Fire systems and Intruder systems with fire detection can generate an automatic fire brigade response. However, it is vitally important that every effort is made to reduce the chance of the fire brigade being called unnecessarily.
This is achieved on a domestic system by giving a short delay on alerting the alarm centre to allow the alarm to be quickly cancelled due to accidental operation and then when the alarm centre receive the signal they try and call premises to confirm. No reply/contact means the brigade is immediately notified.
On commercial property the delay will vary. For example a shopping centre has a ‘pre alarm’ giving security a short time to confirm a false alarm before full evacuation and brigade attendance but a hotel/nursing home may go straight to the fire brigade as the risk to life is increased. Costs of £500 plus can be levied per fire engine to sites that generate excessive false alarms.
