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FIRE SAFETY


directly put other people’s lives at risk. As a building type, hospitals are responsible for the highest number of false alarms in the UK.


False alarms


The single largest cause of false alarms in hospitals is the system itself. This is directly related to the typical age of the fire detection system, but also poor original system design. Advanced detectors have in-built drift compensation; this feature adjusts the alarm threshold as dirt build-up increases – allowing the detectors to function within EN 54 standards for a longer time before needing replacement/maintenance due to false alarm. Another benefit of more advanced detectors is the application of multiple modes. These provide a variation in sensitivity to better detect relevant smoke particles and help reject transient signals. Improved detector casing design can also significantly reduce insect ingress within the detectors. These advances further contribute in the quest to reduce unwanted fire signals and maintenance costs. The Apollo Soteria range of detectors encompasses all of these beneficial features to reduce false alarms. While it is impossible to completely eliminate all false alarms, there are considerations to minimise almost all other causes of false alarms as well as detector faults. An example of this is the issue of cooking fumes. In hospitals this is frequently reported to be mainly burning toast in the maternity ward setting off the smoke detector. Consideration on the type of toaster itself is actually important to prevent forgotten toast from burning or getting caught within the device. Combining this with heat detectors, or


16,000


n No call-out n Call-out


14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6533 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 2016/2017


2017/2018 Year


Figure 4: False alarm statistics for hospitals, 2016-2019 (ERIC).


a multisensor with different modes of sensitivity, can minimise false alarms from cooking fumes. Strict management of only using approved types of toasters, as well as removing any other unproven cooking devices that staff may bring in, can effectively reduce false alarms due to cooking fumes within hospitals.


Alarms caused by manual call points Another cause of false alarms is manual call point (MCP) activation. Often this isn’t malicious, and is accidental, one obvious cause being the similarity in appearance of an MCP and the door release button, with the only significant difference being colour. One of the easiest ways of preventing this is by installing a hinged protective cover over the fire alarm MCP. This will not only prevent the manual call point against misuse, but will also help


prevent accidental activation if the call point is hit by a trolley or bed. This step has been proven to be effective, and as such, is included in the latest version of BS5839 Pt1:2017; it is recommended that all MCPs be fitted with this cover. Additionally, while it may entail additional costs, reducing the MCP protrusion on the wall, by recessing it to the regulatory limits, may also reduce accidental damage to the device from high traffic flow in the corridors.


Having clear testing procedures, and ensuring that staff know how to reset an MCP and the system, are also key in reducing unwanted alarms. Communicating with the appropriate response centres when undergoing maintenance/alarm testing prevents unwanted fire signals, and thus wasting of the fire and rescue service’s time.


2018/2019 7065 6687 13,244 13,061 14,728


September 2020 Health Estate Journal 83


Number of cases


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