Fire alarms and responsibility
Discussion
I'm hoping that someone might be able to give me some indication as to how to deal with a situation at my block of flats.
I live in a new development and three times in the last year, the fire alarm has gone off. Twice due to someone accidentally breaking the glass on the button and once due to a fault. There are sirens in all the flats, so the noise is horrendous.
The first time it happened, the alarm was going off for five hours because the management company said it was nothing to do with them. After repeated phone calls, they said we had to call the fire brigade. We refused to do this because it was obviously a false alarm, and eventually they sent an electrician who reset the alarm, but refused to give us the PIN code for it.
The second time, again, the management company said we had to call the fire brigade and we did, even though we knew it to be a false alarm. They reset it.
Last night, it went off again. The management company are only open 9-5 Monday to Friday, so we couldn't call them, so once again, we had to call the fire brigade out. After checking very carefully that it was a false alarm (it was), we switched off the power for the fire alarm and unplugged the battery backup to stop the noise.
When the fire engine arrived, they were none too pleased with this arrangement - totally understandably. They said they'd been called out a number of times to identical false alarms on the development and were unable to reset the alarm because they didn't have the code. He took the phone number of the management company because he said he was very unhappy at having to leave the block with no fire alarm.
So, my question is if a fire alarm is installed, do the management company have a legal obligation to provide a 24 hour contact number if it should go off? I cannot believe that it is acceptable to call out the fire engines for a known false alarm because there's no other way of dealing with it.
I live in a new development and three times in the last year, the fire alarm has gone off. Twice due to someone accidentally breaking the glass on the button and once due to a fault. There are sirens in all the flats, so the noise is horrendous.
The first time it happened, the alarm was going off for five hours because the management company said it was nothing to do with them. After repeated phone calls, they said we had to call the fire brigade. We refused to do this because it was obviously a false alarm, and eventually they sent an electrician who reset the alarm, but refused to give us the PIN code for it.
The second time, again, the management company said we had to call the fire brigade and we did, even though we knew it to be a false alarm. They reset it.
Last night, it went off again. The management company are only open 9-5 Monday to Friday, so we couldn't call them, so once again, we had to call the fire brigade out. After checking very carefully that it was a false alarm (it was), we switched off the power for the fire alarm and unplugged the battery backup to stop the noise.
When the fire engine arrived, they were none too pleased with this arrangement - totally understandably. They said they'd been called out a number of times to identical false alarms on the development and were unable to reset the alarm because they didn't have the code. He took the phone number of the management company because he said he was very unhappy at having to leave the block with no fire alarm.
So, my question is if a fire alarm is installed, do the management company have a legal obligation to provide a 24 hour contact number if it should go off? I cannot believe that it is acceptable to call out the fire engines for a known false alarm because there's no other way of dealing with it.
Speaking as a sparky if you've took the cover off the panel inside there should be a sticker inside with the pin number, most panels only have one number so get the model number get on google and I’m sure you will find it. The only thing I will say is never mute or reset a panel in alarm mode unless your 100% sure it a false alarm, because one day it could be the real thing and someone may not get out alive. Each detector will have a red LED which well stay on in alarm mode if that device has activated
Not sure about obligation, but I know we had the code for our fire alarm for the block I lived in for 5 years. This only works with ours if it is a fault though. If someone is over enthusistic with the cooking we just have to wait for the smoke to clear. As far as I'm aware they do have to keep the fire alarm in working order but that's as far as it goes.
Thanks guys.
The fire alarm is a separate thing from the smoke alarms. There are smoke alarms in each flat and in the hallway. The fire alarm is only set off when there's a fault - burning your toast would set the smoke alarm off but not the fire alarm.
505Dif - I take your point and agree 100%. The problem is that the management company last time left the fire alarm going for FIVE HOURS before they sent someone to reset it. You cannot imagine the racket. The sirens are connected to the mains so you can't even take a battery out like you can with a standard smoke alarm.
I would never never never switch the thing off without being 100% certain that it's a false alarm. In this case, I could see a light on one of the break glasses and 'zone 2' on the alarm box itself which told me which break-glass was affected. I'm fairly certain it was down to one of my neighbours coming back drunk and pressing the break-glass instead of the light switch which is right next to it.
Unfortunately, there's no code on the box itself, but I'll hit Google and see what I can find.
The fire alarm is a separate thing from the smoke alarms. There are smoke alarms in each flat and in the hallway. The fire alarm is only set off when there's a fault - burning your toast would set the smoke alarm off but not the fire alarm.
505Dif - I take your point and agree 100%. The problem is that the management company last time left the fire alarm going for FIVE HOURS before they sent someone to reset it. You cannot imagine the racket. The sirens are connected to the mains so you can't even take a battery out like you can with a standard smoke alarm.
I would never never never switch the thing off without being 100% certain that it's a false alarm. In this case, I could see a light on one of the break glasses and 'zone 2' on the alarm box itself which told me which break-glass was affected. I'm fairly certain it was down to one of my neighbours coming back drunk and pressing the break-glass instead of the light switch which is right next to it.
Unfortunately, there's no code on the box itself, but I'll hit Google and see what I can find.
The brigade may well refuse to attend false alarms in future. Alternatively, they may require a fee (from the management company) for attending.
If you have trouble in future, try calling Environmental Health as it's a noise nuisance ... and it's the management company's responsibility.
Streaky
If you have trouble in future, try calling Environmental Health as it's a noise nuisance ... and it's the management company's responsibility.
Streaky
Hi. when a fire alarm system is installed it MUST be handed over to a responsible person, which would include log book, full instructions and of course the operating code
The management company must take full responsibility for the system and to make sure there is someone on-site to check and oversea the panel.
Your local fire brigade are being very understandable they normally charge for false alarms.
Are you sure you have two seperate systems installed?
The management company must take full responsibility for the system and to make sure there is someone on-site to check and oversea the panel.
Your local fire brigade are being very understandable they normally charge for false alarms.
Are you sure you have two seperate systems installed?
silversun said:
After checking very carefully that it was a false alarm (it was), we switched off the power for the fire alarm and unplugged the battery backup to stop the noise.
You need to be very careful here. I appreciate your situation but you could find yourself in seriously hot water for disabling the fire alarm.My advice in this situation would be to complain to your local authority
There will probably be domestic smoke alarms in each apartment to protect that apartment, with a fire alarm system with smoke detectors and call points in the core area to protect the escape route.
If there is a fire in a flat you would raise the alarm in the common area to evacuate the building. If you burn toast in your flat your smoke detector goes off, no one else is disturbed.
False alarms are rare there is usually a cause, dust can cause alarms, water ingress and insects in the detector heads can trigger the alarm. If a smoke detector head is contaminated with dust they often need replacement as many cannot be cleaned. Is somebody having a crafty smoke in the core area and setting the alarm off?
The management company won't want to get someone out to inspect, but if there is a recurring false alarm it needs investigating by an electrician or fire alarm engineer.
As previousley posted, there is usually a red led on a detector which lights up when that one has been triggered, if the same detector is being activated that would be the place to start looking.
It may need a letter from the fire officer threatening to withdraw cover or council building control officer to the developer to get the management company to pull their finger out.
If there is a fire in a flat you would raise the alarm in the common area to evacuate the building. If you burn toast in your flat your smoke detector goes off, no one else is disturbed.
False alarms are rare there is usually a cause, dust can cause alarms, water ingress and insects in the detector heads can trigger the alarm. If a smoke detector head is contaminated with dust they often need replacement as many cannot be cleaned. Is somebody having a crafty smoke in the core area and setting the alarm off?
The management company won't want to get someone out to inspect, but if there is a recurring false alarm it needs investigating by an electrician or fire alarm engineer.
As previousley posted, there is usually a red led on a detector which lights up when that one has been triggered, if the same detector is being activated that would be the place to start looking.
It may need a letter from the fire officer threatening to withdraw cover or council building control officer to the developer to get the management company to pull their finger out.
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