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Fire Alarms

Need help? Need help? Do you comply with Fire Alarm regulations? Protect Your Employees And Avoid Fines With Fool-Proof Fire Alarms And Smoke Detectors

Over 11,000 fire incidents took place at non-domestic buildings, in England alone, in 2018. Therefore it is vital that business owners ensure fire alarms are fitted and working correctly, to help protect their business and employees.

From fire alarms to smoke and carbon monoxide testers, our products will make certain that your employees are prepared if a fire should occur. Every company must comply with relevant regulations and assess the risk of fires in the workplace. The cost of fire alarms is a small price to pay when compared to the possible damage and expense that a fire can cause.

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Expert Advice about Fire Alarms and Smoke Detectors in the Workplace

You can’t put a price on a life. Fire safety is vital in all workplaces because it is proven to save lives. According to the Home Office, in England alone, there were 11,292 fire incidents at non-domestic buildings in 2018. Fire alarms are an essential piece of equipment in the event of a fire to warn you and your colleagues so you can swiftly vacate the building. They are also a legal requirement for all working environments as a fire can start at any time.

Discover everything you need to know about fire alarms and the fire safety legislation that covers them with our Ultimate Fire Alarm Buyers Cheat Sheet. A comprehensive guide for all of your fire alarm needs. This guide details fire alarm inspections, what you need for a complete fire alarm system and how to carry out an effective fire alarm inspection and testing.

What legislation covers fire alarm and smoke alarm safety in the workplace?

UK Fire Alarm Regulations are part of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, also known as the RRO. UK guidelines also recommend that all fire safety systems, including fire alarms and other detection systems such as smoke alarms, should be installed and maintained in accordance with the relevant British Standard BS 5839.

In spite of clearly laid out guidelines, there is sometimes confusion on the exact fire alarm regulations for commercial buildings, partly because your requirements will depend on a number of risk factors within your work environment. All business premises are required to ensure they have ‘an appropriate fire detection system’ which could mean different things depending on your building and the activities you carry out as a business.

For this reason, it is important to carry out a fire risk assessment to be certain of what is required in your building with regards to fire alarms, smoke detectors and other important fire safety equipment. Because of the very real risk that a fire could cause loss of life without adequate alarm and detection systems, fire safety should be taken seriously, and a failure to comply with regulations could result in fines and other sanctions.

Discover all the information you will need to pass fire safety inspections, a detailed guide for fire risk assessments and much more in our Fire Safety Solutions page. With fire safety in the workplace, it is important to understand all of the legal implications of having everything in place to deal with fire emergencies, this is why we have created a comprehensive knowledge hub which will answer all of your fire safety questions and offer practical solutions.

How to warn employees of a fire in the workplace?

All buildings should have an installed fire warning system. Fire alarms are essential to inform people quickly that there is a fire in progress. The fire alarm should be a loud and distinct sound so that people can quickly detect that they need to vacate the building.

Top Fire Alarm for Construction Sites

Here at Seton we offer an excellent selection of Howler Fire Alarms which are ideal for portable buildings and construction sites. There are four models with differing on/off mechanisms and perfect for outdoor use. They are easy to install, come with a 9V battery and emit an 118dB alarm when activated. This means that it can be heard on a large working site.

Top Fire Alarms for Offices and Schools

The Flashni Sounder Beacon is another alternative. This provides both an alarm and a visual beacon making it perfect for offices, schools, libraries and other environments. It saves money and reduces installation time as it is one compact device. The sounder produces a warning siren of 101dB and a flash with a rating of 1Hz.

What is a Smoke Alarm?

A smoke alarm is a device that incorporates detecting a fire and giving a warning. It is therefore a smoke detector and a fire alarm combined. They are vital in detecting a fire in the early stages so that everyone is able to vacate a burning building as quickly as possible.

The Cavius Smoke Alarm is perfect to use as part of a fire system, with its ten year battery life it's sure to become a vital part of any fire alarm systme at work or home.

What is a Heat Alarm?

A heat alarm is similar to a smoke alarm however it detects heat which means that they are incredibly useful to have in kitchen areas including restaurants and canteens. The alarm will be sounded when a room reaches a certain temperature.

The Series 65 CR Heat Detector is an ideal product to buy for areas where steam and smoke are likely to occur due to cooking for example. This reduces the likelihood of the fire alarm going off when there is no real danger.

Fire Call Points

Call points enable people to raise the alarm in the event of a fire. They should be positioned on exit routes and on every floor of a building so that a fire alarm can be sounded in order to quickly evacuate the area as soon as a fire has been found. A call point is connected to the main fire alarm system.

Our Mini Call Point Covers are also very useful devices. These covers help prevent false alarms, which are very disruptive in workplaces, schools, hospitals, hotels and public buildings. Placing a cover over an alarm does not prevent it from use when a fire occurs. However, it does protect the alarm from being activated accidentally or disabled due to an accident. The cover also protects the alarm from dust and other environmental factors. The cover is manufactured from clear polycarbonate and installs easily. Both flush and surface-mounted models are available.

FAQ: Fire alarms and smoke detectors in the workplace

Are fire alarm drills necessary?

Many commercial enterprises, understandably, do not want to spend precious work hours on regular fire alarm drills, but drills are an important element of your overall fire safety at work policy. Drills allow employees to practice evacuation and become familiar with fire escape routes. Companies that run fire alarm drills on a fairly regular basis will be better prepared for a smooth evacuation of the building in the unlikely event of a real fire.

UK government guidelines cover fire safety and evacuation plans and require, among other things, a clear passageway to all escape routes and ‘training for all employees to know and use the escape routes.’ As an employer, you are obliged to provide fire safety training, to keep escape routes clear and to specifically ensure that all employees are familiar with evacuation routes out of the building. Regular fire alarm drills can be part of your workplace policy to check that you are meeting these requirements.

How often should smoke detector checks be carried out?

The best smoke alarms are reliable and durable and come with built-in warning systems when the need for replacement occurs. However, it is essential to carry out regular checks to ensure that all fire safety, detection and warning systems are still in full working order. UK fire and rescue services suggest that you should test all smoke alarm once a month using the test button fitted to the alarm. Other fire safety equipment will also require regular testing according to regulations and/or manufacturer’s instructions.

An employer or nominated competent employee can carry out these checks and any routine maintenance work. Keep a record of the work carried out, both for your own benefit and to help demonstrate compliance with fire safety regulations if needed.

We also provide Smoke Alarm Tester Starter Kits that you can use to make certain that your smoke detectors are working properly. Each kit contains a 250ml aerosol can of smoke, an aerosol smoke dispenser and a 13 metre extension pole. Use a short burst of smoke with the aerosol smoke dispenser to efficiently test your smoke detectors. Testing your smoke detectors is a critical part of the overall fire safety programme that ensures that your Fire Protection Equipment will perform when needed if a fire should occur.

Does my workplace need a carbon monoxide detector?

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a small but potentially lethal risk in commercial and other buildings. It can be a result of a malfunction in many common devices, from central heating systems to cooking appliances. Carbon monoxide is often referred to as a ‘silent killer’ as it is odourless and impossible to detect without carbon monoxide monitors, so it is important to install these in the workplace. Here at Seton, we offer a combined smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector with a voice alarm to alert workers to the presence of carbon monoxide as well as smoke. Take a look at this and all our other fire alarm and smoke alarm equipment on this page.

Our Carbon Monoxide & Smoke Detector features a voice alarm that warns people of both the presence of fire and carbon monoxide. It has a test/reset button and a low battery indicator. Our Smoke Alarm with Emergency Escape Light operates on two 9v batteries and features a super-bright light that penetrates smoke and lights the escape route in addition to providing a loud 85dB alarm when smoke is present. The alarm has a test button for both the smoke and carbon monoxide detection functions and has a 30-day low battery warning.

How Many Fire Exits are Required?

The ideal situation is when there is more than one escape route from all parts of the premises. If only a single route is available, it is advised to make it fire-resisting or install an automatic fire-detection system. For more information on safe fire escape route planning, take a look at the following video.