Fire Alarm Systems
Fire safety is an absolute basic requirement in any building, whether it's home or work.
A fire alarm (or protection) system is a co-ordinated set of equipment for either domestic or commercial properties, designed to detect the start of a fire, raise the alarm and protect people or property or both and therefore play a crucial role in saving lives.
Fire protection systems are most commonly found in commercial buildings where usually they are required by law to be installed and maintained.
Usually a fire protection system includes some or all of the following:
- Smoke detectors
- Heat detectors
- Pull stations (manual fire alarm activation devices)
- Fire alarm control panel
- Audio and visual alarms
Sometimes, fire protection systems are also set up to disable lifts which are unsafe to use in the event of a building fire.
There are two main categories (and various sub-categories) of fire protection systems. Broadly speaking, the first type is designed to protect life and the second designed to protect property.
In commercial buildings, fire safety systems have to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. A designed, responsible person within an organisation conducts a comprehensive fire risk assessment which looks at how good the existing fire precations are and what is needed additionally to bring them up to regulatory standard. The results of that risk assessment guide the selection of which category of fire alarm (or fire safety) system is required.
British Standard BS 5839-1:2017 details the code of practice reqjired for the design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of fire detection and alarm systems in commercial (non-domestic buildings). This Standard describes the categories of fire safety systems - Categories L & M which concentrate on the protection of Life and Category P which concentrates on the protection of property.
It is usual for fire alarm systems in commercial builings to include a combination of the these Categories.
At City Electrical, we are fully qualified and experienced in designing and installing fire protection systems for both domestic and commercial buildings and can work with your fire experts to ensure that your system and it's installation meets all the safety and regulatory requirements to keep your building and people safe.
More information on these systems can be found here: