Fire Alarm Upgrades old to new

[Corvus]

Hi all,

In the last week I have had the same enquiry from two companies about the same thing, someone had told them they had needed to upgrade
there fire alarm system (both industrial companies) from the old gent 230v switch wired in MICC to panel with backup batteries.

Now I can see there point and the befits of this, with Zones and faults indications etc. and have explained this to them.

But both of them want to see some legal documentation to back this up on why they should spend money upgrading.

Where would I find some ?

BTW I'm a standard sparky of 20 odd years and last fitted a fire Alarm (small) system about five years ago, is there any new laws come in saying you can only fit system if you have certain certs under your belt ?

Thanks Andy

 

[snowhead]

The "Someone" who told them would be the one to quote the regs.

If thier Insurance company is happy with the existing system and they aren't doing any major building works there shouldn't be any need to change.

 

[stranded]

There is no such "qualification", its said that as long as you are comptent you can deal with fire alarms. BS5839 is the standard for fire alarm systems. There were recently new additions just in june. Old 230v systems are now well and truley replaced by 24v.
It may be best to geta fire risk assessment done, or get a local fire officer to visit to give you an idea of whats needed. Its very hard to say what you need (L1, L2 etc). All depends on what type of premises, housing/ flats above? Factory etc etc. Flamable liquids , gases, what size is the place, all lots of "variables" to consider. Just a word now, any fire equipment named "fike" or " rafiki" "twinflex" etc avoid it like the plague. ;-)

 

[tazz]

When the alarm was installed, it complied to the BS 5839 standards of that time, 1984 0r 1978 etc, and thus still complies today......Now as fit for purpose, as Stranded has pointed out, will be down to risk assessment. Health & Safety will come into this aswell...The employer has a duty of care and safety to their employees, and ensuring there is a fully fuctional and fit for purpose fire alarm system with a full fire action proceedure is one of them.

 

[Flanders]

This is normally required when the fire officer does an inspection and decides because it's old you need a new one ! nothing to do with regs

 

[stranded]

This is normally required when the fire officer does an inspection and decides because it's old you need a new one ! nothing to do with regs

Regs play a big part. Whats installed, where its installed, what type, even simple things like mounting hights are all listed in there.

 

[tazz]

This is normally required when the fire officer does an inspection and decides because it's old you need a new one ! nothing to do with regs

All a fire officer will do is state that you need a fire alarm to BS5839 part 1 end of....what level of protection will be down to the risk assessor....what type, make and equipment will be down to the designer. This is why it is mandatory in the uk that all business premises, must conduct a fire risk assessment.