Do I Have to Have a Fire Alarm?

The legislation and guidance says you have to have:

"sufficient means for raising the alarm".
So what does that mean for my business/premises?

It means that in a small building i.e. a small shop or office on one floor, (that was not part of a complex of other businesses) shouting "Fire" may well be sufficient.
As long as everyone could hear it, there would most likely only be a handfull of people at work there any way and none of whom have a hearing impairment.
You might also be able to apply this to a small workshop or factory as long as you do not have machinery or tools in use that would cause the voice not to be heard.

The next step up is to go for independent battery operated alarm points. These can look just like break glass points but operate a loud siren within the unit, some can be linked so they all sound upon the actuation of just one.
Again if every one within the building can hear it, through closed doors and over the sound of tools and machinery then they may be acceptible. You need one by every door to outside where it is reasonable to assume people would leave the building in the event of a fire.
You also need a process in place that tests them weekly and keeps records and a process that causes the batteries to be changed annually.
These are not suitable in premises where there are people with hearing impairment who cannot hear the alarm.

The final step is an electrical fire alarm system. This has to be to British Standard 5839 and installed and commisioned by a fire alarm company.
It has to be suitably specified to ensure you have the right number of break glass points in the right places and sufficient sounders so the alarm can be heard throughout the building where ever you are, including the toilets!

If you have people with hearing impairment then you have to make facilities for them, with modern alarm systems you can have sounders that incorporate flashing beacons, these are also useful in areas of high background noise.

For more information please contact me by email: enquiries@firesafetynet.co.uk or go to my website http://www.firesafetynet.co.uk/ for further contact information.