Dealing with False Fire Alarms | Part One – A little detective work

A suitably designed fire detection and fire alarm system provides a very tangible form of insurance and fire safety. When working properly, it will protect property and the most valuable of all business assets - the staff. However, when business is being constantly interrupted by false fire alarms, the system which causes them becomes a liability. Eventually it may be ignored, with potentially disastrous results.

The issue has become so common that unfortunately many managers deal with false alarms by adopting an air of resignation. There appears to be a widespread belief that all fire detection systems give false fire alarms and that not much can be done about it. This is far from the truth, and it is generally quite simple to put a plan of action into place which should free any business having to suffer from this particular drain on their resources.

In most cases an inability to solve a false alarm problem stems from a lack of understanding of the root causes. False alarms are very often perceived as a maintenance problem, so the obvious (but flawed) answer is to blame the maintenance company, and pressure them to try to solve the problem. Some alarm company maintenance engineers may able to assist, but there appears to be very few of them who can. This is because not many false alarms actually result from equipment or hardware failures.

The maintenance contractor's approach will probably be to test out all devices and wiring and then tell you, correctly but frustratingly, that there is nothing wrong with the system. Often a maintenance company gets paid for repeat visits to check the system after the next false alarm, so there is little pressure on them to seek real answers.

Most problems in life are easier to deal with when the causes are fully understood; therefore a thorough analysis should always be carried out. The term ‘false alarm’ is a widely used one and it is worth some study before describing how to carry out an analysis. In fact it may be better to use the term unwanted alarms, because few of them are truly false, and there is often a different perception of what constitutes a false alarm depending on who is dealing with the problem.

An accountant's definition of a false alarm would probably be any operation of a fire alarm which disrupted business, but was not immediately followed by the sight of flames, falling masonry, and fire fighters in action. Whereas an Engineering Manager's view of a false alarm may be somewhat less comprehensive, and would probably accept that a fire detection system was "only doing its job" if it operated in time to remind Sid, the store man, that he had left his kettle to boil dry on the gas ring.

The advent of intelligent systems has allowed for major improvements in the discrimination which fire systems can apply, but manufacturers have a long way to go yet, before their systems can apply even a fraction of a human being’s judgement about what is, or is not, a potentially serious fire.

We can look at a piece of smouldering toast, and note that it has been safely removed from the grill, and is not a continuing risk. We can also see, at a glance, if it has already set fire to the kitchen wall unit above the toaster and requires further action. All we can ever hope that a detector will do is send a signal, telling us that there is a potential problem to be looked at.

A good understanding of how a fire detection system actually works is essential to the process of minimising false alarms.

Keeping proper records is essential if you are to understand, and deal with your problem. Every incident should be investigated and recorded. It is worth putting in a great deal of effort to establish a cause in every case. A mysterious alarm which occurs apparently at random may, when properly recorded, turn out to be surprisingly regular and predictable. Should it turn out to be between 1100 and 1115 each day, except when Sid the store man is on holiday, look for an illicit toaster or gas ring; it may be that Sid doesn't like the canteen prices.

The few large companies that have kept good records have found that most unwanted alarms are due to the actions of the people, rather than equipment failure.

Next week’s article will look at effective categorising of unwanted fire alarm signals.

If you have an issue with your fire alarm systems, or would like to know more about the Complete Fire Safety Management route to fire safety in your premises, please contact Peter Gyere on 020 8668 8663.