General guidance required

[MP]

Good afternoon,

Thanks for providing a very informative forum.
I am after a bit of guidance on an issue that we are having within our business at the moment.  Since the RRO has come in my understanding has been that the shout of 'Fire' in smallish commercial/retail properties is no longer acceptable unless the property is very small indeed. This begs the question of what do you do or install instead? The retail sites that i am responsible for are split into two categories, one are sites that have sufficent means of escape and have previously relied on the shout of 'Fire' and the other sites already have a fully automatic fire detection system installed and thus are okay.
One of the solutions that have been suggested is that we install a system such as the Klaxalarm Boxer system which is battery operated, has combined call point and sounder, can be stand alone or interlinked. Is this a viable system to install? Can it be trusted because it is battery operated, but has no real way of indicating if it is malfunctioning or the battery is low? Does it have British Standard?
I know some of these questions are straightforward to answer or can be justified in a Fire risk assesment. However i would be grateful for your thoughts and any other alternative suggestions.
Thanks in advance.

[Ashley Wood]

MP, I have seen the use of triangles, air horns, mechanical bells and the human voice. It depends upon the ambient noise levels in the premises, obstructions that are likely to absorb sound and the layout of the building i.e rooms off, basements, upper floors. it also depends upon the use of the building. So, my first reaction would be if it is a small retail unit such as a corner shop or small newsagents or coffee shop then look at one of the above solutions rather than installing an unnecessary and expensive BS system. All that is required is that there must be a way of rasing an alarm to alert others.

[jokar]

A consideration should be of course relevant persons, so if the shop is below a HMO or part of a premises then it may require more.  Klaxon state that their system meets the BS but in what way is not defined, as mentioned above the main thrust is to be able to detect and then warn others, the FRa will identify that and providing it is maintained and all understand the process then anything could become acceptable.

[CivvyFSO]

If a voice alarm serves the purpose then it is acceptable. There's nothing extra in the RRO as opposed to the WP regs with regards to fire alarms, apart from (as mentioned) relevant persons. It's the whole purpose of the risk assessment, you put in what the RA identifies as necessary in each individual premises.

If you are uncomfortable with battery powered MCP/sounders, and want to err on the side of caution, then there are some decent pt 6 systems with call points and detectors that are relatively cheap (Similar to the ones you mentioned but hard-wired with battery backup, meeting grade D or C standard) Depending on the environment they are to be fitted in they may be suitable for the purpose. As Kurnal said, back it up with a decent testing regime and it would be hard to argue against. You have a means of giving warning, and a suitable system of maintenance/testing.

(There are also some wireless systems around if installation costs are too high.)

FWIW: The self contained units you mentioned should have some form of letting you know the battery is low, and also will be able to be tested. Just as domestic detectors can be tested and let out that delightful 'chirp', tempting you to hit it with a hammer or remove the battery completely.