{"id":2330,"date":"2021-09-15T16:22:47","date_gmt":"2021-09-15T15:22:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bacsecurity.com\/?p=2330"},"modified":"2021-09-15T16:53:44","modified_gmt":"2021-09-15T15:53:44","slug":"how-to-investigate-and-report-a-fire-alarm-activation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bacsecurity.com\/how-to-investigate-and-report-a-fire-alarm-activation\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Investigate and report a Fire Alarm Activation"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Advice for business or property Managers<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Fire or False Alarm?<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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As a Responsible Person for your premises, you are required to maintain fire alarm systems and ensure their efficiency. If you have several Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals, there is a likelihood that people will ignore a genuine alarm.<\/p>

There\u2019s a price to pay for false alarms. In some businesses, the disruption they cause has cost as much as \u00a3120,000 a year. Worse, they can cost lives, because firefighters can\u2019t be in two places at once. Since 2016 Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has responded to over 4,000 false alarms each year.<\/p>

The Fire Brigade will no longer send fire appliances to calls from buildings where the only information available is that a \u2018fire alarm is sounding\u2019. Correct application of the advice below will ensure that, in the event of a real fire, full attendance is sent immediately.<\/p>

To prevent the disruption and the risk posed by false alarms, and ensure the appropriate attendance is sent, we\u2019re asking building managers to investigate the source of fire alarm actuations before fire crews turn out, provided this process can be undertaken safely.<\/p>

Whether it\u2019s a fire or false alarm, always ensure the building is evacuated in accordance with your emergency procedure whenever the alarm activates.<\/strong><\/p>

When staff investigate, they should leave the building by the nearest fire exit and summon the fire service using the 999 system if at any time they so much as think they\u2019ve seen signs of a fire. We\u2019re not asking them to be absolutely certain; it\u2019ll be our job to check reports of fire or physical signs of fire.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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How to investigate<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Remember you\u2019re looking for signs of a fire and not a fire itself. If there\u2019s an obvious fire there\u2019s no need to investigate simply phone 999 telling the Brigade what has happened and they\u2019ll be on the way.<\/p>

  • Where possible, don\u2019t search for signs alone. Consider searching in pairs.<\/li>
  • Check the fire alarm panel to find where the alarm has activated \u2013 it\u2019s vital that you have a full zone or detector plan displayed immediately adjacent to the panel.<\/li>
  • Have another member of staff at the alarm panel and remain in contact (mobile phone or short-range radios are ideal for this purpose).<\/li>
  • When investigating look, listen <\/strong>and smell<\/strong> for signs of fire. It might be smoke, unusual noises or heat and could be anyone, some, or all of those signs.<\/li>
  • Before opening a door feel it with the back of your hand, as high up the door as you can reach, for signs of heat. If it is hot do not<\/strong> open the door.<\/li>
  • If at any time you discover signs of fire, raise the alarm, get out using the nearest fire exit and call the fire service on 999.<\/li>
  • When the call to the fire service is made, clearly state that an investigation has taken place and this is a call to a FIRE<\/strong> and not just an alarm sounding.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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