There has been a marked increase in the number of homeowners coming to us saying their insurance companies are requesting they have a certified fire system. The recent wild fires in LA have focused all our minds on the danger of fires and insurers stand to lose billions as a result of the widespread devastation. Insurance companies in the UK are increasingly looking to mitigate risk because fire tends to result in the highest value claims.
The human cost of fire in the UK
There were 131,670 fire incidents in England in the year ending September 2024 (ONS). Sadly, last year there were 4628 casualties in dwelling fires, of these 204 people lost their lives. (ONS)
What type of fire system do insurers want?
Basic systems include detectors and alarms, but the biggest discounts to premiums are usually given to properties with sprinkler systems because they can help to significantly reduce damage by stopping the spread of fire. Also, a monitored system will typically have a lower premium than an unmonitored one.
A robust fire system includes:
- Smoke and heat detectors
- Sprinkler systems
- Fire extinguishers
- Emergency lighting
- Remote alarm monitoring for when you aren’t onsite
What is BS 5839 part 6?
BS 5839 part 6 the code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic properties. It offers a minimum standard of protection for new single family dwellings as well as houses of multiple occupation. An extension to BS5839 part 1, Part 6 also advocates manual call points and alarm devices.
What does a GBSG Fire System offer?
A GBSG fire system for a domestic property provides a range of protections including fire detection alarms, maintenance and monitoring by our own onsite team. We can also integrate the fire system into the homeowner’s SMART home systems allowing you to set and deactivate alarms remotely from a phone or tablet device.
Find out more about our fire safety systems here.
