A Guide To Reducing The Number Of False alarms From fire

The owners, occupiers, or other person with control over a building witha fire-detection and fire-alarm system should agree which of them will beresponsible for the system. That person should then nominate a suitableperson who agrees to be responsible for supervising the system. The personnominated should have received appropriate training or have the skills,knowledge or experience needed to make sure that:• the system remains in good working order and is properly maintained;• faults are dealt with quickly and efficiently;• those who have to take specific action when a fire alarm goes offhave appropriate training (see ‘Action to take’ on page 9);• false alarms are investigated and action taken to solve any problem;• activities which may affect the system (for example, processes whichmay produce heat or smoke, redecorating or a change in manufacturingprocesses) are controlled; and• maintenance or other work is carried out on the system only by acompetent person.If the person nominated needs training, you can get advice from:• the company that installed the fire-detection and fire-alarm system;• the company that maintains the system; and• your local fire and rescue service.If these organisations cannot providetraining, you can get further helpfrom the BFPSA. Their details aregiven on page 14 of this booklet.6