Fire Alarm Standards in Offices

[nearlythere]

Hi Buzzard

The requirement for a fire warning and detection system isn't based on the numbers of persons expected to use the premises.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order states that the responsible person must provide measures for detecting fire and giving warning in case of fire.

In a premises with a simple layout the shout of fire may be sufficient in achieving that requirement, rotary gongs or air horns maybe also be sufficient

However in a larger more complex premsies you might need to look at installing a manually operated fire alarm system consisting of manual call points, alarm sounders and in areas where fire could go undetected you may need to look at providing automatic fire detection.

You might think it rather onerous to provide a comprehensive fire alarm system for just a couple of employees (and in most cases probably would be) but it all depends on the size and layout of the premises, and this in particular is where risk assessment comes into play.

See Nearlys post - not quite out of the caves yet!
I agree that a good RA is ideal to determine detection levels,just not confident in those doing RA's!!

Last I heard was April 2009 for commencement of the Fire Safety sections of the 2006 Order. Things a little different in NI in that the Regulations have to for public consultation for 3 months first and if everything OK should be in place 1 month later. Don't ask why it didn't commence in May 2007 cos I don't know.
There is a little bit of conflict between the findings of a FRA in relation to an appropriate means of giving warning and that as in BS5839 but this shouldn't mean we can't work together.

[Steven N]

I very much doubt if many premises have a true L1 system. Interestingly as we can see in the 1st post it isnt always the LAFB officers who are allegedly costing premises money with over onerous conditions. Or is it just us that are the bad guys?

[Dinnertime Dave]

This is happening everywhere. Too many people are taken in by this - there is a constant drive particularly by one of the big names in the alarm industry to meet sales targets and in the current challenging business climate they are doing this by convincing their maintenance clients that they need to upgrade to L1 "to comply with the new standards".

Couldn’t agree more, I have issued a number of Notices to premises asking for a manual system on my return they have detection everywhere because the alarm company recommended it. But it isn’t just alarm companies, OFSTED on a number of occasions have told play group in village halls that they need to fit smoke detection to unoccupied rooms in case there is a fire. A fire in these rooms would not compromise the M of E and potentially put the group out of business.

Most Building Regulation consultations received indicate ' AFD to BS 5839' when a manual system will suffice.

I could go on

[nearlythere]

Can't find any requirement in B Regs or ADB to provide fire alarm system.

However, can find where a means of giving early warning of fire should be provided, where appropriate.

Do designers/installers actually read the regs and related guidance?

[Chris Houston]

Do designers/installers actually read the regs and related guidance?

When I worked in the industry (about 7 years ago) the answer would be no.  Our role would be to design the system to the specification supplied by the customer, not to decide what specification should be installed.  Often we would be asked to quote "for a fire alarm complying with <insert long list here>" from everything to DDA and Building Regs, but at not point would it say what category of system or what was defined as escape routes or areas of high risk" so we would just have to guess what was needed and quality it with written assumptions.

[nearlythere]

This is happening everywhere. Too many people are taken in by this - there is a constant drive particularly by one of the big names in the alarm industry to meet sales targets and in the current challenging business climate they are doing this by convincing their maintenance clients that they need to upgrade to L1 "to comply with the new standards".

Couldn’t agree more, I have issued a number of Notices to premises asking for a manual system on my return they have detection everywhere because the alarm company recommended it. But it isn’t just alarm companies, OFSTED on a number of occasions have told play group in village halls that they need to fit smoke detection to unoccupied rooms in case there is a fire. A fire in these rooms would not compromise the M of E and potentially put the group out of business.

Most Building Regulation consultations received indicate ' AFD to BS 5839' when a manual system will suffice.

I could go on

There is money to be made saving people money.