Businesses and residents are being asked to help us reduce false alarms.
Overnight, East Sussex Fire and Rescue attended 9 false alarms or automatic fire alarms.
False alarms
False alarms divert our crews from real emergencies. If you have an alarm, you can help reduce these call-outs.
· Remember, fire alarm systems are there to alert occupants to the fact that there may be a fire and depending on your fire risk assessment and emergency plans, it is normally appropriate to investigate first and only to call the Fire Service if/when there are any signs to indicate that there is actually a fire.
· If you have an automatic alarm system, make sure it is installed properly, that you know how it works and it is serviced regularly by a competent person. The British Standards Institute's BS 5839 has recommendations for the planning, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of these systems. If these are followed, a false alarm issue is unlikely to occur.
· Best practice requires that false alarms are logged and investigated so that any patterns and trends are identified and dealt with.
· Be aware that steam and dust can trigger alarms and take precautions when possible.
· Ensure staff and/or residents know what to do when the alarm goes off.
Further information
· For more information on false alarms and how to prevent them, visit: www.esfrs.org/business-safety/reducing-false-alarms/
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