June 2025
Fire alarms are essential for alerting employees of a potential fire, giving them time to evacuate safely. Whether it's a drill or a real emergency, ensure your team knows what to do when the fire alarm goes off.
Depending on where you work and the type of building you work in, these procedures may vary slightly. However, everyone should know some general steps to take when the fire alarm rings.
What happens when a fire alarm goes off?
When the fire alarm goes off, it typically triggers a loud, continuous siren noise. In some cases the system may be linked to emergency services. This ensures that help is dispatched quickly if there is a real fire.
What to do if a fire alarm goes off?
Act Fast
The moment the fire alarm goes off you must act quickly. Evacuate the building promptly. Leave the building calmly and look for fire exits and emergency lighting.
Fire Assembly Point
Make your way to the fire assembly point outside the building, if there is one. It is vital that everyone signed in on that day all communes at this designated spot - ensuring everyone can be safely accounted for.
Keep Fire Exits Clear
Don’t block escape routes like stairs,corridors or fire exit doors as this can prevent you from a quick exit.
Shut Fire Doors
Ensure fire doors are shut as they can help withstand fire and smoke to allow more people to travel to safety.
What Not To Do
No Re-Entering
Under no circumstances should you re-enter the building. Once you have left. Wait until emergency services arrive so they can ensure it is safe. Alternatively, if not linked to an emergency service, you should wait until you are told it is safe to return inside by your designated Fire Marshall.
No Using A Lift
Whilst using a lift may seem like a quicker alternative, the safest way to exit a building in the event of a fire is using the stairs. Lifts can become a hazard in a fire due to potential power outages, smoke inhalation and the risk of being trapped. The safest option is always to use the stairs.
Don’t Try To Extinguish The Fire
Large fires that require emergency services should not be put out by you. This is extremely dangerous and could lead to unnecessary injury to yourself and others.
Don’t Retrieve Your Belongings
Understandably, you may want to get your personal belongings but this is not advised. However, you must evacuate first. Material items can be replaced, it is essential to focus on getting yourself to safety.
The Importance of Regular Fire Drills
Knowing what to do when the fire alarm goes off doesn’t just apply to real life emergencies.
Regular fire drills are vital for ensuring safety among the workforce. Knowing your role and evacuation route helps reduce confusion and ensure a quicker and more organised evacuation if a real fire occurs.
Our Role in Fire Safety
At Lynx Fire & Safety we don’t just install fire alarms, we provide support through routine alarm servicing, demonstrations and system upgrades. We believe in high quality fire alarm systems backed up with ongoing maintenance.
Enjoy this blog? Check out our other blogs here for more tips, answers and advice!
Common Customer Queries
1. How do I know if my alarm battery needs replacing?
If your back-up panel battery is starting to run low, your alarm system should begin by telling you on the panel or keypad (this may include a flashing light). As time goes on and the battery becomes critical, your system may start beeping to alert you or the sounder inside may activate.
2. Can I get a quotation for a fire alarm or security system?
Absolutely! We do our quotations on a case-by-case basis, so will need some additional information surrounding your requirements before we can recommend the right system for your property.
Contact us and arrange a free, no-obligation quotation. Call us, email us, or visit our ‘enquire now’ form to arrange this service.
3. How often should commercial fire alarms be tested?
According to BS 5839:2025, a different manual call point should be tested each week. A professional service should take place at least twice a year (for larger properties, this may be spilt into 3 or four visits). All tests (regardless of if these are weekly or professional) should be recorded in a Log Book.
4. What does a maintenance renewal include?
A maintenance renewal cost includes the following:
- A service visit (or 2 dependant on the system)
- Priority callouts over unmaintained customers*
- Access to our Out-of-hours Emergency Engineers* – contactable via any of our telephone numbers
- Reduced callout rates*
- Next annual service offered at a reduced, maintained rate
* for 12 months
Check out our FAQ's page for more.