Making the right Fire Alarm choice for your business isn’t just about the overall cost or even about buying the best equipment, it is about making the right choice for your operation.

The choice of Fire Alarms available for business/commercial use is extensive and nine times out of ten, making the right decision will require a site survey by a Fire Safety expert to ensure that the system meets the fullest needs from a Fire Safety compliance point of view.

All too often businesses fail to recognise the importance of installing a Fire Alarm System which is fit for purpose and delivers adequate protection.  In essence, The Fire Safety needs of one business very much differ to another and whilst operationally they may seem to be similar, the systems that are required for protection and prevention very much depend upon the type of operation, equipment, layout and processes involved in their day to day running.

So how do you know, from all of the fire alarms that are available, which is the right choice for your business?

These are the things that you need to consider:-

• Basic fire safety requirements
• How to know which fire alarm system you need
• How to get the correct quote
• Choosing the right installation and maintenance company
• The importance of proving competence
• The different types of fire systems available
• Different category of fire systems
• Information on types of detection
• Requirements for sounders / means of warning of fire
• The British Standards that apply
• Handover and certification requirements
• Your responsibilities
• Maintenance information
• Warranties
• Ongoing support and lifetime usage

Unless you are (or you employ) a Fire Alarm Expert, you need to speak with someone who can effectively guide you through your operational requirements for making the correct choice. It may be a requirement of your Business Insurance Cover that you comply with current Fire Safety Regulations under a legal act called The Regulatory (Fire Safety) Order or more commonly known as the RRO and deliver adequate protection for your employees and your property.

The Fire Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order – Great Guidance for Business

The Regulatory Reform Pages of www.legislation.gov.uk contains a wealth of guidance for reference and act as a supplementary guide to engaging with a qualified professional who can provide the correct level of advice. The snippets below are a sample of what you should be aware of during your decision making process, they are intended as guidance references and are not aimed to be wholly diagnostic or complete for the purpose of your final decision.

According to the

Fire Regulatory reform Fire Safety Order (2005) 1541 Part 2 Article 8,

as a business owner you must take reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of any of your employees.

According to the

Fire Regulatory reform Fire Safety Order (2005) 1541 Part 2 Article 9,

the responsible person must make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to which relevant persons are exposed for the purpose of identifying the general fire precautions.

According to the

Fire Regulatory reform Fire Safety Order (2005) 1541 Part 2 Article 11,

The responsible person must make and give effect to such arrangements as are appropriate, having regard to the size of his undertaking and the nature of its activities, for the effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of the preventive and protective measures.

According to the

Fire Regulatory reform Fire Safety Order (2005) 1541 Part 2 Article 12 Part 1,

Where a dangerous substance is present in or on the premises, the responsible person must ensure that risk to relevant persons related to the presence of the substance is either eliminated or reduced so far as is reasonably practicable.

According to the

Fire Regulatory reform Fire Safety Order (2005) 1541 Part 2 Article 13 Part 1,

Where necessary (whether due to the features of the premises, the activity carried on there, any hazard present or any other relevant circumstances) in order to safeguard the safety of relevant persons, the responsible person must ensure that—

(a)the premises are, to the extent that it is appropriate, equipped with appropriate fire-fighting equipment and with fire detectors and alarms; and

(b)any non-automatic fire-fighting equipment so provided is easily accessible, simple to use and indicated by signs.

In Summary

As you can see, making the right choice is not about the cheapest or the most expensive Fire System, moreover your decision should be informed and made within the boundaries of legislation. Unless you are a Fire Systems Expert you should engage with a Fire Alarms Expert and let them take care of the detail.

Assured Fire and Security are a BAFE approved company and are full members of the Fire Industry Association. This means that we are qualified to provide you with expert advice and guidance relating to the choices that you make for your business when it comes to Fire Safety.

Call Assured Fire and Security for free on

0800 804 6266

for, impartial and expert advice regarding your Fire Alarm Installation.

Other resources for Fire Alarms and Fire Regulations are listed below:-

Legislation.gov.uk The complete Fire Safety Regulation reference
HSE.gov.uk for more information about Work Process Fire Safety
Communities.gov.uk offer advice for businesses and Fire Safety Law
Fire Industry Association (FIA)
BAFE Dedicating to improving standards in Fire Protection
Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) Continuing Improvements in Passive Fire Protection

For more information on the types of Fire Alarms Available please check out our Fire Alarm Systems Pages, our installation and maintenance services range for all business budgets.

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