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Automatic fire alarms

Early detection of a fire has a significant effect on life safety as it allows persons in the premises to be alerted so that they can leave the area of the fire whilst the escape conditions are still relatively safe. Normally the discovery of a fire is reliant on the people present to discover and give warning of fire. This may not be adequate if a fire starts in a part of a building which is visited only occasionally, such as a store room or in parts of premises which have been left unattended at night time.

In these two cases an automatic fire alarm system may be of great value in reducing the time between the outbreak of fire and its discovery, although in the second case, the value will only be fully realised if the system is directly connected to an alarm monitoring organisation.

Automatic fire alarm systems are now available in various forms and are capable of carrying out a variety of functions, which include the detection of heat in the form of an unnaturally rapid rise in ambient temperature, smoke and the products of combustion and flame.

Automatic fire alarms, false alarms

Automatic fire alarms are extremely useful in the detection of fire, however, if they are not managed properly they may start to produce false alarms. False alarms are classified into the following five categories and are normally caused by being careless or poor maintenance:

  • Unwanted alarms - alarms caused by fumes from cooking, steam, tobacco smoke, dust insects etc
  • Equipment False Alarms - alarms due to faults with the equipment
  • Malicious False Alarms - alarms arising from a malicious use of a call point
  • False alarms with good intent - these occur when an individual suspects there is a real fire and raised the alarm
  • Unknown - False alarms that do not fall into any of the categories listed

Remotely monitored fire alarms

All remotely monitored automatic Fire Alarm Systems which have caused a false alarm and call out of the Fire and Rescue Service must be registered.

Fire and rescue service attendance to unconfirmed automatic fire alarm calls

Service attendance to unconfirmed automatic fire alarm calls (pdf, 25Kb)

Is your building having problems with false alarms?
A guide to reduce the number of false alarms (pdf, 584Kb)

How do I register for a unique reference number (URN)?

Application for Unique reference number registration (pdf, 53Kb)

A Unique Reference Number (URN) will be required for both new and existing remotely monitored fire alarm systems and will be issued to reliable systems which comply with current British Standards.

Once registered a URN will be issued for your system. This will be used by your Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) on every occasion they contact us. If you have more than one system you should apply individually for a URN for each system.

If an URN is not issued and we receive false or unwanted calls from your ARC we will inform them that we will no longer accept calls from your premises through them and you will have to use the 999 telephone service if a fire was to occur.
This may affect your insurance premiums in the future.

Attendance of the Fire and Rescue Service

WFRS will enter premises without a keyholder being present if signs of fire are evident, this may involve a forced entry. If your building is unoccupied your ARC must arrange for a key holder to attend within 20 minutes of the alarm activation. If a key holder does not respond within this time period the Fire and Rescue Service will either, leave without taking further action or will make a forced entry to confirm that no fire is present.

How to investigate your fire alarm

When you investigate, use your senses and if at any time you find signs of a fire, retreat from the building and make sure the fire and rescue service is called on 999. Ensure your building is being evacuated in accordance with your alarm procedure, before doing anything else.

How to investigate

  • Where possible, investigate in pairs.
  • Have another member of staff at the alarm panel and remain in contact (mobile phone or short range radio).
  • Gather any information from staff, or the alarm panel, to indicate where your search should be.
  • When investigating look for smoke, listen for unusual crackling noises, is it unusually hot.
  • Before opening any doors, feel the door 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 open the door.
  • Remember you are looking for signs of a fire, not a fire itself.
  • At any time if you suspect or find a fire, get out and call the fire and rescue service on 999.