After a period of long-term decline, malicious false alarms have persisted post-pandemic.
The latest statistics from the UK Government on false fire alarms show that we have reached a plateau in false alarms following the lull during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating there is clearly more to be done to combat false alarms and their devasting effects.
False fire alarms present a threat to the whole of the UK, with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service attending over 55,000 false alarms in 2022-23, and over 3000 malicious activations of a call point in England from September 2023 to March 2024, amounting to almost half of the total malicious false alarms. The effects of false alarms can be devastating and their continuous persistence has led to concerns about the effective use of resources, and public safety.
In an effort to address the issue of rising numbers of false fire alarms, British Standard 5839-1 was revised in 2017, providing guidance on the design and maintenance of fire alarm systems, and states: “It is now recommended that a protective cover is fitted to a Type A manual call point to help prevent false alarms.” There is a highly anticipated update of BS 5839-1 due in February 2025, which could outline further direction on how to significantly reduce false fire alarms.
In addition to the updated version of BS 5389-1, starting from this October the London Fire Brigade has introduced a new policy to reduce the amount of time and resources spent going to unwanted fire signals. This change follows on from the Scottish policy on unwanted fire alarm signals announced last year which means the fire service doesn’t automatically respond to calls in commercial buildings unless a confirmed fire is reported.
With less than one per cent of the 52,000 automatic fire alarm calls attended by the London Fire Brigade in 2023/24 being ultimately recorded as fires, the policy adaptation is essential for limiting wasted resources. As well as wasting resources, false fire alarms also cost the UK over £1 billion a year, further highlighting the desperate need for change.
Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and the Welsh Fire and Rescue Service have also replicated the policy on unwanted fire alarm signals to help prioritise real emergencies. However, these policies only apply to non-residential buildings and commercial properties during certain time constraints, meaning in many places such as schools, hospitals and care homes, false alarms will still result in unnecessary emergency services call-outs.
Whilst new policies from fire and rescue services will help to combat wasted time and resources across the UK, they do not stop persisting false alarms from activation of a call point, whether accidental or malicious. False alarms can also cause unnecessary panic leading to alarm fatigue and financial losses for many businesses.
False alarm incidents have significant consequences for both the public and emergency services as frequent false alarms may lead people to become desensitised, resulting in delayed evacuations or ignoring alarms when an actual fire occurs. This dangerous alarm fatigue can have serious and life-threatening consequences in many environments.
The ‘crying wolf’ factor of false alarms creates a relaxed attitude towards emergencies and means the public are less willing to act quickly when an alarm is activated. Frequent false alarms lose their impact and contribute to the culture of complacency causing unnecessary panic, disrupting operations, and wasting valuable resources, including the time and effort of fire and rescue services - reducing false alarms is essential in protecting lives and property during real emergencies.
Evidently, there is still more to be done in reducing false fire alarms, here are just a few ways you can try to combat the issue:
- Regular system maintenance, ensuring all fire detection systems are in working order.
- Implementing false alarm management protocols, having procedures in place to filter out unnecessary alarms before they result in a full-scale evacuation and emergency service call-out.
- Installing protective covers on manual call points, reducing both accidental and malicious activations.
- Proper detector placement, avoiding installing them in areas prone to smoke or steam that could trigger false alarms and instead using heat detectors in these areas.
- Raising public awareness and education about the negative effects of false alarms, particularly important in places that experience frequent false alarms such as schools and public buildings.
- Work with local fire and rescue services to identify specific causes of false alarms and develop solutions or provide training/advice on how to maintain fire alarm systems effectively.
As per BS 5839-1: 2017, one of the most effective solutions for reducing accidental or malicious activation of manual call points is the installation of protective covers. STI’s range of Call Point Protectors, known as the Stoppers®, are highly effective in protecting call points without restricting legitimate operation.
Home Office research and analysis of ‘trends in fire false alarms and fire alarm policies’ reported a decline in false fire alarms caused by malicious or accidental activation of manual call points, and observed that it was due to the introduction of protective covers.
Our hinged polycarbonate covers require deliberate action to access the call point, significantly reducing chances of accidental activations and optional sounders are available in many of our protective covers to prevent malicious activations by drawing immediate attention to the area.
The range of protective covers STI offers have been specifically designed to help deter false alarms and to prevent vandalism or accidental activation of manual call points with their strong, durable design. The construction of our polycarbonate call point protectors means they can withstand the toughest knocks, whilst offering lasting protection against false alarms.
One of STI’s most popular protective cover models is the Euro Stopper®, a versatile cover with multiple solutions in one box. With many customisation options, including 13 language label options and red and green housing shells, it is easy to build the perfect solution for you. The Euro Stopper is available with or without a sounder for added protection against malicious false alarms. Every model is equipped with the unique Glow Guide, the perimeter of the frame illuminates in the dark to create a radiant glow around the manual call point, making it easier to locate in dark areas.
For more information, contact us at +44 (0)1527 520 999, email us at info@sti-emea.com, or visit www.sti-global.com.
