Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service policy to reduce attendances at False alarm fire alarm callouts

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) are developing a policy to reduce attendances at False alarm fire alarm callouts.  (These events are known as Unwanted Fire Signals (UFS):

UFS have a major impact on the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) and the wider community:

• Nationally approximately 97% of all automatic fire alarm system activations are UFS.
• They divert essential FRS resources rendering them unavailable, with the possibility of delayed attendance to genuine calls.
• They create unnecessary risks to fire crews and members of the public when appliances are responding under emergency conditions.
• They are disruptive to FRS work routines.
• They have a demoralising effect on personnel attending a high number of UFS.
• They impose an additional financial burden on the FRS.
• They may adversely impact upon the employers who release Retained Duty System (RDS) staff for operational duties.
• They cause problems for occupiers of premises in terms of lost production or sales and general disruption to business continuity or service delivery.
• They contribute to complacency amongst staff, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the alarm system, ie; staff fail to respond appropriately to an AFA actuation

Management by Occupiers

• AFA systems will ensure an early alert of fire, particularly in unoccupied buildings or areas of premises where detection by persons may be unlikely or delayed.    
• Virtually every premises (see 12.5) must conduct a fire safety risk assessment under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005; which should include an appropriate emergency plan detailing their arrangements for carrying out a safe check of their premises when their fire alarm actuates to ascertain the cause of the alarm before calling the Fire and Rescue Service.  
• Therefore, when the premises are occupied and the automatic fire alarm actuates, this policy expects premises’ staff/occupiers to implement their own ‘emergency plan’. This may include evacuation, which must commence immediately.    
• Whilst this is in progress, those premises’ staff or persons designated within their emergency plan should investigate to ascertain the cause of the alarm.   Then: 

In the event that the alarm is determined to be a UFS, the occupier can reset the system and allow people to return to their normal activities without calling the FRS.

Or,

• Where a fire or signs of a fire are discovered, or doubt remains over the origin of the fire alarm signal, a 999 call should be made to the Fire and Rescue Service giving as much detail as possible.  

A Guide to reducing Unwanted Fire Signals (UFS) can be downloaded below:

If you require any further information please contact:

Ali Moseley

St Edmundsbury District Commander

Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service

Suffolk County Council

Fire Station, Parkway North, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 3BA

01284 352481

ali.moseley@suffolk.gov.uk