Fire Service highlights new response to Automatic Fire Alarms

Businesses have been urged to review their alarm systems in the light of a change to how Warwickshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service responds to automatic fire alarm (AFA) calls after April 2016.

The change follows a review of current practise and has resulted in the launch of a new risk-based approach to calls from alarm-monitoring organisations.

The Service is keen to reduce the amount of time wasted responding to false alarms, not least from business premises. The new approach will mean the Service continues to focus on the most vulnerable people in our communities, enhancing its response to hospitals, residential care and nursing homes and other vulnerable premises such as sheltered accommodation and assisted living.

In addition to attending vulnerable premises, the Service will now also respond to AFA activations between the hours of 8pm and 7am, even if it is not backed up by a 999 call, at houses of multiple occupancy, hotels and bed and breakfasts and domestic dwellings.

For all other types of AFA activations in commercial, business and non-sleeping risks premises, the Service will maintain a non-attendance policy until a 999 call is received or there are physical signs of a fire reported.

Talking about the change, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Group Commander, Paul Bagnall said: “During 2015, 99% of the AFA calls we received were false alarms. As with any policy, it is appropriate to adapt to the changing demands of our communities to ensure we are providing the best service we can to the most vulnerable and I am confident that the change in our policy will help us to achieve this.

“Moving forward, we are asking businesses to once again review their policies for dealing with their alarm systems.

"We know that false alarms occur for a number of reasons, many of which can be easily resolved. A fault with the alarm system is often not the main reason for activation.

"However, having an effective investigation procedure can limit the disruption caused to your business by a false alarm and can significantly improve safety by detecting a fire and sounding the alarm at the early stages of a fire’s development.”

Warwickshire County Council's portfolio holder for Community Safety John Horner said: “Since 2010 we have reduced our attendance to false AFA activations by 73%. This has ensured that our appliances have been freed up to attend life-risk incidents.

"It has also allowed our crews to concentrate on preventive work to protect the most vulnerable members of our community. However, we know that there is more that we can do to support that work.”

Paul Bagnall added: “This change in policy acts as a timely reminder to businesses about their responsibilities under the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005. The order requires them to ensure that they manage their alarm systems effectively, so that fire crews are not constantly called to attend false activations where a response is not needed.”

For more information about the change in policy log onto http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/afapolicy