Care home fire procedure...

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Is there no end to this topic?

Visited a care home in Lincolnshire today, discussed the procedure if the alarm goes off, (approved by the fire service which included the advice never use the lift!), anyway, bless em, doing the best they can, manager stands by the panel sends two staff off to investigate, but...

The panel is showing two actuated fire zones, not heads, zones?  Apparently it's always done that???  So I'm hoping the right zone gets hit first by the staff!  Absolute chaos.

Now this a home where it will take upto 20 minutes to prep a service user to be moved and the stairs are not an option.

I thought this was a fault with the call point wiring in to the panel, so tested another call point, two different zones came up!

Is it possible that in the not to distant past when additional flats were added to the top floor the existing panel was utilised, where a panel with addition capacity was required?

[Nearlybaldandgrey]

I think some reference to the Fire Risk assessment should be made here .....  is the level of detection and warning sufficient and suitable for the premises. From what you're saying, I would suggest not.

To have two zones actuate is not really practicable, unless it is a confrirmed fire which has spread from one zone to another of course, as, like you point out, chaos ensues. This wouod also suggest that the procedures are not really working.

I would also doubt that an Inspecting Officer has "approved" the emergency procedures. If one has, then it is dodgy territory, particularly if it all goes pear shaped.

Current guidance suggests an L2 system ...... so is the system compliant to this level?

Sounds like some advice and guidance are needed on this one ..... and more extensive detection system.

What's your proposed course of action?

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The manager is currently trawling away at the FRA, trying to guide in the right direction.