April 2023
The importance of fire alarms is often overlooked since the chance of a fire is seen as unlikely, however, if there ever is a fire then fire alarms help save millions of lives by detecting the danger at an early stage, giving people more time to escape. It is also stipulated by law that every building have a fire alarm to keep everyone on the premises safe in the event of a fire incident. You have probably seen a fire alarm many times before, however, did you know that there are many different categories of fire alarms? More about fire alarm categories could be found here. In this article, we will discuss why you need a fire alarm and some of the misconceptions regarding the importance of fire alarm systems.
What do fire alarm systems do?
Essentially, a fire alarm system detects fires and alerts everyone in the building while alerting the emergency services at the same time. A fire alarm system will detect, alert, monitor and control the surroundings in which it has been installed.
Why are they important?
Fire alarm systems are important as they will give out an early warning which will give everyone on the premises more time to evacuate and get to safety. This helps to protect and save the lives of millions of people daily because a fire is highly unpredictable and can occur during any moment of the day. It’s scary when you come to think about it, however that’s why fire alarm systems are important as they can take that worry off your shoulders as you will be safe in the knowledge that you are protected and monitored at all times. More information on the importance of a commercial fire alarm system can be found in our previous article here.
How do I know what system is required?
A team of qualified staff will carry out a careful premise inspection and assess the potential risks which then helps determine the best fire alarm system for installation within the premises while keeping in mind all insurance requirements. The fire alarm system will then be installed to help improve the fire safety precautions while lowering the risks of harm in case of a fire.
How do I install a fire alarm?
For domestic use, you can install a fire alarm by yourself, however, it is always recommended that you have the system installed by a qualified electrician to ensure that everything is working properly with no faults or defects as these may be easy to miss without being qualified and experienced when installing a fire alarm by yourself. It is always better to know that a fire alarm system has been fitted professionally, especially when it comes down to a life-or-death scenario, it is better not to risk it.
For commercial use, you will need to have your fire alarm installation carried out by a qualified and accredited company. This is because the premises will need to have a professional inspection and a professionally installed fire alarm system which will be best fit to tackle all the potential risks flagged during the risk assessment. A qualified and accredited company will also have professional electricians which will ensure that the fire alarm system will be working properly and will have no faults or defects in event of a fire. All the mechanics and functionality will then be communicated with the customer.
Here at Lynx, your safety matters to us! We offer professional fire alarm system installation which will be performed by our qualified electricians to give you peace of mind that your safety is in safe hands. You can contact us at 0800 998 1303 or email us via [email protected].
Enjoy this blog? Check out our other blogs here for more tips, answers and advice!
Common Customer Queries
1. Can you service an alarm not installed by Lynx?
We can undertake an initial domestic takeover service to conduct a full check and service of your current alarm. Where possible, this can include a rebrand of the existing external bell box and decoy, as well as 12 months access to our out-of-hours service with a reduced call-out rate.
2. What are the common failures of an alarm system?
Some of the main failures of a security alarm system come from a lack of regular system maintenance, old batteries that stopped working, cable damage, loose cables and connections or faulty sensors.
3. How does Lynx create a system quotation?
Visit our article ‘Case Study: Installation of an Intruder Alarm System’ for an example of the whole process from initial enquiry to handover and aftercare.
4. When is my maintenance renewal due?
When a system is due maintenance (and the frequency thereof) is dependent on the type of system. Annual services will occur on the anniversary of the installation (or system takeover). Some systems will have more than one service a year (fire alarms and monitored intruder alarms). Our governing body, National Security Inspectorate (NSI), allows a plus or minus one month window for the annual maintenance to be completed. Therefore, for NSI purposes, a visit carried out during anniversary month, during the calendar month immediately prior to the anniversary month or during the calendar month immediately after the anniversary month is also regarded as having been completed on time.
For those that have two visits a year. The interim service would be due six months following the anniversary and the same rule applies.
Check out our FAQ's page for more.