Fire Alarms Are Crucial in Defending People From Fire

Do you need a competent team to look after your fire alarms in Manchester and the United Kingdom?

Why choose Aarhus Fire to look after your fire alarms in Manchester and all over the country?

Aarhus Fire has 20 years of experience in the fire protection industry. In addition, we have the most responsible, experienced and qualified team. We offer the best quality fire alarms in Manchester.
During our long journey of 20 years, we proved that we are one of the bests. We demonstrated that we are one of the most experienced. We proved that we ensure the best quality fire alarms in Manchester.

Besides, we have delivered fire protection to large companies in the UK. Among them are ITV, Peel Holdings, Brunt wood and many others. Similarly, we made small companies and multi-occupied buildings fire safe.

Page Content:

1. Why is fire alarm vitally important?

2. Useful Questions and Their Answers

3. Design of Fire Alarm Systems

4. Types of Fire Alarm Systems

5. Types of Detectors

6. Fire Alarm System Maintenance

7. See a survey about our fire alarm services

The British Law Requires Fire Alarms in Almost Every Building

Fire alarms are crucial in defending people from fire. According to the rules and laws, we must use fire alarms in almost every building. Therefore, all existing buildings, including multi-occupied ones, must follow the rules of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order of 2005. The only exceptions are residential premises that are not multi-occupied.

Why are fire alarms vitally important?

If we need fire protection devices, we must not forget that fire alarms are one of the essential devices. Usually, many of us ignore that a fire alarm can be our rescuer in the event of a fire. Indeed, some people understand and remember the importance of fire alarm systems when facing the red enemy. Therefore, we strongly recommend you equip your premises with a fire alarm system before you face a fire.

Fire alarms save lives

The most crucial benefit of fire alarm systems is the protection of human life. Thеy can detect fires and warn people to escape the building before the fire grows. That is why we count fire alarms as a valuable measure you can take to manage the fire risk.
Blaze, which can start with a bit of carelessness or an unforeseen mishap, often happens at the most vulnerable moments. A tiny spark can quickly turn into a giant flame if we do not notice the fire. If this happens, controlling the fire could be impossible. To prevent this kind of disaster, we should take adequate measures. We should put a system that will warn us immediately if a fire occurs.

You are safe while sleeping

Some people think they can understand that a fire has started because it reflects heat, smoke and smells. But this is not very true. For example, if the fire starts while you are asleep, you will likely not realise that there is a burning. Moreover, it is tough sometimes to admit a fire around you when you are focused on something else. For example, you cannot notice it if you watch something exciting on TV.
80% of fire deaths are due to smoke inhalation. This is because you usually cannot smell or notice smoke in the early stages of a fire. Usually, oxygen is depleting, and toxic gases are filling up around you. Precisely this can cause death.
A fire alarm system can warn you and allow you to evacuate before flames block the exits.

Reduce financial losses with fire protection systems

Fire alarm systems can detect fire but also make independent calls to the fire department. In this way, the help we need can arrive at the place of the incident very quickly. The faster extinguishing of fire is vital for saving human lives and minimising our financial losses. However, sometimes even a few minutes can be fatal. Because of this decrease, the fire safety procedures in case of fire can be vital and can make a big difference in the damage caused by fire.
After human life, the other important thing for us is material damage.
Overcoming the danger easily saves business owners from high financial risks.

You will be advantageous in your insurance policies

Many insurance companies can offer significant discounts on your insurance policy. But they may ask if you have a fire alarm system that meets the standards. They may also want to see your fire alarm status documentation.
If you have fire alarm systems and maintain them well, you can have cheaper insurance policies.

What do we need to consider when choosing a fire alarm?

Technology is developing day by day. As a result, the fire detection and warning systems market is also evolving and growing. That is why companies need help choosing a fire alarm system. They need specialists such as Aarhus Fire Protection to help them with their decision.
Experts take into account multiple factors before offering you the most appropriate alarm system. For example, your building may only need a single smoke detector. But you may also need a complex system with panels, call points and detector heads.

Select the correct detectors

The sensors are one essential piece of equipment in the fire alarm system. That is why their proper functioning is of great importance. A competent person can help you select the correct detectors and install them so that nothing interferes with their operation.

Choose a competent company

There are many factors to consider when installing fire alarms and equipment. Ignoring any of these elements can cause problems in the fire detection system. And if the system does not work correctly will not be able to warn you in case of fire. As a result, you can have a loss of life and belongings.
It is also essential to choose a competent company such as Aarhus Fire. This is because they can provide you with a guarantee for the fire alarm system they install. Noteworthy is the monitoring service to be permanent to warn you in case of fire.

Choose the right alarm that will protect you, not the cheap one

Price is indeed essential. But we must remember that installing a fire alarm system guarantees well-being. Firstly, you may need to make a small investment. But you will be grateful because you have a system that will give an early sign.
In addition, there are many fire alarms on the market. You can choose the best one that suits your budget and needs. Luckily, we can help you find the most appropriate and affordable fire alarm system.
We offer different fire alarms in Manchester and throughout the United Kingdom.

We provide the following services related to fire alarms in Manchester and the UK:

Here Are Some Useful Questions and Their Answers Related to Fire Alarms

What are the primary British Standards related to fire alarm systems?

The primary appropriate British standards we follow are:

BS 5839-1:2017, which is related to installing fire alarms in non-domestic premises.
BS 5839-6:2013, which is relevant to the design, installation and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in dwellings.

Do we install alarms in a private home?

No. We mainly work on commercial and multi-occupied residential and high-rise buildings where British law requires having a Fire alarm system.

Will I get a good quality alarm?

Yes, you will get the best high-quality alarm from the leading manufacturers and the most modern technology.
However, we never offer our clients low-quality tools and equipment because we believe the cheap comes out expensive.

Can I choose my fire alarm system?

If you want the best and the right fire alarm system that will alert you during a fire, it is advisable to consult a competent person who will give you the correct information following British law.

Will I get support at night if I need help with my fire alarms in Manchester or around the country?

Yes. We see our customers as part of our family. So, we support our clients 24 hours (emergency response).

Design of Fire Alarm Systems

How does the fire alarm sensor work?

The fire detector’s operation principle triggers an alarm when smoke, heat or light is in the environment. Therefore, the sensor becomes active only when triggered by a stimulus.
Fire alarms include a panel allowing the system to operate and cable or wireless connections to the mainboard. When detectors detect danger, they immediately sound the alarm.
The ceiling is the most suitable place for connecting and installing a fire alarm.

We obey specific standards required by British law

When designing fire alarms, we obey specific standards required by British law. Following these rules, we create and install the most suitable fire alarm system for your building. Therefore, each client receives an individual, unique, and correct project for their premises.
We provide services related to fire alarms in Manchester and around the country. But we also deliver full accredited service following a risk assessment report.

What do we consider to make a correct design?

To make a correct design for your building, we consider many things. For example, the type of system you need, the needs of your building, the rooms suitable for the system etc. We also consider how many zones your premises need, how easily you can call the fire department, etc. Besides, we consider putting the control panel in a safe place.
We design, supply, and install fire alarm systems in Manchester and the UK. Our company has 20 years of experience. We follow all government requirements and British standards when we do our work.
The primary purpose of the projects is to notify when there is a fire in the building. Thankfully, with these systems’ quick alerts, we can reduce the risk to peoples’ lives and minimise property damage. We can create the right fire alarm system and make your premises as protected as possible from fire.

We work on multi-occupied residential, high-rise and commercial buildings. These are some of the facilities that our highly qualified team has equipped with our quality fire alarms.

It does not matter if you need fire alarms in Manchester or around the country; our qualified team travels throughout the UK to make premises and workplaces fire safe.

Types of Fire Alarm Systems

Fire alarm systems usually detect smoke or heat and the poisonous high level in the air carbon monoxide. In addition, some of the alarms have manual call points. These systems usually can send a signal to different parts of the building in case of fire. Furthermore, some warnings send a remote call to the alarm receiving centre.
In the market, there are four types of alarm systems: Conventional, Analog-addressable, Addressable, and Wireless systems.

Conventional fire alarm system

Call points and detectors are connected to fire alarm control panels in zones in a conventional fire alarm system. This means that the building is divided into areas. Thanks to these zones, subsequently, we can quickly determine where exactly is the fire in the building. And thus, take immediate measures to extinguish the flames and evacuate the people from the building.

Addressable system

The addressable system is one step ahead of the conventional one. Here the control panel has a function that detects the accurate detector and call point that triggered the alarm; every sensor has an address; and when it is activated, we can see it on the monitor of the control panel.
This type of alarm is usually used in large and complex buildings such as factories, hospitals, large offices, etc. It is typically challenging to find the place fire started on this kind of premises.

Analogue Addressable Fire Alarm Systems

Although analogue addressable fire alarm systems are intelligent, some are not very clever and can only output signals.
Suppose an intelligent analogue system is genuinely modern and intelligent. In that case, each detector must be able to assess the environment in which it is located. And if there is a fire or damage in the system, it must transfer a signal to the control panel.

Cause and Effect

To find out exactly how your alarm system works, you must perform a fire alarm cause and effect analysis. Professionals such as Aarhus fire can conduct detailed individual cause and effect tests. In this way, they can establish whether your fire alarm strategy is working and whether it meets the requirements of your building.
In cases where a conventional fire alarm system is present, the alarm panel will only show the activation area, ‘Zone’. This could be an entire floor rather than a specific room. This situation can confuse the people in the building, such as the responsible persons who cannot immediately provide the fire department with accurate positioning of the location of the problem.

Cause and effect meaning

A cause can be defined as a person or thing that drives action. In fire alarm systems, fire detectors, smoke detectors, heat detectors, sprinkler flow or pressure switches, etc., can be accounted for as a cause.
An effect is a change that may be the result or outcome of an action or other cause. Tools to shut off the air supply and vents, close dampers, shut off fuel, unlock controlled access doors, etc., can be counted as an effect.
Cause and effect testing should be done annually. The checking should be more detailed if the premises are listed as multi-cause.

Why is the cause and effect analyses vitally important?

Analysing the cause and effect of a fire alarm can also significantly reduce false alarms, preventing unnecessary panic, stress and fear. False alarms are sometimes very harmful as people start evacuating and the whole work process stops. This leads to low productivity and lost profits. Sometimes the consequences of false alarms can even be fatal. If there are repeated false alarms on the premises, people get used to them, and in the event of a real fire, they may not take evacuation action. This can be catastrophic for people in the building.
Understanding how the system has been programmed and how it will react in a fire is essential. The cause-and-effect test allows all programmed inputs/outputs to be reviewed. This guarantees that the system is perfectly designed, works without problems and will alert you during a fire.

What should your fire alarm supplier provide?

The company that has installed your fire alarm system must provide you with an original C&E matrix. Specialists like Aarhus Fire can issue you a new document if this document is missing. They can do this after conducting detailed observations and tests of your fire protection system. As this matrix is vital, the company providing you with fire alarm services should be able to prepare one.

Some of the essential things a responsible person should know

The purpose of cause and effect is based on individual property needs. One of the most important things is to clarify what your evacuation plan should be. Knowing whether your premises need a simultaneous or phased evacuation plan is essential. For example, if the building is residential, you may need such exit routes that all tenants in the building can evacuate at the same time. Or for example, in a place like a hospital, it is imperative to clarify whether you require theatres to evacuate simultaneously or in stages. Sometimes, especially if there is activation on the opposite side of the building, it would be better to warn of a problem with intermittent sounders or strobes. In such cases, the transition to complete evacuation usually occurs after a specific time.
Knowing if you need elevators to the ground during an evacuation is also essential. Also, you should know what steps to take if the activation is from the ground floor. Understanding whether you need a gas shut-off or have deaf and hard-of-hearing people on your premises is also essential.

Wireless fire alarm systems

As the name implies, wireless fire alarm systems work without cables.
They are analogue addressable systems that operate with unlicensed secure radio communications and thus connect detectors and other devices to the control panel.

Types of Detectors

Detectors used in fire alarm systems are heat detectors, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide and multi-sensors detectors.

Heat detectors

Heat detectors can be heat-sensitive point detectors or linear detectors.

1. Heat-sensitive

Heat-sensitive detectors can be fixed temperature types where you can pre-determine the temperature. If there is an increase, the alarm will turn on; or they can be of the kind that works if the temperature rises suddenly without doing any pre-determination.

2. Linear detectors

In this kind of detector, you can pre-determine the temperature. Therefore, linear sensors are suitable for large and complex places such as warehouses.

Smoke detectors

Smoke detectors usually work on the principle of ionisation, light scattering, and light obscuring.

1. Ionization

The detectors working on the principle of ionisation contain two cameras. One compensates for changes in temperature, humidity, or pressure. The second ionises the air through a radioactive source.

2. Light scattering detectors

The photocell and the light source are separated by a darkened camera to not fall on the photocell in the light scattering detector. However, if the passage of smoke falls into the chamber causes light scattering, which triggers the alarm.

3. Light obscuring detectors

These detectors work with light rays that can sense if there is smoke in the room. By scattering the light, the smoke reduces the intensity of the light falling on the receiver. This causes the alarm to sound. However, light obscuring detectors are not suitable for outdoor use. Therefore, using them outside is pointless.

Carbon monoxide detector

As its name suggests, these detectors can sense and identify when carbon monoxide levels in the air rise. Carbon monoxide is poisonous and generated from a fire.

The electrochemical cell in the CO fire detectors detects the poison in the air very quickly. However, apart from carbon dioxide, they cannot see smoke or other products produced by combustion.

These sensors are suitable for fires producing a rising stream of smoke. However, they are not ideal for blazing fires, which are also very dangerous. Another disadvantage of these tools is that they can respond to car gas and give a false alarm.

Multi-sensor detector

One of the advantages of multi-sensor detectors is that they can reduce false alarms that react to cooking fumes, steam, dust, and aerosol sprays.
These detectors contain more than one type of sensor. For example, they include a combination of smoke, heat, or carbon monoxide sensors.
When operating, this type of detector uses a complex algorithm that processes the combination of inputs from optical and thermal sensors. As a result, they are sensitive to a wide range of fires and, in many cases, are an excellent alternative to the ionizing detector.
Whatever the type of detector, it must have a continuous power supply to sense smoke or heat.
It is also not recommended to place detectors in kitchens or homes close to air ducts. Likewise, we should not install them near fireplaces or smoky areas, which will constantly trigger the alarm for no reason.

Maintenance of Fire Alarms in Manchester and Around the Country

The user must constantly test the fire protection system to ensure it works smoothly without problems. Unfortunately, like other disasters, we do not know precisely when they occur. Because of this, we must keep our systems and equipment, including our alarms, in working order.

By performing routine tests, we can determine if there is a fault in the system. For example, we must examine whether the system’s connection to the alarm receiving centre is working smoothly, if the various manual call points are in working order, etc.

A competent person with appropriate certification (third party certificated) must inspect and service your fire alarm system. This person needs to check things such as:

Control panel functions
Fire alarm devices
If the alarm signals are reaching the alarm receiving centre
check if the standby power supply capacity is appropriate
if there are outstanding defects in the system or batteries
If there are fault indicators and circuits, the competent person will examine them and give you instructions on how to solve this problem

It does not matter if you have fire alarms in Manchester or around the country; Aarhus Fire Protection will support you seven days a week, 24 hours per day.