Reducing excessive false alarms

[Steven N]

Neil
If you would like to contact me i'll send you details & discuss how we are attempting to reduce the number of UWFS we get within my brigade, I think article 17 is the most effective to try to educate people into taking the number of UWFS they get seriously

[Clive]

Without going into each individual article.  If the system is reacting excessivley to the environement that is placed in and causing unwanted fire signals ( not false alarms that may be good intent), then I would suggest that either the system has not been designed and installed for the premises correctly or is not being maintained properly, therefore it is not a satisfactory system.  

In a previous life I dealt with UWFS and when bringing to the attention of senior management the problem, ( the problem is generally with larger premises and organisations, and its amazing how many of senior management are not aware how many times their premises have UWFS) they instigated a look at the maintenance and the system, and it solved the problem without any enforcement being required.

A well designed and managed system will not give UWFS.  Ones that aren't, are giving AFD a bad name.

ps

How many alarm engineers when doing their scheduled service and maintenance, look at the log book used by the premises for weekly tests and other occurences including UWFS/flase alarms.  

The answer is very few, which is another reason systems are not reliable.

[terry martin]

our FRS authority has just given guidance on enforcing excessive false alarm rates.
they have focused on article 11 to enforce under.

 below is an extract (there are more) from the guidance , it is of example text to use on enforcement notice's

The arrangements for effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of the fire detection and warning system are inadequate. [IO to insert circumstances e.g. Students showering, using spay deodorant or smoking in their rooms] are causing the fire alarm to actuate, indicating the system has been inappropriately planned and that the design has not been subject to appropriate monitoring and review. Frequent activation of the fire detection and warning system by non-fire events shows that due to inadequate planning and control the system is not in an efficient state.

they do not cover anything under article 17.

i do however agree with Niel G. if there are excessive alarm rates it is not compliant. in my opinion, this DOES put relevant persons at a higher risk, employees get a 'oh! no not again' attitude and do not respond as they should.

[Neil G]

Hi Terry, interesting submission thanks.

Johno made the suggestion earlier in the thread about using Article 11, but this puts some meat on the bone. Do you know how often it's been used and if anyone has challenged it yet? The only people to challenge my efforts to date are other IOs; companies and councils have played along so far...

A good suggestion put to me is to send my theory to the Secretary of State for a technical determination (although not yet challenged). Has anyone out there tried this with anything yet?

[terry martin]

Neil,
the guidance note was only issued within the last few weeks so there has been little opportunity to see any benefits or problems.
i have a list of enforcement example text, which we can use to enforce this issue under other articles. if you would like to see the list. let me know and i'll email you a copy