Why Does My Business Need a Fire Alarm and Emergency Lighting?

If you are starting up a new business or growing an existing one, it is important to understand UK fire alarm regulations. However our team at TF Installations know that not everyone is a fire safety professional.

UK fire alarm legislation comes under ‘The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005’, which recommends that fire alarm detection systems be installed and kept functional under British Standard, BS 5839.

Because we are a professional company with many years of fire safety training and knowledge under our collective belts, we can work with you and your business to ensure that you and your premises meet your fire safety compliance duties.

How we can help

We are pretty used to being contacted by new business owners that are just setting up in London and the South East that need some guidance over their fire safety duties. We are often asked if their company needs a fire alarm system, and if so, which one?

Your perfect fire alarm system will depend on the type of business you run, the size of your business, and the style and layout of your business premises. We will recommend the best fire detection and alarm equipment and even plan the layout and install it for you.

Many new business owners also don’t know how often they should have their fire alarm serviced, how to test their system. or how frequently to run fire alarm tests. We can help with all this!

How do I know if I need a fire alarm?

Current UK fire alarm regulations state that all businesses should have an appropriate fire alarm system in place. The fire detection equipment and alarm should effectively alert your staff or building users of a fire emergency and allow them time to exit the building safely. 

If you run a very small business with just two or three staff, and your company has an open-plan layout across one floor, then you may not need to have a fire alarm. However, if you are operating noisy machinery in this situation that prevents you from hearing a vocal alert from a teammate, it would be wise to install a fire alarm that rings louder than the machines you run. 

If your business is sprawled across many floors and in different rooms, you most certainly need a fire alarm system installed, along with adequate emergency lighting.

Do not hesitate to contact our friendly team at TF Installations to discuss your fire alarm plans. We can help you no matter whether you are a small business with a handful of employees or run a large company with many people using your business premises each day.

Fire risk assessment

The first step to establishing the fire alarm system and fire protection equipment your company needs is to have a fire risk assessment. It is advisable to have a fire risk assessment done on any new business premises you plan to take over, regardless of whether this is your first business or you are expanding into larger premises.

If you don’t have a fire risk assessment in place, we can carry one out for you. This will be the cornerstone of your fire safety plan and will help you meet your fire safety compliance duties.

Emergency lighting

Another question business owners often ask our team at TF Installations is if they need emergency lighting. This particular lighting kicks into action in an emergency and allows your building occupants to exit your premises safely.

Emergency lighting is compulsory under The European Workplace directive where it states that ’emergency routes and exits requiring illumination must be provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity in case the lighting fails.

It is not uncommon for a workplace to fall into darkness without warning should an emergency event happen. This could be a fire in or close to your premises. The emergency services cut power as a safety precaution during a fire emergency, so you may lose power and lights in your building even if the fire emergency isn’t yours.

Compulsory emergency lighting

Emergency lighting is a statutory requirement for all businesses, as part of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The last thing you want to happen is for your staff and anyone using your premises to stumble around in the dark, not knowing where the emergency exits are.

Your emergency lighting must meet with BS 5266, the code of practice for emergency lighting. This means you need to provide working emergency lighting in every room that people can use as guidance to remove themselves from danger. 

Even if you have appointed fire officers on your staff, it can be incredibly difficult for them to lead people out of a building that has been plunged into darkness. Navigating corridors and staircases can be especially dangerous in the dark and lead to severe trips and falls.

Different types of emergency lighting

The type of emergency lighting you will need for your premises will depend on a few factors. The layout of your building is important here because you may need escape route lighting to help illuminate designated escape routes for your building occupants. 

Depending on the type of business you run, you may need anti-panic lighting or high-risk task area emergency lighting. No matter what your emergency lighting needs, we can tailor your lighting system to your specifications. Why not contact our team today to discuss your requirements.