UK Fire Alarm Regulations for Commercial Property and Businesses
All businesses are required to have an appropriate fire detection system in place for the safety of your premises and employees.
A fire detection system means that in the event of a fire, the system in place will detect the fire, in some cases the exact location of where the fire is, and warn employees, as well as those in and around the building by producing a loud sound.
A person within the company is selected to be a fire marshall and as an employer of the organisation, you are fully responsible for the knowledge of the regulations and the safety of your employees.
There are three types of fire alarms:
- Conventional – unable to identify which device is activated, although indication of which floor or zone.
- Addressable – can identify which device is activated and pin-point exactly where the fire is.
- Wireless – the same principle as an addressable fire alarm, just without wires.
After choosing the type of fire alarm, the category needs selecting:
- Category L – an automatic fire detection system intended to protect life. This category can be further subdivided within different areas of the building.
- Category P – an automatic fire detection system to protect property. This category can also be further subdivided within different areas of the building.
The call points on the fire alarm should be tested once a month by the employer / fire marshall.
A complete system should be serviced by a qualified engineer every 6 months.
Read about the Government Fire Safety Regulations in the workplace.
Fire safety in the workplace - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
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