Smoke Alarm Maintenance For Businesses

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Fires present a significant risk to businesses and can damage property and endanger lives. According to statistics, there are around 22,000 workplace fires every year in the United Kingdom, which is a staggering number and a real cause for concern.

The most common causes of these fires are carelessness, lack of knowledge, and faulty electrics. Luckily, in most cases, they can be prevented by putting in place the right systems and measures to reduce the risk, along with using fire safety equipment.

Smoke alarms are one such fire safety measure that business owners can install on their premises to monitor large areas for the presence of smoke which may endanger all those present.

Along with their proper design and installation, it is very important that these smoke alarms are regularly maintained so that they can keep working efficiently and provide the required level of safety.

Read on to find out more about smoke alarms, smoke alarm maintenance for businesses, what business owners must do, and much more:

WHAT ARE SMOKE ALARMS?

Smoke alarms are fire safety devices that include a means of detecting a fire – a smoke detector – and provide a warning to everyone around of the threat using a very loud beeping sound, also often accompanied by lights.

They are installed on the ceilings and can detect fires in the early stages to give you enough time to evacuate safely and prevent the fire from spreading further.

There are four main types of smoke alarms – ionisation, optical, heat, and combined:

Ionisation alarms

Ionisation alarms work using a small radioactive source to generate a current inside the alarm which, if filled with smoke, causes the current to change. Once enough smoke has filled up, an alarm will sound alerting everyone of the fire threat.

These are the cheapest type of alarms and they detect invisible smoke particles given off by fast-burning fires such as those caused by burning paper or clothes.

Their quick reaction to small smoke particles makes them prone to false alarms, especially when installed near kitchens or open windows, which is why it is recommended to install them in stairwells and offices.

Optical alarms

More expensive than ionisation alarms, optical alarms use infrared beams to detect smoke. They are good at detecting larger smoke particles emanating from smouldering fires such as those caused by overheating wires.

Also known as photoelectric detectors, they are less prone to false alarms and have a high sensitivity to large smoke particles in the air. The optical chamber “sees” the smoke and the smoke particles block and cause the infrared light to scatter.

Not suitable for dusty environments, optical alarms can be installed in areas with soft furnishings and cables.

Heat alarms

Instead of detecting smoke, heat alarms alert you to an unexpected rise in temperature. Featuring a temperature thermistor that measures the ambient temperature and raises the alarm when the set limit (approximately 55°C) is reached.

Ideal for places such as the kitchen since they do not react to cooking fumes and steam, heat alarms can also be installed in offices and high-risk dusty environments where smoke alarms would turn into a nuisance.

Combined or multi-sensor alarms

Combined or multi-sensor alarms, as the name suggests, combine both smoke and heat detectors, allowing the system to respond quickly to slow, smouldering fires as well as fast-burning blazes.

Available in several different combinations, these alarms may also include carbon monoxide sensors to protect you from the deadly gas.

These features make multi-sensor alarms suitable for almost all areas of the property including offices, hallways, and stairways.

Each type looks similar and is powered either by a battery, the mains electricity, or a combination of both. Some systems are interlinked so that smoke detected in one room can raise the alarm in all the other rooms as well.

BEST SMOKE ALARM FOR BUSINESSES

Smoke alarms and detectors are an integral part of fire safety in commercial buildings. Their importance cannot be stressed enough and you, as a business owner, are required by the law, as stated in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, to have an effective fire safety system in place.

There are different types of businesses and commercial properties, all varying in terms of their size, location, nature, and operations, and some are at a higher risk of fires than others.

When it comes to choosing the right type of smoke alarm for your business, there is a no “one-size-fits-all” approach that you can follow. There are different types of smoke alarms, suitable for different situations, scenarios, and environments.

To find the best smoke alarm for your business, you need to carefully plan and design, and conduct a fire risk assessment that helps you determine the type and level of risk and the best way to minimise it.

A fire risk assessment is a legal requirement for all commercial premises in the UK and must be carried out by whoever is responsible for the building to reduce the risk of fires and keep people safe.

If your commercial building is too big and complex, and you feel like you may require expert guidance, you may hire a professional fire risk assessor to help you with the task.

WHERE TO INSTALL SMOKE ALARMS?

Whether you are protecting a single office or an enormous workplace with multiple floors, you need to make sure you have the right number of smoke alarms that are installed in the right locations.

In order to be most effective, they need to be placed strategically so that they can pick up on the earliest signs of a fire and reduce false readings.

Ideally, smoke detectors must be installed on the ceilings all across the building to provide full coverage and, depending on the size of each area, more than one smoke detector may be required.

They must be placed on each floor and in every room, taking into consideration the layout of the building to provide maximum protection.

In commercial properties, smoke alarms and their components must be linked to a central control panel and monitored for quick response times.

In addition to automatic smoke detectors and fire alarms, commercial buildings must also make use of manual call points that can be triggered by the occupants themselves.

SMOKE ALARM MAINTENANCE FOR BUSINESSES

Smoke alarms play a critical role in a business setting where they signal a fire emergency to the fire alarm system’s control panel and sound an alarm to alert everyone present in the building.

The triggering of the alarm aimed at addressing the threat gives you a heads-up of the danger and allows you to take the right steps to minimise it and save yourself and others.

In addition to installing state-of-the-art smoke alarms, it is equally important for businesses, both small and large, to maintain this essential fire safety system.

Several factors can have an effect on its effectiveness and ability to function at peak levels. They include:

Improper installation
Dust and dirt build-up
Tampering or vandalism
Ageing
Environmental factors such as heat and humidity
Lack of maintenance

These factors can pose a serious threat to the integrity of the systems and put your property and all those in it at risk. However, with proper testing and maintenance of smoke alarms, you can ensure maximum efficiency and reliability.

IMPORTANCE OF SMOKE ALARM MAINTENANCE FOR BUSINESSES

Following are the reasons you must regularly maintain your smoke alarms:

Safety

The first reason for smoke alarm maintenance is safety. Since smoke alarms are used to alert the occupants of a building to the presence of smoke and fire, it is very important that they keep working effectively and can be relied upon in such situations.

Fires can spread uncontrollably in a matter of minutes, which is why it is extremely important to control and extinguish them in time. Oftentimes, a single minute could be the difference between a safe evacuation and a tragic disaster.

Keeping that in mind, the maintenance of smoke alarms is crucial to fire safety in businesses so that you can rely on them for early detection.

The prompt evacuation and safety measures that follow help keep people safe from injuries and valuable business property safe from being damaged.

In addition to that, most alarm systems have the ability to pinpoint the exact location of the fire, which can be very useful for the fire and rescue services to extinguish the threat as quickly as possible.

Protection of assets

Commercial properties contain a huge number of assets, all of which make up the setup and operation of the business.

From real estate to furniture, machinery, electronics, supplies, and inventory, all are at risk of damage in the event of a fire.

This causes huge financial losses and downtime for the business, both of which can be very bad for the business’s growth.

Preventative measures, which include proper installation and maintenance of smoke and fire alarms, can help safeguard these business assets from damage and loss and save you the cost of repairs and replacements.

That being said, regular smoke alarm maintenance by certified and qualified safety professionals can protect not only the people involved in your business, including the employees, staff members, customers, clients, and visitors, but also the business itself.

Compliance with the law

When it comes to fire safety, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO) is the main legislation that covers all aspects including proper installation, maintenance, and testing.

These regulations have been developed to ensure safety and security in the workplace and must be followed by all business owners in order to stay compliant with the law.

Failure to comply with them may result in heavy fines and legal consequences. Businesses may even face lawsuits due to negligence in case the occupants are injured or the surrounding property is damaged or destroyed.

Lowered insurance premiums

In addition to providing safety and saving you a lot of money in damages, a well-maintained smoke alarm helps reduce your insurance premiums.

When meeting insurance requirements, you need to provide proof that you took all the necessary precautions and did everything in your power to prevent the damage/loss from happening.

This includes installing and maintaining a fire alarm system that can be relied upon in times of need. If a fire occurs and the insurance company finds that your fire alarm was faulty and did not undergo regular inspections, they will refuse to pay for any fire damage.

WHAT SHOULD BUSINESSES DO?

For a smoke alarm to work effectively and provide maximum protection against fires, it must be tested regularly. Regular testing and maintenance will keep it free of faults and issues and prolong its life.

Here’s what businesses should do to maintain their smoke alarms:

Test the battery once a month by pressing the button until the alarm sounds.
Change the battery once a year, unless it is a long-life alarm.
Twice a year, open the case and gently clean the inside of the alarm to remove dust from the sensors.
Replace the alarm with a new unit after 10 years.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and maintenance.
Look for expiry dates on sealed detectors and replace them accordingly.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD SMOKE ALARMS BE MAINTAINED?

Smoke detectors and other components of the fire alarm system must be regularly checked and inspected to make sure they keep working without fail.

According to legal requirements, a commercial fire alarm system must be subject to periodic testing and inspections so that faults can be identified and preventive measures can be taken to ensure continued reliability of the system.

BS 5839 states that 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 and smoke detectors.

The duration, however, isn’t set in stone and may vary as outlined during a fire risk assessment and is dependent on the size and complexity of the system.

For large and high-risk properties, it might be best to have the system serviced every four months instead of the recommended six.

Also, if you feel like your system is showing signs of damage or deterioration, it is advised to have a professional look at the issue ASAP and fix it before it affects the efficiency of the system.

During professional servicing and maintenance, a trained engineer:

Follows a fire alarm maintenance checklist and inspects the logbook for all reported incidents,
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 include 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.

Photo by Daniele Levis Pelusi on Unsplash

Smoke Alarm maintenance for businesses – What should businesses do?