Fire alarms are fundamental to guaranteeing our safety, many lives could be saved and significant damage could be prevented as a result of their installation and subsequent maintenance.
Here, we’ve presented you with the different systems you can buy, along with some cost and alarm maintenance advice.
Types of Fire Alarms
Analogue Fire Alarms
This fire alarm system is best suited to large buildings. The analogue control panels have the ability to send and receive signals to and from connected devices.
In turn, health reports can be gathered and any system faults can be flagged, ensuring maximum safety.
If the alarm goes off, you can check to see if it was triggered by a fire, a fault or if it was a planned drill, significantly reducing the number of false alarms.
Conventional Fire Alarms
Conventional fire alarms including everything from standard alarms to wireless kits, ranging in sizes and prices, there’ll always be an alarm available that will suit your needs.
Voice Fire Alarm Systems
Voice alarms are typically used in public spaces, this is where speech intelligibility is regarded as the safest means of evacuation. Generally, voice alarms are straightforward to install and maintain, ensuring their reliability and cost-effectiveness.
Fire Alarms for Deaf People
There are numerous alarms on the market that cater for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Often, systems can be fitted to existing fire alarms, therefore triggering both alarms simultaneously.
Where one alarm will alert with sound, the other will generally alert through the use of flashing lights or via a pager, sending a pre-set message that will prompt action.
Visit our website to explore more from the extensive range of fire alarms we have on offer.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Fire Alarm
Cost
You don’t need a huge budget when buying a fire alarm. There are plenty of great quality, affordable systems on the market that you can get hold of promptly.
If you’re looking to have more features added, you should expect to pay more, especially in comparison to a basic fire alarm.
Maintenance & Testing
All fire alarms require maintenance. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO) is the legislation that covers fire safety in the UK.
To comply with the RRO, your alarm systems must be maintained and tested professionally at least twice a year. Tests will be done to determine the condition of the alarm, the sound it makes and how well the link to your alarm centre works.
As well as having your alarms professionally maintained, you’re legally required (under Article 17 of the RRO) to conduct weekly tests in commercial settings. This simply ensures that your alarms are fully functioning.
Each time a drill is run, a log should be kept, noting the date, time, cause and duration of each drill. Faults should also be logged, as well as any dates and times where alterations have been made to the alarms or if they have been disconnected for any reason.
Protect & Detect is a leading fire safety and security company, servicing Ipswich, Colchester, Cambridge, Bury St. Edmunds, Chelmsford and beyond.
Protect & Detect offers a wide range of fire safety and security services including; fire alarms, fire extinguishers, burglar alarms, intruder alarms, fire sprinkler systems, access control, door entry systems, CCTV, barriers, nurse and warden calls. Contact our friendly team today for a quick quote.