FIRE SAFETY


service on actuation of the fire alarm has resulted in some hospitals generating high numbers of unwanted fire signals. Such calls on the fire and rescue service reduce the availability of fire engines to attend emergencies such as a house fire or road accident. Many fire authorities will only send a single fire engine to an actuation of the fire alarm. A full attendance is sent only when the fire is confirmed, which can delay effective firefighting until further fire engines attend.


Compliance The term ‘compliance’, or rather ‘non- compliance’, is often used incorrectly in relation to British Standards. However, these are guidance documents which form a ‘code of practice’, rather than statutory requirements. In England and Wales, the legal requirement is for statutory compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005; the specific section for maintenance is Article 17. The enforcing authority for this Order (in most cases) is the local fire and rescue authority.


Common practice Most London hospitals now have a system in place incorporating a dedicated fire response team that reduces the incidence of unwanted fire signals. St George’s Hospital in Tooting, London had at one time the capital’s worst record (not just for hospitals) for unwanted fire signals. A press release from the hospital in March 2015 read: “We have implemented an interim plan to manage the fire alerts differently between 8 am and 8 pm. During this time, we have a maximum number of staff on duty, and therefore have the capacity to investigate automatic alarms in order to assess whether fire brigade assistance is required. As of this month, St George’s has begun retraining staff to investigate automatic fire alarms that come through to the central switchboard. They will then be able to alert the fire brigade if it is considered necessary.”1 London Fire Brigade stated at the time:


Fire alarm panels should be checked daily for faults.


of staff on duty, and therefore have the capacity to investigate automatic alarms in order to assess whether our assistance is required. As of this month, St George’s has begun retraining staff to investigate automatic fire alarms that come through to the central switchboard. They will then be able to alert the Brigade if it is considered necessary.”2


Enhancing fire safety for people in south-west London This action has led to enhanced safety for the citizens of south-west London, as it increases the availability of a fire engine whenever they may need one. Working in partnership with the fire authority, the hospital has recently extended the duration of the call delay system to 24 hours, 7 days a week. The Fire officer at the Trust has stated that this has ‘drastically reduced the number of unwanted fire signals – to such an extent that we are no longer of concern to the fire service’.


Smoke detectors being covered can result in impaired functioning and activation.


“We’re pleased St George’s Hospital, Tooting, has announced plans to tackle false alarms following our campaign which named them at the top for automatic call- outs. Working in partnership with us, they aim to find the best way to reduce this burden on their resources, and yet ensure that safety is the priority. They inform us that they have implemented an interim plan to manage the fire alerts differently between 8 am and 8 pm. During this time St George’s will have a maximum number


42 Health Estate Journal June 2022


Fire alarm call points While Part H of HTM 05- 03 specifically excludes a call delay on actuation of a fire alarm call point (4.49), the investigation of false alarms caused by the activation of fire alarm call points to prevent Unwanted Fire Signals is included


in many hospital protocols. Almost all actuations of call points in hospitals are due to accidental or malicious actuation; for instance due to visitors leaving a ward pressing the wrong door release, patients with mental health issues, and wheeled bins or cages colliding with them. Staff who may activate the call point in the event of a fire are trained to augment this with a telephone call to switchboard on an emergency number, which then results in a confirmed fire call, and the full attendance of the fire service. This is an example of variance from the HTM 05 series, whilst still


complying with legislation.


Looking at testing of fire alarms Fire alarm panels should be checked daily for faults. We have seen that for testing, HTM 05-03 Part B refers to BS 5839-1. In that document there are two main aspects to testing: 1) Testing by the user. 2) Testing by a competent person.


Weekly testing by the user BS 5839-1 (44.2) states that the weekly test by the user should activate one fire alarm call point per system. In a large hospital, with several thousand call points, this approach could take decades to complete, thus making the process incredibly time and resource-intensive. Instead, some hospitals are taking a more pragmatic, risk-based, and evidence- backed, approach. The Fire officer at a major UK hospital wrote the following: “The current requirements within BS 5839 are for a weekly test of the call points, during which any issues with the sounders would be reported by staff. Due to the complexities of the site, and with agreement with the fire service, the weekly tests and annual maintenance requirements are combined and carried out on a rolling programme once a quarter, in conjunction with the smoke/ heat detection in each ward/department. During this testing, which could last for 2-3 hours, the sounders are isolated to prevent disturbance, with a sounder test at the end of each session.” Other possible options include any one,


or a combination, of: 1) Actuating the fire sounder system weekly on alert and then alarm, each for 10 seconds, such that it actuates system-wide at the same time (this can often be done from the panel). 2) Checking one call point each week, and testing the full cause and effect of its actuation. 3) Ensuring that staff are aware of the sound of the alarm by demonstrating it in fire safety training, and discontinuing the weekly testing. The operation of ancillary equipment


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