It is estimated that false alarms from fire systems cost the economy more than £1billion in financial waste and disruption to businesses. That’s without the cost to the fire and rescue service which could be attending to real emergencies whilst dealing with false alerts.
Which businesses are most vulnerable to false alarms?
- Schools, colleges and universities – large numbers of people onsite and the potential for accidental or deliberate activations
- Hotels, bars and restaurants – cooking, aerosols, vaping can all trigger alarms
- Hospitals and care homes – large numbers of vulnerable occupants means alarms are often set to be highly sensitive
- Retail – large footfall, smoke and vaping can be an issue here
- Office buildings – poorly maintained systems or building refurbishments as well as vaping near sensors
- Industrial and manufacturing – dust, steam or fumes can all create problems
So what can you do, as a business to avoid false fire alarms?
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Regular Maintenance & Servicing – Â Ensure fire alarm systems are inspected and tested in line with BS 5839 standards by competent professionals.
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Correct Detector Selection – Use the right type of detector (e.g., heat vs. smoke vs. multi-sensor) for each environment to avoid nuisance alarms from steam, cooking, or aerosols.
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Good System Design – Position detectors away from kitchens, bathrooms, or areas prone to dust and fumes unless specially designed detectors are used.
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Staff Training – Educate staff and residents on what can trigger false alarms (e.g., burnt toast, aerosols, smoking near detectors).
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Pre-Alarm Investigations – Consider systems that provide a pre-alarm or verification stage, allowing staff to quickly check before a full alarm is activated.
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Reduce Dust & Steam – Keep areas well-ventilated and use extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms.
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Control Contractors’ Work – Use permit-to-work systems so contractors avoid creating dust, heat, or smoke near detectors without proper precautions.
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Regular Cleaning – Keep detectors clean and free of dust, insects, and cobwebs that may cause false triggers.
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Alarm Management Protocols – Have clear policies for investigating alarms and working with the monitoring centre to reduce unnecessary fire service call-outs.
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Use Modern Technology – Upgrade to intelligent, addressable, or multi-sensor fire alarms that can differentiate between real fires and harmless triggers.
Read our case study about a frozen and chilled foods wholesaler whose original system was being falsely activated because the wrong products had been specified to suit the environment.
If your fire system is playing up, get in touch!
