Do you know if you have the right fire alarms in place for your small business? There are a lot of rules and regulations for fire alarms in commercial buildings here in the UK. It can be confusing to understand what fire alarm system you need in your small business. This is because there are so many different regulations for different types and sizes of business.
However, help is at hand. We can help you understand and ensure that you have the right fire alarm within your business premises, and if you need one.
It is not a legal requirement to have a fire alarm on your business premises. However, as per current UK fire alarm regulations, it is required that all business premises have an ‘appropriate fire detection system in place’. In simple terms, this means that if a fire was to break out within your business there needs to be a system where everyone within the business is alerted. If you have a small, open plan business premises, this could be as simple as shouting to others to alert them of the fire.
There are different types of fire alarms that you could in your small business premises. It really depends on the type of commercial building your small business has. In short, there are three main types of fire alarms. These are a conventional fire alarm, an addressable fire alarm and a wireless (radio) fire alarm.
The three types of fire alarms suitable for small businesses are differentiated by their set up and wiring. For example, the conventional fire alarm is unable to which device is activated. But it will be able to say what floor or zone the fire is on. The addressable fire alarm will be able to pin-point exactly which device has been activated and therefore where the fire is. Finally, the wireless (radio) fire alarm is just like an addressable fire alarm in the way it alerts people of a fire. However, it has no wires.
There are two main categories of fire alarm systems for small businesses. These are Category P Systems and Category L Systems. Category P Systems which are installed and maintained to protect the property. Category L Systems which are installed and maintained to protect lives.
Not sure about the right fire alarm solution for your small business? Don’t worry. Our fire safety engineers can complete a fire risk assessment within your small business. This will help determine the type of fire alarm system needed for your small business.
