Installing new fire alarms

For unoccupied premises the battery backup should be up to 72 hour plus the 30 minute alarm duration. All cables for the fire alarm system should be fire resistant these are split in to two categories, standard and enhanced. Please check with the cable manufacturers for compliance with the British Standards details where the different grades must be used.

If you require fire protection services for your premises, then our recommendation is always to look for a BAFE certified contractor. BAFE is your assurance that the company you are appointing meets all the appropriate standards and are independently audited. Tecserv UK Ltd is fully committed to having all the relevant accreditations we need to ensure our customers have peace of mind.

If you would like a free site survey to assess your fire detection and alarm system, please get in touch. Mark has spent his working career in the fire alarm industry, in which he is highly respected by his colleagues and competitors alike. Mark often provides technical support to other fire alarm companies and even alarm equipment manufacturers. He also uses his experience to train engineering personnel.

What Types of Fire Alarm Systems are there? The following are the main types of fire alarm. Sounders, Interfaces, etc Radio Fire Alarm Systems Fire Alarm Systems that use radio are like analogue systems without the wiring all devices are battery powered. Radio and Analogue Hybrid Fire Alarm System Some analogue systems can have radio extensions for those hard to get at places, these systems can be installed as all radio, all hardwired or a combination of both.

Simplifying Fire Alarm Protocols All analogue addressable fire alarm systems are software based and require programming. Having access to the correct software and training is the key to installing and maintaining a fire alarm correctly and in simplistic terms obtaining the software falls into three categories: Open Protocol There are manufacturers who will allow anybody to buy their software and to obtain spares — this is known as an Open Protocol.

Managed Protocol Some manufacturers appoint approved distributors, they do not make their software available to anybody, however they appoint approved distributors, therefore clients have a choice as to who they use — this is known as Managed Protocol. Closed Protocol Finally there is a term known as a Closed Protocol, where the manufacturers themselves are the only ones who can use the software, therefore they are the only company that the end-user client can use for the ongoing maintenance of the systems.

British Standards BS This is a code of practice for fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Planning the Fire Alarm System The decision of whether a fire alarm system is required and the type of category must be stated and forms part of the Fire Risk Assessment.

Property Protection Objective: To summon the fire brigade in the early stages of a fire Type P1: Property protection, automatic detection installed throughout the protected building Type P2: Property protection, automatic detection in designated areas. Type L5: Life safety generally when specific fire engineering solutions are used to resolve a problem. Type L4: Life safety system, same as a manual system plus; smoke detection on escape route Type L3: Life safety system, same as a manual system plus smoke detection on escape route and smoke detection in adjacent rooms.

Type L1: Life safety system, same as Type M manual call points, plus detection installed throughout the premises. Manual Call Points MCP These are a component of a fire detection and fire alarm system used for the manual initiation of an alarm. Optical: Optical smoke detectors operate on the principal of infra red light refracting off smoke particles entering the chamber. This makes this type of detector more sensitive to smouldering fires such as modern fabrics or furnishings.

Beam Detectors: Beam detectors comprise of a transmitter and receiver. The transmitter emits an infra red beam from the Transmitter to the Receiver. Ionisation: Ionisation detectors operate on the principal of charred smoke particles passing between two electrodes causing a small current flow. Ionisation detectors are more prone to false alarms from burning smell i. Aspirating Smoke Detection System: smoke detection system in which a sample of the atmosphere in the protected space is drawn by a fan or pump into a detector which may be remote from the protected space.

Rate of rise heat detectors will respond to a sudden increase in temperature but also have a fixed element in case of a slow smouldering fire. Rate of rise detectors are most suitable for areas where a smoke detector is undesirable i. Audible Alarms When a fire alarm is actuated either manually, or by an automatic fire detection device, an audible warning is given, alerting people in the building that a fire has been detected and they must evacuate the premises. Control Equipment Panel The equipment should be generally accessible on the ground floor next to the entrance to the building to enable the occupier and the fire brigade to quickly identify the zone in fire.

Zone Chart A plan of the building should be displayed close to the control panel showing entrances, escape routes and zones. Operating instructions and logbook should be available. Power Supplies The power supply for the control panel should be exclusive to the fire alarm system. For an L category system, 24 hour battery backup is sufficient unless otherwise requested. For over 72 hours the system should be monitored by a Central Station. Certification There are a number of certificates required for a fire alarm installation, these are follows: Design Certificate Installation Certificate Commissioning Certificate Variation Certificate Acceptance Certificate Modification Certificate Maintenance Certificate If you require fire protection services for your premises, then our recommendation is always to look for a BAFE certified contractor.

All smoke and heat alarms should be mounted on the ceiling and be interlinked. If you have a carbon-fuelled appliance — like a boiler, fire, heater or flue — in any room, you must also have a carbon monoxide detector in that room, but this does not need to be linked to the fire alarms.

Older and disabled homeowners on low incomes can get help with costs see below. If you are a council or housing association tenant, work is ongoing to make sure your home meets the new standards. Both types of alarm are interlinked by radio frequency and do not need WiFi.

If you use battery alarms, they must be sealed tamper-proof units and have long-life lithium batteries, which can be up to 10 years. You may be able to fit these types of alarms yourself and they do not need an electrician.

Mains-wired alarms are cheaper but if you use them, they must be fitted by a qualified electrician and must be replaced every 10 years.

You may also need to redecorate after fitting them. If you also need a carbon monoxide alarm and it is battery-operated, it must have a sealed battery for the duration of its lifespan. There is no list of approved suppliers or fitters. You can buy both types of alarms online or in store from a number of retailers, and any qualified electrician can fit the mains-wired type.

You need to check that each alarm complies with the following standards:. More information on the standard, including the types of alarms, is in the Tolerable Standard Guidance Chapters 16 and Please note that the Nest Protect System will not meet the standard. This is because they do not meet the requirements for a heat alarm under the relevant British Standard. British Standard BS states that only heat alarms should be installed in kitchens.

The more detailed information below may help to answer some other common questions about the new standard. Any costs will be the responsibility of home owners and landlords, and will depend on what you currently have in place and the alarms you choose to install. This is based on using the type of alarms that you can install by yourself without the need for an electrician.

As a general principle, home owners must pay for any ongoing work needed on their own property. As with other housing standards, the homeowner must meet the new fire and carbon monoxide alarm standard.

Local authorities have broad discretionary powers to provide advice and help to home owners with work needed to look after their homes. Older and disabled homeowners on low incomes can also contact their local Care and Repair service which gives independent advice and help.

Social landlords local authority and housing association landlords are aware of the new standard and have been working to ensure that the new alarms are in place, where needed. The standard will be monitored by the Scottish Housing Regulator, which may intervene as they deem appropriate for any non-compliance. For shared ownership properties, as with other condition standards, responsibilities are set out in the occupancy agreement. However, in general, it is your responsibility as the proportion owner, rather than the registered social landlord, to meet the new fire and smoke alarm standard.

The new standards for fire and smoke alarms extend those which currently apply in the Private Rented Sector PRS to housing of all tenures, your landlord should already be complying. The standard is enforced by the right of tenants to apply to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland Housing and Property Chamber , so if you believe that your landlord is failing to comply, you can apply to the first-tier tribunal.

Penalties for non-compliance would be determined by the tribunal. If specialist alarms are needed — such as for deaf people or Telecare systems — these must be fitted in addition to any smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms. If you have fitted or are planning to fit interlinked smoke and heat alarms, please do not remove your telecare smoke, heat or carbon monoxide alarms.

Different homes in a shared property like a tenement or block of flats do not need to be linked to each other, and there is no need for alarms to be fitted in communal areas such as entry halls and stairways. It is not necessary to disturb asbestos to install fire alarms. You may wish to seek specialist advice but it is possible to install interlinked, tamper proof long-life lithium battery alarms to ceilings with asbestos using a firm adhesive.

It is unlikely that attaching an alarm with an adhesive pad would constitute disturbance of asbestos as it does not require cutting or drilling or similar intrusion to release fine particles. If for any reason, it is inappropriate or you do not want to use an adhesive pad, battery-operated alarms that meet the manufactures requirement and can be wall mounted may be used, - to be compliant with the legislation, an alarm on the wall should be within 30 cm of the ceiling.

Replaceable batteries cannot be used because the sensors in the alarm degrade over time and so will not be able to detect heat or smoke. This is why the alarm has a limited lifetime. There have been several tragedies over the years where alarms failed because their batteries expired or people have removed them.