Automatic Fire Alarms
This section of the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service website is provided to alert and remind people of the potential consequences of false alarms/unwanted actuations from Automatic Fire Alarm Systems (AFAs). It aims to provide guidance, relevant information and highlight the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service Policy.
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service (DSFRS) is committed to eradicating false/unwanted alarms and thus reducing the number of unwanted mobilisations. Unwanted fire alarms are disruptive to both the operation of the organisation and the fire service. Attending false/unwanted fire alarm actuations means that Fire and Rescue Service appliances are not available for real fires and rescues, as well as disrupting essential training and community safety initiatives.
All organisations are reminded that fire alarm maintenance, false alarm reduction and procedures to identify false alarms are the responsibility of the premises responsible person.
The national policy and guidance requires all premises with an automatic fire alarm system to have call filtering at the premises to ensure false alarms are identified prior to the Fire Service being called.
(BS5839-1, Automatic Fire Alarm System – A system other than single self contained smoke /fire alarm in which an alert of fire can be initiated automatically).
Basic Statistics
Devon - 2006/2007
• False Alarms in Devon accounted for 21% of all calls to the Fire Service. This was down from 24% in 2005/2006.
• Total calls from Automatic Fire Alarm Systems totalled 5189 incidents. 94% (4278) of these were false alarms. 137 activations were recorded as malicious.
• Of the false alarms after call questioning, 10% were identified as false alarms and no attendance was made.
• Calls from Automatic Fire Alarm Systems that turned out to be fires accounted for 6% of all AFA calls
• Of these fires, a majority were small fires with 53% being out on arrival.
• Of all the calls from AFA’s only 2.9% required fire service intervention.
Somerset - 2006/2007
• False Alarms in Somerset accounted for 19% of all calls to the Fire Service.
• Total calls from AFA systems totalled 1958 incidents. 96% of these were false alarms.
• Of the false alarms after call questioning, 43% were identified as false alarms and no attendance was made.
• Calls from AFA’s that turned out to be fires accounted for 4% of all AFA calls.
False Alarm Reduction Guidance
Please view the False Alarm Reduction Guidance document on the top right of this page for better practice guidance and ideas to reduce false/unwanted alarms. Please note - Any actions should be subject to the premises Risk Assessment. It is estimated in some establishments over 70% of false alarms are resolvable alarms and due to human action. The premises is therefore aware of the cause of the alarm actuation and that it is false, however in many cases the fire service are still mobilised. Devon and Somerset Policy hopes to encourage improved management procedures to negate these calls.
Summary of DSFRS Policy
This provides a brief overview of Devon & Somerset Unwanted Fire Signals (False Alarms Policy). (The full policy is available on the right side of this page.)
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service Policy is based on the national guidance. It aims to highlight to premises with automatic fire alarm systems that the management of their fire alarm system and procedures are their responsibility. DSFRS encourages proactive management to reduce and minimise false alarms at the premises and calls to the fire service. If a premises continues to have consistent false alarms and limited or no actions have been taken to resolve the problem then actions will be taken.
DSFRS Service Policy can be summarised as-
“Don’t call the Fire and Rescue Service if an actuation is a confirmed false alarm, any doubts or signs of fire then call us immediately."
Unique Reference Number (URN) Application
Please click on the document links on the top right of this page for the URN Hazard Form (provided in pdf and Excel) and a Word version of the Hazard and Site Risk Form. Nationally the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) in conjunction with the trade associations and government are encouraging the registration of all Automatic Fire Alarm Systems. This will gather important information that will provide contact details, technical information, information related to the Fire Safety Order, assist with mobilisation, monitor performance and to identify if the system is maintained by a competent person.
Chief Fire Officers Association – National Policy
Please see the link at the top right of the page to the National Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) Policy for Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems. DSFRS Policy is based on the principles of this policy but adapted to fit local requirements, working practise and ethics.
Contact
For further guidance, assistance and queries:
James Hannaford
Unwanted Call Reduction Manager.
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service.
Tel - Office - 01392 872287
Tel - Mob - 07779303688.
Email - jhannaford@dsfire.gov.uk.