I've been asked to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment on a property but the issue I have now encountered is that the building has an Alarm system fitted (break glass system) which has been disconnected due to the system not working properly (it is over 10 years old) and the property owner is not prepared to replace the alarm (he's been quoted £6k). I have not yet visited the property or started my Risk Assessment but if the building was required to have an alarm fitted and the building use and occupation is the same then the FRA would require that the alarm be either replaced or the existing system be repaired is this correct?

any help or guidance here would be much appreciated

Martin

Yes - but how would you know it was "required"? It's not impossible that it was fitted unnecessarily, or was left in place from a previous use.

Kate has a point. I don't think there is a requirement as such under present or past legislation (or BS for that matter) to have a hard wired alarm system fitted, although it may have been a requirement of an old Fire Certificate issued by the fire service - is there an old Fire Cert in existence?

The system in your senario may not be necessary at all, it may well have been fitted unnecessarily. The duty as far as I am aware is for the responsible person to enable the alarm to be raised in the event of a fire. This could be by means other than a call point/break glass or hard wired system. It may well be possible to remove the old faulty system and install/establish a different system altogether. Much depends on the nature of the building you are assessing and you give us no indication of the size, use or occupancy etc. Whilst a call point system is arguably the preferred option, more info is needed.

I have a question, does the local Fire brigade keep records of buildings in their area?
Can you, as a FRA / Safety Advisor, view the documents?

If nothing has changed from when the original fire alarm system was installed, surly there is a breach?

If there is an existing breach, should the Advisor / FRA inform the HSE after the new inspection is done?
(whistle blower).

Thanks for all the advice guys its much appreciated

Once I go out and meet the client and see the property I'll have a better idea of what I'm dealing with

Martin

Messey you make good sense as usual.

A fire risk assessment is only as good as the day it is done, just like an MOT. Anything can change as soon as you walk away from the premises.

The break glass fire alarm was a good method of sounding the alarm but does not have to remain as long as the method is adequate to notify all in attendance of a fire.

A simple shout may be all that is needed but I doubt it in this example.

Your question re competence is very relevant here and I would ask the same of any fire risk assessor who asked such a question on this forum.

By the way using cost as an excuse not to do the right thing will only lead to trouble for the property owner.

You know what we use?

Hand held air horns. They're easily accessible, they're cheap and everyone knows what the alarm sound is.

We have no public, no visitors are left alone, all staff know routine for raising alarm and horns are more than loud enough for whole building to hear just one.

This sounds like a legacy from the old fire certificate. They were very prescriptive and left no room for flexibility.
My biggest concern would be is there ANY alarm system in place?

Martin,

Is this building in scotland? If so its the fire safety scotland regulations you want to be looking at and not the rro.
Non domestic technical standards are also available on line from the scot gov website.
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