False Alarm Management Graham Simons FIA Technical Manager
False Alarm Management Smoke alarms and smoke detectors sensitive to airborne particles and may not discriminate smoke & dust False alarms are reducing despite increasing # installations In England F&RS attended 293,100 false alarms in 2013/14 3% less than 2012/13 and 36% less than 2003/04 But this is still a substantial drain on public finances: Annual cost in the UK estimated in excess of 1B
Why Tackle False Alarms? Unwanted fire signals put life at risk Loss of confidence in systems: People don t behave as they should in a real fire Risk to F&RS crew and the public during unwanted call-outs Divert essential Fire & Rescue Service resources Cost to business: Process shut-downs and activity disrupted by evacuations Excessive false alarms covered in Fire Safety Order
Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) How ARC s work in the UK
Call Challenging Is a fire confirmed or just a suspicion? Are people or animals at risk? Response depends on the brigade and the risk: Full attendance Reduced attendance Attendance but at normal road speed A fire fighter on a motorbike No attendance at all
Automatic Confirmation Normally connection to an ARC is Fire & Fault signal Due to call challenging the ARC will call to confirm Proposal to introduce a Confirmation signal Confirmation signal is given if: - Alarm from manual call point - Alarm from heat detector - Alarm from sprinkler system - Alarm from coincidence detection - Possibly an alarm from a multi sensor?
Management of Fire Alarm System BS 5839-1 section 3: Limitation of False Alarms Identify roles and responsibilities - Site Engineer to attend all FD&A incidents - Investigate all unwanted alarms Incident reporting: - Keep detailed records of all events Set target levels of false alarms, drive to zero Regular maintenance fire alarm system Assess changes in the building s use Supervise & control any work in the building
False Alarms Categories BS5839-1 categorises false alarms: Unwanted alarms Equipment OK, but detected fire like phenomena: - Smoking - Toast - hot work - Dust - Accidental operation Equipment false alarms Malicious false alarms False alarms with good intent
insect 0.3% malicious detector other 3% staff 0.2% 0.5% faults 2% dust 4% patients 6% Unknown cooking 43% 6% Smoking 6% Steam 7% contractors 12% electrical 10% Causes of UwFS in Healthcare (HTM 05-03-H)
Management of Staff Staff training to develop false alarm culture Avoid false alarms, while maintaining safety Learn from false alarm events Use of staff MCPs in public buildings Smoking Avoid illicit smoking near smoke detection Provide convenient smoking facilities Rate of rise heat detector may be suitable
Unwanted Alarms - Simple Management Keep processes away from smoke detectors Introduce a permit to work system Improve ventilation Introduce temporary fire protection measures: Cover detectors or Disable detectors When work is complete Don t forget: Remove covers (issue with serial no.) and Reactivate detectors
Unwanted Alarms - Sophisticated Control Replace smokes with heat, CO or multi sensors Coincident detection (double knock) - Evacuate when a second detector activates, or - Confirmation, verification, integration System resets or monitors a detector over time Delay alarms - Staff investigation Time related system, (day / night mode) Seek advice: - System maintainer - Insurer - Local Fire and Rescue Service
Use Suitable Detectors Consider the risk and the building s use Select the appropriate detector Different technologies to match the application: - Heat - Rate of rise heat - CO - Smoke and heat - Multi sensor devices Position to avoid steam, cooking fumes or smoke
Delay for Inspection - Staff Alarm First Alarm Signal Staff Alarm Investigation > 5mins? Yes Double Knock? Yes Fire? Yes No Operate MCP Evacuation Signal Signal to ARC Call Base: Clear Alarm Investigate Cause Avoid Recurrence
Kitchens and Cooking Areas Use heat detectors and air extraction In corridor use CO or optical, 7.5 m from door - Avoid ionisation detectors - Mix CO with optical if an escape route - Consider Multi sensor devices Independent door closer + staff alarm - Smoke alarm inside kitchen near door - Activate door closer and a staff alarm Passive infra-red Kitchen/Common Room PIR power control Mains Toaster Cooker
Problems with Manual Call Points Malicious use in a public space Replace public MCPs with - Staff MCPs - Key operated MCPs - Staff training Avoid accidental trigger with covers - Crowded areas; corridors etc - Local alarm & staff alarm if lifted - Monitor with video surveillance
Time Related System Day Mode Night Mode MCP only MCP and AFD Heat Detection Only Smoke+Heat Detection Low Sensitivity Smoke High Sensitivity Smoke Pre-Alarm Investigation No Pre-Alarm Delay for Inspection No delay
Euralarm UFAS Research Project Project to analyse and compare FA statistics Participants; Germany, Sweden, Switzerland & UK Different UFAS ratios are available # of false alarms compared with: - FA 1 : # of fire brigade fire fighting interventions - FA 2 : # of fire brigade fire fighting int. in buildings - FA 3 : # of fire alarm system interventions - FA 4 : # of fire alarms from fire alarm systems Provide a measure to demonstrate improvement
False Alarm Management Guidelines FIA web site: www.fia.uk.com Cut the Cost of False Alarms
BRE / FIA UFAS Research Project Joint project in Scotland to monitor false alarms Technical expert reporting on UFAS events Project runs until May then data analysis Early results show: - More than 2000 events will be analysed - Hospital, office, school & care home: problem! - Smoke detectors & call points main devices - Dust, cooking, testing & steam main causes
Princess Yachts, Plymouth Luxury yacht builder with four factory sites - 94,000 m 2 floor area Facilities Manager: Trinity Protection Systems Monitor and identify the problems - Target remedial actions Modify system and procedures - Change detectors - System disablement - Coincidence detection False alarms: 2 / month to zero! Service call-out costs reduced 2007, (Q1-Q2): 25k -> 2008: 15k
Kings College London 100 buildings over 8 miles in London - 400,000 m 2 of floor space used by - 5,000 staff and 25,000 students Fire Safety Officer with Drax and Honeywell Monitor and identify the problems - Target remedial actions 400 350 Alarms 300 250 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Fire Detection and Alarm Any questions? Thank you