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Fire Alarm Testing - complaints about volume
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Posted By srd
Some of our employees complain at the loudness of the fire alarms during testing.
We test on a Saturday morning, when there are less people in the building, and some people have taken to wearing earplugs during the testing of the alarms.
I must admit that it is painful to sit through, especially in those areas where low false ceilings mean that the sounder is closer to the employees.
Are there any requirements as to maximum volume or minimum distance from alarm sounder to employee during testing?
Also are the alarm sounders exempt from the limits under the NAW Regs? I believe ours sound at 120 decibels, which I am told has been approved by the Fire Brigade.
Stephen.
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Posted By Graeme Millar
120 DBa is the maximum level but 65 is the minimum.
If you have a small area then the sounders should have been set to achieve the minimum in this area not turned up to the max and left.
There are relaxations for enclosures under 60 m2 to 60 dba.
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Posted By Frank Hallett
Just because the local Fire Service have "approved" the sounders does not mean that they will be legal in re the NaW Regs, or any other come to that.
It will be your company that is prosecuted and have to defend the civil claims, not the Fire Service.
Frank Hallett
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Posted By ivorfire
It is appreciated that this item was posted regarding volume. Not sure if this will add to your problems, however, I thought it prudent to raise awareness of BS 5839-1:2002 Section 44.2 (c) which states:
c) In premises in which some employees only work during hours other than that at which the fire alarm system is normally tested, an additional test(s) should be carried out at least once a month to ensure familiarity of these employees with the fire alarm signal(s).
From your earlier comment this may or may not apply.
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Posted By srd
Thanks all for your comments, most helpful.
Stephen.
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Posted By John Webster
Stephen,
Bear in mind that during the "normal" working day, some of your employees may be wearing hearing protection, operating noisy machinery or both, or may be working in an area which muffles the sound of the alarm (I once had an employee who frequently worked in an environmentally controlled, and hence insulated, room).
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Posted By Fred Pratley
The "rule of thumb" for alarm sounder levels is that it must be distinctly audible in all areas (including the boss's office) at about 15 dB above the ambient background level. Where this cannot be achieved, then a visual warning is also required.
There are numerous combined flash tone sounders for the purpose.
Fred
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Posted By Jerry Lucey
Hi stephen,
Would it be worth doing the alarm test during the week when some or all of the machinary is running and it is closer to a worst case scenario. Perhaps the sound of the alarm with back ground noise would cause less annoyance and people are more likely to be wearing hearing protection. It will also give you a better indication as to how effective your alarm is. If you are still receiving complaints with all machinary running, a review of the volume could be undertaken until the sound is sufficiently loud to be heard by all personnel without being a major distraction.
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Posted By shaun mckeever
How long are you operating the alarm for?
Normally there is no need for it to operate for longer than 30 seconds.
I am not a noise specialist but I always understood that hearing damage is caused when exposed to noise over a prolonged period depending on the sound levels being achieved.
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Rank: Guest
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Posted By srd
In response to some previous posts:
When the alarms are tested on a Saturday morning, all of the machines are running that would normally be running during a weekday (at least in the areas that are generating the complaints).
The alarm normally sounds continuously for about 20 seconds, but this is repeated about 3 or 4 times over the course of 10 minutes.
I have since found out that alarms situated in single occupant offices, say about 12ft square, also seem to be set at 120dB.
Stephen.
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Fire Alarm Testing - complaints about volume
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