We've had several clients ask for a clear explanation of what happens when a fire alarm is triggered, especially if it's monitored by an ARC (Alarm Receiving Centre). With major Fire Brigade policy changes across our region in 2024, understanding your fire alarm response procedures is more critical than ever.
If your fire alarm went off right now, would you know what happens next - especially now that Fire Brigades have stopped automatically attending most commercial properties?
This guide explains how ARC-monitored alarms work, what happens during and outside working hours and how recent policy shifts affect your insurance compliance.
Since October 2024, the majority of UK Fire and Rescue Services have fundamentally changed how they respond to Automatic Fire Alarms (AFAs). They no longer automatically attend AFA activations at most commercial properties during daytime hours (typically 7am - 8:30pm) unless fire is confirmed via a 999 call.
In the year ending March 2025, fire and rescue services in England attended approximately 250,000 false alarms - representing 41% of all incidents attended (MHCLG Fire and Rescue Incident Statistics, 2025). The scale of the problem is precisely why services have changed their approach.
Exempt buildings that still receive automatic Fire Brigade attendance include:
This means your ARC monitoring and response procedures are now more critical than ever - they're your primary line of defence, not a supplement to automatic Fire Brigade attendance.
Blake's operates across five regions - and Fire Brigade response policies vary significantly depending on your location. Understanding your local Fire & Rescue Service policy is critical for compliance and protection.
Strictest policy since 29 October 2024:
As Assistant Commissioner Craig Carter of the London Fire Brigade put it when announcing the policy change: "Reducing our attendance at false alarms will give firefighters more time to focus on protection and prevention activity."
24/7 call challenge - one of the strictest policies nationally:
Non-attendance for unconfirmed AFAs at low-risk commercial premises during daytime hours:
Non-attendance policy for unconfirmed AFAs:
Active filtering approach:
The varying approaches across our region mean:
While UK law doesn't require ARC monitoring, many insurers include conditions relating to fire alarm monitoring, maintenance and response procedures. Fire alarm expectations typically include:
Failing to meet these expectations could weaken or void your cover. Some insurers are reviewing policies for sites without monitoring, especially in stricter regions.
Always check your individual policy terms, but if you don't have 24/7 monitoring in place, now is the time to review it.
| Feature | With ARC Monitoring | Without Monitoring |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Brigade Alert | Structured, fast escalation via trained operators who understand local Fire Brigade policies | Manual 999 call needed by on-site staff - must know local confirmation requirements |
| False Alarm Filtering | Yes - before emergency services are contacted, reducing wasted resources | Not possible - every activation requires investigation |
| 24/7 Coverage | Yes - building doesn't need to be occupied | No coverage when empty - critical in regions with strict Fire Brigade policies |
| Insurance Support | Matches most insurer expectations, especially post-2024 policy changes | May not meet insurer conditions in your region |
| Out-of-Hours Coverage | ARC alerted instantly, keyholder contacted | Alarm sounds locally but no remote alert |
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires every employer or building operator to:
Compliance with BS 5839-1:2025 (published April 2025) is not law - but it is the recognised British Standard used by installers, fire officers and insurers to assess suitability.
The 2025 update introduces stricter requirements for detection in sleeping areas, strengthened requirements for zone plans on all systems and faster signalling times - signals from Category L (life safety) systems must now reach the ARC within 90 seconds.
In most regions outside London, this depends on your building type and local policy. For most commercial premises in Essex, Hertfordshire and Suffolk, Fire Brigades now require confirmation of an actual fire before attending. This means if your building is occupied during working hours and your fire alarm activates, your team should investigate safely - do not re-enter if there is any sign of real fire - and call 999 directly if they see smoke or flames. Your ARC-monitored system helps by running confirmation checks before contacting the Fire Brigade and by contacting keyholders when the building is empty. In London, the new policy is explicit: for non-exempt commercial buildings during 7am - 8:30pm, the Fire Brigade will only attend on a 999 call confirming fire. Your fire evacuation plan should be updated to reflect your local Fire Brigade's specific requirements.
A confirmed fire - sometimes called a confirmed alarm condition - typically requires at least two independent indicators that a genuine fire exists. Under BS 5839-1:2025 and the signal-processing guidance in BS 9518:2021, confirmation can be achieved by: two or more detectors in a zone triggering (a "double knock"), audio verification by the ARC hearing sounds consistent with fire or evacuation, video verification via CCTV showing visible smoke or flames or a human on site physically confirming the situation and calling 999. Single detector activations are treated as unconfirmed and will generally not result in automatic Fire Brigade attendance under current policies. This is precisely why analogue addressable fire alarm systems - which send continuous data to the panel and apply intelligent filtering before triggering an alert - are so effective at reducing unwanted fire signals.
If your building is empty and monitored by an ARC, the system handles the initial response: the signal reaches the ARC within seconds, operators attempt to confirm whether a real fire exists and your nominated keyholders are contacted to attend. If evidence of fire is found, the ARC contacts the Fire Brigade directly. Your role is to ensure your keyholder list is current, that keyholders can respond promptly and that your ARC has up-to-date contact details. Without ARC monitoring, a fire alarm activating in an empty building may go undetected for hours - a serious risk given that most Fire Brigades now require a 999 call confirming fire before attending.
Choosing Blake's means we make sure your system is:
Blake Fire & Security has protected Essex, London, Kent, Hertfordshire and Suffolk businesses for over 45 years.
Here's what a couple of our fire clients say about working with the team:
"What a credit your engineers are to your company - smart, clean, bring all equipment needed. No issues with invoices, booking visits."
Marian Brown, Office Manager, Wethersfield C of E Primary School
"I would just like to thank you and all the team for an absolutely fantastic service and a great job well done."
Kirsty Powell, Director, Chef's Choice Ltd (fire alarms and fire regulations consultation)
If we're not qualified to provide a service, we won't offer it. NSI Gold approved, BAFE SP203-1 registered and SSAIB certificated - big enough to cope with multi-site projects, small enough to care about every detail.
Call Blake's on 01702 447800 for a free consultation on fire alarm design, installation and maintenance or fire alarm maintenance.
This article is provided for general information and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice, a fire risk assessment, a compliance audit, a technical specification or a substitute for advice based on inspection of your premises. You should not rely on it as the basis for taking action, delaying action or deciding not to act. Your legal duties, fire safety arrangements and system requirements depend on your specific premises, use, occupancy, risk profile and the findings of a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment.
Fire safety and security legislation, standards, guidance and enforcement practice can change. Blake Fire & Security Systems makes no representations or guarantees, express or implied, that content on this site is accurate, complete or current. For practical advice about fire alarm systems, emergency lighting, security systems or system maintenance requirements for your premises, call Blake's on 01702 447800. For legal advice, fire risk assessment advice or confirmation of your statutory duties, speak to an appropriately qualified legal adviser, competent fire risk assessor or competent fire safety professional.
