Legislation - Fire Alarms & Extinguishers
BS5839: 1 | BS5839: 6 | BS5306: 3 | BS5306: 8 | CFOA Policy
BS5839: 1- Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for system design, installation, commissioning and maintenance
Most commercial and industrial premises require a fire detection system to protect life and property. National and local legislation cover a variety of buildings and their safety requirements. This British Standard provides recommendations for the planning, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in and around buildings.
BS5839: 6 - Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for the design and installation of fire detection and alarm systems in dwellings
This British Standard provides recommendations for the planning, design and installation of fire detection and fire alarm systems in all resident dwellings, both new and old. This standard applies to bungalows, multi storey houses, individual flats and maisonettes, mobile homes, sheltered houses, NHS housing in the community for mentally handicapped or mentally ill people, mansions and houses divided into several self contained family dwelling units. It does not apply to hostels, caravans or boats (other than permanently moored boats used solely as residential premises), or to the communal parts of purpose built sheltered housing and blocks of flats or maisonettes.
BS5306: 3 - Fire extinguishing installations and equipment on premises. Code of practice for the Maintenance of portable fire extinguishers
This British Standard gives guidance on schedules for the maintenance of portable fire extinguishers, installed in all applications, to be followed by the user and the maintenance company.
BS5306: 8 - Fire extinguishing installations and equipment on premises. Code of practice for the Selection and installation of portable fire extinguishers
This British Standard gives recommendations on the suitability and siting of portable fire extinguishers that are used for the protection of buildings and other premises and their contents.
CFOA Policy on Fire and Rescue Services Response to Remotely Monitored Fire Alarm Systems
This policy has been developed in co-operation with the fire alarm industry to reduce false alarms by improving troublesome systems and fire safety management in premises and protect the public and firefighters. Remotely Monitored Fire Alarm Systems (RMFAS) are fire detection and alarm systems in buildings that are monitored by remote alarm receiving centres (ARCs), who pass fire signals to the appropriate Fire and Rescue Service Mobilising Control Centre.
It is intended to provide a comprehensive and effective policy that clarifies the relationship between those responsible for the protected premises, the Alarm Receiving Centres, (ARC) and the Fire and Rescue Service (F&RS). The policy is concerned with false alarms that are received from RMFAS, whether they have been generated by a fault in the system or by the action, inaction, or neglect of persons managing or using the protected premises.
The policy aims to:
- Reduce the number of false alarms generated by fire alarm systems by requiring RMFAS to be designed, installed, commissioned and maintained to appropriate high standards
- Improve the fire safety management of the protected premises
- Reduce the impact of false alarms on business and commerce
- Reduce the number of false alarms that are passed to F&RS
- Enable the F&RS to safely deploy its emergency intervention resources on the basis of risk
- To prevent the complacency of building users that arises when fire alarm systems repeatedly generate false alarms.
- Reduce the waste of resources that result from false alarms.
The policy implements a progressive registration of RMFAS with F&RS. This registration enables the F&RS to gather information on the size and scope of the system and the risk that it is protecting. The F&RS will also issue a unique reference number (URN) that will be used by the ARC to identify the premises when fire signals are passed to the F&RS command and control centres. The policy is to be applied to all remotely monitored fire alarm systems although single private dwellings have, in most instances, been excluded from the requirement to register with the F&RS.
A full copy of the policy can be obtained from www.cfoa.org.uk
