A Guide To Reducing The Number Of False alarms From fire

Using this bookletIf an automatic fire-detection and fire-alarm system is used and maintainedproperly, its fast response to a fire that is just beginning can greatly reducethe risk to life and limit damage to property. However, features thatprovide this fast response can also cause false alarms.We have produced this booklet as part of an initiative we are taking withthe Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers’ Association (CACFOA) andthe British Fire Protection Systems Association (BFPSA) to reduce falsealarms from automatic fire-detection systems.The aim of this booklet is to reduce both the nuisance caused by falsealarms and the unnecessary costs which may be a direct or indirect resultof these alarms.The definition of a false alarm is:‘a fire signal resulting from a cause other than fire’.About 90% of automatic fire-detection and fire-alarm systems do notregularly cause false alarms. However, the remaining 10% are involved inmost false alarms. Every false alarm causes disruption. This may affectyour customer service, your productivity or the general routine of yourorganisation. The cost of false alarms in the UK is estimated to be about£1 billion a year. If you assessed the cost to your company you wouldprobably be surprised. One medium-sized company found that the averagefalse alarm at one of their sites cost them £1,200, and at another sitecosts amounted to around £126,000 in one year alone. However falsealarms affect you, they could be a risk to the lives of others.2