Fire Safety Equipment
Fire Alarm Systems – What Is Required and Why It Matters
PROPORTIONATE, COMPLIANT AND EFFECTIVE
Fire safety equipment must be appropriate to the building, the risk, and the people inside it. There is no single solution that suits every premises — and installing the wrong system can be just as problematic as installing none at all.
At STK, we assess fire safety equipment as part of a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment, ensuring that detection and warning systems are proportionate, compliant, and effective.
The Legal Requirement for Fire Detection & Warning
Under Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Article 13(1) requires the Responsible Person to consider:
- How a fire will be detected
- How occupants will be warned
- Whether warning is effective in all parts of the building
The law does not automatically require a fire alarm system in every premises — it requires appropriate measures based on risk.
When a Fire Alarm May Not Be Required
In very simple, low-risk buildings, the means of warning may be straightforward.
Example: Small Warehouse Unit
- 3 employees
- Single open-plan workspace (10m x 10m)
- Two clearly visible exit doors
- All occupants in constant visual contact
In this scenario, staff would detect a fire immediately. A clear instruction to shout “Fire!” would be sufficient to warn all occupants and satisfy Article 13(1).
This demonstrates why risk assessment, not assumption, is essential.
When a Fire Alarm Is Absolutely Essential
Example: Residential Care Home
- 60-bed nursing care facility
- Frail and elderly residents, many bedridden
- Three-storey building (50m x 50m footprint)
- 30 staff working across multiple floors
In this case, relying on staff detection alone would be unacceptable. A fire could develop unnoticed, rapidly producing smoke that threatens residents who cannot self-evacuate.
Here, a fully automatic fire detection and alarm system is essential to meet legal duties.
Such premises would typically require a system equivalent to BS 5839-1 Category L1, incorporating:
- Control and indicating panel
- Automatic smoke and heat detection throughout
- Sounders providing sufficient audibility
- Manual call points at storey exits
- Fire door hold-open devices where appropriate
Selecting the Correct Fire Alarm System
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Where a fire risk assessment determines that a fire alarm system is required, it is essential that:
- The correct category of system is specified
- The system is designed and installed by competent persons
- It reflects the actual risks within the premises
The choice of system will be influenced by:
- Building use and occupancy
- Activities and processes carried out
- Layout, size, and complexity
- Numbers and vulnerability of occupants
- Any factors affecting escape
Fire Alarm Systems in Commercial & Public Premises
For most commercial, healthcare, educational, industrial, and public access buildings, reference should be made to BS 5839-1.
This standard defines three principal system types:
Manual (M) Systems
- Manual call points only
- No automatic detection
- Typically found in older or fully supervised premises
- Only suitable where all areas are continuously occupied and visible
Call points should be positioned so no one travels more than:
- 45m (25m where mobility is limited)
- 16m in areas with high flammable risk
nd in older or fully supervised premises
Only suitable where all areas are continuously occupied and visible
Call points should be positioned so no one travels more than:
45m (25m where mobility is limited)
16m in areas with high flammable risk
Category P – Property Protection Systems
Designed to protect property and business continuity, not life.
- P1 – Automatic detection throughout the entire building
- P2 – Detection only in defined high-risk areas
These systems aim to provide early fire service notification.
Category L – Life Protection Systems
Designed to protect occupants. Divided into five levels:
L1 – Maximum Life Protection
- Detection in all rooms, escape routes, and voids
- Sound levels:
- 65dB(A) generally
- 75dB(A) at bedheads
- 5dB(A) above ambient noise where required
L2 – Additional Life Protection
- Detection on escape routes and adjoining rooms
- Plus high-risk areas (e.g. boiler rooms)
L3 – Standard Life Protection
- Detection on escape routes and adjoining rooms
L4 – Modest Life Protection
- Detection on escape routes only
L5 – Localised Life Protection
- Designed to address a specific identified risk
- May be detection-only or combined with manual systems
Fire Alarm Systems in Residential Premises
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For residential accommodation such as:
- Flats (purpose-built or converted)
- HMOs
- Maisonettes
Reference is usually made to BS 5839-6, unless higher-risk factors require Part 1 systems.
Detection Categories
- LD1 – Detection throughout the dwelling
- LD2 – Detection on escape routes and high-risk rooms
- LD3 – Detection on escape routes only
System Grades
- Grade F – Battery-powered alarms
- Grade E – Mains-powered, no standby
- Grade D – Mains-powered with battery backup
- Grade C – Central power with standby supply
- Grade B – Detectors with control equipment
- Grade A – Full commercial-grade system
Part 6 systems must always be specified by both category and grade.
Additional Fire Safety Equipment Considerations
In some modern residential buildings, detection systems may be used solely to operate Automatic Opening Vents (AOVs) to keep staircases free from smoke. These systems are not fire alarms in the traditional sense, but life safety controls.
Older fire alarm systems powered solely from mains electricity without battery backup are no longer considered suitable. Under the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, any safety-critical warning system must have an alternative power supply.
How STK Helps
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STK does not sell fire alarm systems — we provide independent, competent advice.
Our fire risk assessments ensure:
- The correct level of detection is specified
- Systems are appropriate to the premises
- Legal duties are clearly addressed
- Unnecessary expense is avoided
Why STK Is Different
SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY
We carry a strong sense of responsibility because of what we have seen and experienced.
HIGHLY EXPERIENCED
IT IS OUR MISSION
For us, fire safety is not a service — it is a mission.
Why Choose STK?
By choosing STK, you benefit from:
- Highly experienced, professionally trained assessors
- Independent third-party accreditation
- Clear, defensible fire risk assessments
- Practical guidance, not generic templates
- Ongoing support beyond the written report
Fire safety is a legal duty — but it is also a moral responsibility.
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