Stand Alone Manual Call Points

[stewbow]

A Local man is manufacturing Stand Alone Manual Call Points.
He is adapting a resetable call point, fitting a 9 volt battery and a small loud sounder.

My question is regarding where, and where not to fit them.
Firstly I must point out that I do not intend to fit any of these myself.

A mate of mine who deals with supplying and servicing extinguishers is selling and fitting them.
I don't have a problem with him fitting them in a small shop or office type premises, but he phoned me today saying that he intended to fit a few in a 3 storey carpet shop. I said no way, you need an automatic BS5839 Part 1 system.
I put across the point that people could be iscolated upstairs, and also surely the insurance company would want an authentic system in place.

PS
The manufacturer can't make these things quick enough, I have heard that he is shipping them to south England where people are putting them in flats and guest houses (only heresay but it beggers belief)

any cooments

thanks

Stuart

[Allen Higginson]

They are not a new thing - Klaxon have been selling them for ages as stand alone or linkable.

[AnthonyB]

I agree they've been around for decades in various formats, I've seen Gent & Maedwell ones from the 60's (that were also able to trickle charge from the mains).

They are mainly flogged towards the construction industry to remove the need for a guy to stand around parping an airhorn or klanging a rotary gong on a fire point.

They are OK in really small premises, but only where a linked pair is required for audibility as if youonly need one you might as well shout or blow a whilstle the place will be so small!

i've seen inappropriate use where I get them ripped out, one example was an office in a multiocc that had a suitable central system, but they put some of Chubb's version of this 9v thing up, & couldn't really explain why when i pointed out what an utter waste of time they were and indeed a danger to other occupants (sat upstairs oblivious). The chubb guy got it in the neck next time he came!

[Graeme]

I have seen them used on building sites.

I would not even consider them for very small premises unless they have some sort of low battery warning.