• • • HOCHIKI • • •
Home Office report round up and key considerations to avoid false alarms
This summer it was revealed by the Home Office that a shocking 98% of automatic fire alarm incidents were in fact false alarms, and that 90% of those false alarms could have been prevented as they were caused by faulty apparatus These comments are echoes by the London Fire
incidents from automatic fire alarms were a result of an actual fire. With false alarms costing the UK an estimated
T
£1 billion per year in lost production and interruption to businesses fixing this problem must become a priority. Following the news that many of these false
alarms could have been avoided, many businesses and those responsible for the management of properties, are now looking to life safety installers and electrical engineers to ensure their systems and life safety devices are well maintained, properly installed and most importantly are fit for purpose. Shinsuke Kubo, commercial director for Hochiki
Europe, Middle East, Africa and India, said: “False alarms are a major problem across multiple industries, they have a significant impact on production and ultimately the economy.”
he research, which was collated from Fire and Rescue services across the country from the last fiscal year, shows that just 2% of the
Brigade, which advises on its website that “if you are responsible for managing a property, it is important to make sure the fire alarm system installed is carefully considered for the type of premises and of course the occupancy”. There are three key considerations when it
comes to reducing and eliminating false alarms for your customers.
Technology alone cannot
eliminate false alarms. Other key factors must be considered to increase the overall “alarm reliability” of fire detection and fire alarm systems. It’s important not to overlook design, commissioning, and maintenance to avoid the reliability of a device dropping.
Buildings change over time. Over time the use of a building may change or be adapted, any changes must be reflected in the
Modular & Compact Switch Fuses up to 250 Amp Available in 2 Pole, 3 Pole and 3 Pole + Neutral Fixed, Switched and Detachable Neutral Versions NFC, NH & BS Fuse Options Interlocked Fuse Protection Cover IP65 Defeatable Door Interlocked Handle with Test Position UKCA, IECEE & UL Approved
design and maintenance of the fire detection apparatus installed.
Consider multiple use scenarios For complex life safety installation projects which have multiple usage scenarios, or are adapted over time, using intelligent devices can really help reduce false alarms. Modern devices which detect heat, smoke and in some cases, CO, can learn from their environments from the moment of installation. Devices such as the Hochiki ACD multi-sensor, which uses the S.M.A.R.T. algorithm, continuously monitor their surroundings to reduce false alarms. Riverside Studios in Hammersmith worked with
Cornerstone Fire Systems to install Hochiki devices in order to reduce false alarms in their multi- purpose building. Read more about how Riverside Studios have
benefited from reduced false alarms by installing Hochiki Europe’s market leading multi-sensor, the ACD, by visiting
https://www.hochikieurope.com
M3 SERIES SWITCH FUSE
The most compact Switch Fuse solution on the market
Celebrating 40 years in the supply & distribution of high quality Control & Automation Products.
electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk
t: 01785 818600 f: 01785 811900 e:
sales@switchtec.com
www.switchtec.com Follow us on:
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • SEPTEMBER 2022 39
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
