Preventing False Alarms With The Right Fire Alarm Services
Did you know that false alarms cost the London Fire Brigade around £37 million each year? In turn, this costs the UK economy in lost productivity around 1 billion pounds a year.
In saying this, to make up for lost funds, the Fire Brigade can now charge a business for call-outs if they attend more than 10 false alarms in a 12-month period.
To ensure that your premises are not charged for false alarm call-outs, it is ESSENTIAL that you install and upkeep all the correct fire systems for your property.
Fire Alarm Maintenance Ensures Fewer False Alarms
Some of the main reasons false fire alarm activations occur are:
- Device compromising dust and dirt particles
- Incorrect installation (using the wrong device for the environment)
- Low batteries
- Wireless interference & power interruptions
Choosing an educated and professional fire service provider such as A&E means your premises will always be in safe hands.
How Often Should My Fire Alarm System Be Serviced?
British Standards 5839-1:2017 suggests that your fire alarm system should be inspected at least every six months. Maintenance of your fire alarm system needs to be carried out by experienced professionals, however, it is suggested that you, as the responsible person should be checking your fire alarm devices are working at least once every two weeks.
How to Test a Fire or Smoke Device?
To test the batteries are working…
- Push down the TEST button and wait a few seconds for the beeping to start.
- If the beeping is dull-sounding, you need to replace the batteries immediately.
- If the device does not sound at all, you will need to replace the whole device.
To test the device is working…
To test the alarm is working, hold two lit matches near the device and blow them out letting the smoke fill the device. If there is no sound/beeping, you need to replace the entire device.
Fire Alarm Services Reduce Repair Costs
The percentage of false fire alarms to the Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) has increased from 53.4% in 2011 to 58% in 2014-15, with the number climbing exponentially.
With this in mind, Fire Brigades are now starting to charge businesses that create more than 10 false alarms a year.
There are both financial and human costs to false alarms, but more than that; regular false alarms are considered a public safety issue, as they can cause serious issues with complacency. When false activations are regular, when the real thing happens, those in charge tend to become less responsive, and this is when fatalities occur.
Fire Alarm System Mismanagement Can Cost You Money
- Loss of productivity among staff
- Possible future charging from fire services
- Increased insurance payments
- Lost production
Choosing a professional, established company such as A&E means you do not need to worry about any of the above. Our seasoned workforce is the best at what they do.
As a BAFE SP203 accredited company, we are trusted with thousands of customers at any time; including prestigious companies and organisations like Longleat Wildlife Park, Green Square Accord and Gloucester and Cheltenham Borough Council – A&E should be your only choice when it comes to selecting your fire service provider.
Complying With The British Standards And Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Within the Regulatory Reform Order, it states “It is a legal requirement to have suitable Fire Safety equipment installed and maintained in non-domestic premises within the UK.”
The term suitable insinuates the fact that you MUST have all systems and devices checked every 6 months by a fire service professional, and you must maintain the upkeep of your fire system(s) regularly of your own accord.
It also states that you must ensure the correct devices and systems are installed to help keep the eventuality of fire at a preventable standard at all times. This means employing professionals, such as our team at A&E to recommend and look after your premises’ fire systems.
A&E Fire and Security work in accordance with the British Standards 5839. This means we have provided proof of our competence within the planning, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems.
We are also part of the CHIC and Fusion21 building regulation frameworks, which helps to assure our customers that we are of the highest standard within our trade.
Free Site Survey to Find the Fire Alarm Services for Your Needs
We offer a FREE site survey and quotation for fire alarm services. Simply fill in our form and we will be in touch to arrange a free site survey, followed by a quotation on the fire alarm services you require. If you have any questions and would like to discuss your requirements with our experts, we invite you to contact us for more information.