We have a small welding shop that has full fire detection, but it’s common that the system is triggered when controlled hot work is carried out. We can’t justify removing the detector for obvious reasons and the welding shop is linked with another building which is usually occupied. The proposed option – If welding is to take place, isolate that area only for the estimated time of the works using a manager passcode on the control panel, a permit must be in place for this work and the operative given full information, instruction and training how to operate the call-points to raise the alarm in an emergency. Call-points within the welding shop are literally feet away from the welder along with the fire exit. Would this be suitable and sufficient? Thanks

I am not an expert but that has never stopped anyone on this forum! I’d say that having to regularly disable a fire detection system is not a good idea. One day someone will forget to reactivate it! What you need to do is to have a good look at what you have and decide if firstly it is the right location. Secondly is it the right type- heat, temperature rise or smoke. Temperature rise would be better (I guess but I bow to superior knowledge) If it's smoke one, then perhaps you need to look at the fume that is coming off the welding process: you might need some sort of LEV to remove it.

Jon. I don't like manager passcodes. Managers get lazy and give out their code. To my mind this needs to go back to fire alarm Co and redesign the welding shop detection. Welding is a controlled fire (ok - plasma arc), so there is UV, IR, smoke and heat given off. Probably "Rate of rise" heat detector is required with appropriate rate settings. It may be that they can offer something. I used to work on a flammables site with welding / hot work going on. We did have a system for hot work, fire isolations, but this was firmly under the control of the on site fire team. BW Peter