Blake Fire and Security Systems

Help! How to stop your Commercial Fire Alarm System sleeping on the job!

Date: 15 April 2024

Ensuring the safety of your commercial property means investing in a fire alarm system that’s not only reliable but also compliant with regulations. This article strips away the complexity, directly addressing how to choose, install, and maintain commercial fire alarm systems that fit your business’s unique challenges. If it’s time to upgrade your company’s Fire Alarm system, this blog post is for you!

Key Takeaways

  • Commercial fire alarm systems are crucial for early fire detection, protecting both lives and property, and ensuring compliance with fire safety regulations.
  • Regular maintenance and testing are vital to maintaining the reliability of fire alarm systems, complemented by 24/7 monitoring to minimise false alarms and unneeded Fire & Rescue service dispatch.
  • Fire safety in a commercial setting requires a tailored approach. You need to integrate various detection devices and safety measures, while keeping up to date on legal requirements and technological advancements.

Decoding Commercial Fire Alarm Systems

Fire Alarm System control panel

Your commercial fire alarm system is the cornerstone of your business’s fire safety protocols. It’s your early detection mechanism. It plays a crucial role in warning those present to leave immediately and calls the fire service to tackle any fire.

The maze of fire safety regulations requires careful navigation. Regs change but one directive always stands out: maintaining a fully functional fire alarm!

Tailoring Your Commercial Fire Alarm Installation

The design and installation process involves strategic planning. This requires an in-depth site survey and assessment by experienced professionals with appropriate qualifications, experience and accreditation. Look for and ensure the fire alarm company you select has BAFE approval. A great choice in Essex is Blake’s.

Blake Fire & Security Systems have NSI Fire Gold Scheme approval. This covers BAFE qualifications for:

  • design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of Fire Alarm systems: SP203-1
  • supply, positioning, commissioning and maintenance of portable fire extinguishers: SP101/ST104
  • design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of Emergency Lighting systems: SP203-4

NSI Gold approval means that we are audited beyond BAFE competency standards. The NSI auditing also tests for quality management. For you, the client, this means:

  • Reliable, polite, qualified staff - both customer-facing and on the phone
  • The highest quality, state-of-the-art commercial systems
  • A bespoke fire protection solution designed and installed by qualified experts to perfectly fit the needs of your building and budget

Navigating Your Commercial Fire Alarm Choices

Fire alarm systems range across the following:

  • Manual alarms that require human activation to alert others to potential danger. These are not suitable for the vast majority of businesses
  • Category P systems that work automatically to safeguard your people and property
  • Addressable fire alarm system which identifies the precise location of an alert! Giving the Fire & Rescue service crucial time to limit the spread of fire and smoke if the worst happens

Your site survey will establish the appropriate commercial fire alarm system for your enterprise’s specific requirements.

Smoke and Mirrors: Commercial Fire Detection Devices

A commercial fire alarm system uses a range of modern detection devices. These include:

  • Heat detectors monitor areas where dust and fumes could trigger unwanted alarms from conventional smoke detectors. Saving you money and hassle.
  • Ionisation detectors, finely tuned to detect minute particles produced by rapidly combusting materials.
  • Photoelectric detectors, recognise larger particles associated with smouldering fires.

Together, these devices combine to offer a competent fire protection solution.

Enhancing safety measures is the carbon monoxide detector, which identifies the presence of CO gas before it poses deadly risks. Sometimes the multi-sensor detector is the better choice. This versatile device detects smoke, heat and carbon monoxide. Carefully positioning each component within your Fire Alarm system design provides optimal protection.

The Foundation of Fire Safety: Fire Risk Assessments

A comprehensive fire safety plan begins with a fire risk assessment—a mandatory process that identifies potential fire threats in commercial environments. This locates the specific fire risks present at your facility while preparing employees on how to act when a fire alarm goes off. It lays the groundwork for installing suitable fire detection systems designed specifically around the unique aspects of your business premises and activities.

It’s imperative that these assessments receive regular review and updates—at least once a year or following significant alterations in building function or architecture. This ongoing adaptation ensures that your fire safety stays relevant and effective against the threat of fires.

Neglected Alarms: The Silent Threat to Your Fire Safety

Your commercial fire alarm system requires routine servicing and inspection to retain effectiveness. These help prevent false alarms, maintain uninterrupted business activities and compliance with fire safety regulations. There’s a financial benefit too. Maintenance costs are balanced out by the expense of unwanted and often unnecessary disruption to your working day. How much would one or two hours of business standstill cost your company?

To ensure peak performance of the fire alarm system week after week, it is advisable to perform tests using various manual call points in rotation so that each component is checked. Full maintenance must be carried out by certified engineers who adhere strictly to British standards.

With NSI Gold accreditation and BAFE approval, Blake’s will take this worry off your Responsible Person’s plate!

When Every Second Counts: 24/7 Fire Alarm Monitoring

Continuous fire alarm monitoring provides a superior level of safety outside typical business hours. This surveillance is designed to:

  • Accurately discern between actual emergencies and false alarms
  • Avert the needless mobilisation of Fire Brigade teams
  • Avoid potential penalties associated with repeated unwarranted alerts.

This 24-hour service guarantees uninterrupted protection against fire. Preserving the effectiveness of your fire alarm system at all times.

Integration for Harmonised Fire Protection

Fire safety cannot stop with your commercial fire alarm system. Your Fire Risk Assessment will indicate additional tools such as fire extinguishers, blankets and hoses. Emergency routes must be clear through properly marked fire exits and well-placed emergency lighting. Specific suppression technologies like sprinklers or gas-based systems may be recommended at different types of commercial spaces.

This interconnected framework extends into the digital world too…

Real-time communication links between fire alarms and video surveillance cameras lead to strategic emergency interventions. Simultaneously, access controls help oversee evacuations and lock down high-risk areas when necessary.

A sophisticated control panel designed for the job oversees these various components. Yet more integration with HVAC systems restricts the flow of smoke and flame further. Expert integration ensures all components perform seamlessly together.

Considering Costs and Technological Advancements

Investing in a commercial fire alarm system goes way beyond a transaction. The range of costs for detectors is indicative of the array of technologies and features on offer. These extend from basic heat detectors to complex multi-sensor systems.

You need trustworthy, competent and qualified contractors to steer you through these financial considerations. A great choice for Essex and London-based companies is Blake Fire & Security Systems. With our NSI Fire Gold Scheme approval you’re in the safest of safe hands!

Compliance or Catastrophe for UK Businesses

In the UK, there is a clear framework for legal fire safety obligations that businesses must follow. These are outlined by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and detailed in British Standard BS 5839, which guides both installation and upkeep of fire alarm systems. The criteria for an ‘appropriate’ system guarantees rapid detection and notification of any sign of a fire throughout the premises. Thereby ensuring everyone’s safety. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in severe penalties, including fines or imprisonment, highlighting the importance of adhering to the law. Proper fire alarm system installation plays a crucial role in meeting these legal requirements, as it ensures that businesses are equipped to detect and respond to fire risks effectively. Regular maintenance and testing of the systems are equally essential to guarantee ongoing reliability and compliance.

Although there’s much to grasp, fire systems are organised by ‘grades’ and ‘categories’ specific to varying types of business environments. Your Fire Safety experts at Blakes will help you to understand. However, property owners, landlords, employers, and occupants all have their roles in proper adherence to these standards. Including regular execution of thorough risk assessments coupled with maintenance efforts aligned with guidelines in British Standard BS 5839.

Alarm Receiving Centres: When Your Fire Alarm Calls for Backup

As mentioned earlier, the role of Alarm Receiving Centres (ARCs) is crucial. Accelerating emergency response times, ARCs ensure unwanted alerts cause as little disruption as humanly possible. But there’s more…

Their role is magnified in initiatives like ECHO that optimise interactions between fire alarm systems and emergency responders to achieve faster and more synchronised action. Hence, ARCs transcend mere surveillance roles.

Summary: Locking Down Your Commercial Fire Protection

As we finish this exploration of commercial fire alarm systems, you should now understand some of the intricacies of compliance and the complexity of integrated safety features. Equipped with this knowledge, you are now prepared to choose an expert Fire Protection company to help you upgrade your Fire detection system.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the fire alarm regulations for commercial buildings in the UK?

In the UK, commercial buildings must comply with British Standard BS 5839 by conducting weekly tests on fire alarms. This is crucial to ensure they are fully functional in the event of a fire.

Such regular testing safeguards not only the well-being of those within the building, but also the property itself from potential fire damage.

What is the primary purpose of a commercial fire alarm system?

A commercial fire alarm system is fundamentally designed to:

  • swiftly identify potential fire threats
  • warn those present to evacuate promptly
  • lessen the impact on property by damage control
  • adhere to fire safety regulations.

This plays a critical role in maintaining the overall safety and protection of individuals within your premises.

How often should commercial fire alarm systems be tested and maintained?

Ensuring that commercial fire alarm systems are examined at a minimum biannually and tested weekly is crucial for their proper functionality.

What types of fire detection devices are used in commercial fire alarm systems?

Fire alarm systems designed for commercial use incorporate a range of detection devices such as heat detectors, ionisation and photoelectric smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and multi-sensor detectors. These components are carefully positioned to optimise the system’s effectiveness in detecting fires.

Are businesses legally required to have a documented fire risk assessment?

Absolutely, in the UK, it is a legal obligation for businesses that have five or more employees to carry out a fire risk assessment and keep a current record of this assessment.

Adhering to this rule is crucial for guaranteeing the protection of all individuals present in the workplace from fire risks. And in keeping your insurance company onside!

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This blog post is provided for general information only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely. Call Blake's on 01702 447800 to speak to one of our professionals for specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.

Although we make reasonable efforts to update the information on our site, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content on our site is accurate, complete or up to date.

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