the case, you need to work together and take on equal responsibility in meeting the safety regulations.

In case of a large property or several buildings, you may also hire professional services to carry out the testing for you.

During fire alarm testing in residential buildings, you must test a different call-point each week by activating it and checking whether the alarm is triggered and the panel receives the signal.

In case of professional monitoring services, you must check whether the equipment is sending the signals to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) or not and if the one-way or two-way communication feature is working properly.

All the tests must be recorded in a fire alarm log book, including the location of the tested call-point(s). In case of an issue with any of the components, your fire alarm provider must be contacted immediately so that it can be rectified immediately.

IMPORTANCE OF FIRE ALARM TESTING AND SERVICING

The importance of regular fire alarm testing and servicing cannot be stressed enough. While testing is done weekly, servicing is done every 6 months, or earlier, depending on the size and type of system installed.

The main reasons why it is necessary to keep your fire alarm in good working order is to prevent loss of life and property, and also to prevent false alarms.

The amount of damage and the number of casualties each year due to fires, and the inability to control them in time due to either a faulty fire alarm or the absence of one altogether, shows how important a fully functioning fire alarm system is to safety.

All the main components of a fire alarm must be tested and regularly serviced, which include:

  • Control panel
  • Sensors/Detectors
  • Alerting devices
  • Call points
  • Battery power

The inability to do so might result in one or more of the following faults:

  • Faulty sensors
  • Ground faults
  • Alarm failure
  • Battery issue

A reliable fire alarm in good working condition guarantees early detection and quick response time to combat the threat and is invaluable when it comes to helping save lives and protecting property.

In addition to being compliant with the law, regularly tested and maintained fire alarms help prevent false alarms which can be a serious nuisance for the occupants of the residential building while also disrupting people nearby.

They also waste valuable fire department resources if the Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) are called to the scene. To deal with the issue, the authorities have imposed a fine on being called out due to repeated false alarms making it all the more important to have the systems regularly tested and serviced.

TYPES OF FIRE ALARMS IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

No legislation specifies which type of fire alarm should be used in which premises. It all just comes down to what’s most appropriate depending on the requirements and risks involved.

The three most common types of fire alarm systems are:

Conventional fire alarm

A conventional fire alarm is the most basic type which works by dividing your property into broad zones. In the event of an alert, the system identifies the zone where the alarm was triggered, but not the exact area.

Due to their inability to pinpoint to the exact location, conventional systems are more suitable for smaller buildings and lower risk environments.

Addressable fire alarm

An addressable fire alarm works by giving each device its unique address that gets activated in the event of a fire. They are more precise than conventional systems and can tell you the exact location of the fire.

Due to their accuracy, addressable fire alarm systems are more suitable for larger buildings and higher risk environments.

Wireless fire alarm

A wireless fire alarm system works exactly like an addressable system, just without the wires linking the sensors and fire alarm panel.

They are most suitable for premises where the aesthetics play an important part and a wireless and cleaner look is the goal.

FIRE ALARM GRADES AND CATEGORIES

In addition to the different types, fire alarms are also divided into grades and categories. Grades define how the systems are constructed and categories define which area of the building they must cover.

Fire alarms run from grades A to F, with A being the highest and F being the lowest grade. According to the British Standard BS 5839-6:2019, there are six grades of fire alarms that include Grade A, C, D1, D2, F1, and F2.

Higher-grade systems are wired into a central control panel and have a back-up power supply to rely on. They are used by commercial properties, and those at a higher risk of fire, to comply with the UK fire alarm regulations.

Residential buildings, on the other hand, may install a lower-grade system that is not wired into a central control panel and does not have a back-up power supply. It all, however, comes down to the individual needs and requirements of the property, which can best be assessed through a risk assessment.

The three categories include Category M which stands for Manual, Category L which stands for Life protection, and Category P which stands for Property.

Category L comprises of 5 levels of protection, L1 to L5 for buildings, with L1 providing the maximum life protection featuring sensors in all areas of the building where a fire could potentially start. The sensors are linked to a centralised system and alert the entire building if a fire breaks out.

The grades and categories best suited to a residential building are mostly dependent on the size and layout of the property.

To ensure that you have adopted the right fire safety measures, you must start with a thorough fire risk assessment of the building identifying the potential hazards and those at risk, followed by evaluating the extent of the risk and removing it, recording the findings and preparing an action plan, and reviewing and updating as necessary.

FIRE SAFETY IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

Fires can be deadly and wreak havoc onto the lives of people it affects. However, the good news is that most fires are preventable if the right safety measures are taken. Here are a few precautionary steps all building owners, managers, and occupants must take to ensure they remain protected:

Risk assessment

A fire risk assessment forms the basis of fire security and must be performed in all residential buildings, regardless of their size.

A thorough inspection must be done of all the potential hazards and ways to overcome them. This includes checking all the electrical installations, heating systems, and areas where flammable equipment is stored.

Fire safety equipment

All residential buildings are different and carry a varying level of fire risk. Some might be more susceptible to the threat and need a comprehensive fire safety solution, while others might make do with a few fire extinguishers only.

Some of the most common fire safety equipment includes portable multi-purpose fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, fire hose reels, fire alarm systems, and emergency lighting.

Fire drills and evacuation plans

Regular fire drills must be carried out to train the occupants of the building for the appropriate action to take in case of a real fire.

Evacuation plans must include clearly marked escape routes, adequate exits for everyone to escape on time, emergency doors that open automatically, emergency lighting, and proper training of occupants to know and use the escape routes.

Professional installation

According to the UK fire alarm regulations, someone competent and reliable must be chosen to install a fire alarm at your premises.

They require that the security company must understand the various types of fire alarm systems and be familiar with all the different models, be able to identify which grade and category of the fire alarm system are required, and have good knowledge of the British Standard BS 5839.

Regular testing and maintenance

Even the best and most effective fire alarm systems can deteriorate over time and begin to malfunction if they aren’t regularly tested and maintained.

In addition to being tested weekly for clear signs of damage, the systems must be cleaned to ensure no dust deposits or insects are causing the sensors to not work properly. For a simple wipe, you may do it yourself. However, if you wish to have the system cleaned properly from the inside out, it is better to call a professional than to attempt a DIY.

CONTACT CALDER SECURITY

At Calder Security, we offer you a comprehensive solution for all your fire safety needs and guarantee the best service in all of Yorkshire and beyond. Our services include:

Fire alarm installation

The proper installation of a fire alarm system is just as important as the quality of the system itself. It is a complex task requiring expertise in the field.

We understand that every building is different and the specification of the system depends on several factors including the type and size of the building along with the number of occupants.

We can help you cut through all that and advise you on the best fire detection system for your residential building that complies with British Standards, HSE, Building Regulations, and Fire Officer Guidelines.

We install only high-quality equipment from our trusted suppliers and all our systems comply with building insurance terms.

Fire alarm maintenance

It is not enough to simply have a fire alarm system installed on your premises. The law states that it must be maintained properly and, depending on many factors, this can be anything up to 3 times per year.

We 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.

Fire alarm monitoring

Fast response to an activated fire alarm can make all the difference in minimising risk to life and property, and fire alarm monitoring does that by adding an extra layer of safety to the system.

Knowing that experts at an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) are looking out for your safety and taking the necessary steps to ensure that safety remains intact in the event of a fire is a very reassuring thought.

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.

Fire alarm monitoring does not only significantly minimise the seriousness of the situation through fast action, but also reduces your insurance premiums.

Fire alarm repair

As per the law, if a fire alarm system becomes faulty, it is mandatory to get it repaired quickly and professionally. The inability to do so can leave you, your property, its occupants, and all of its assets in a vulnerable state.

A faulty fire alarm can result in false alarms or, in a worst-case scenario, prevent it from triggering at all in the event of a fire.

Our engineers are highly skilled and can 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 to talk to our experts right away!

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