FIRE SAFETY

IN HEALTHCARE BUILDINGS
This eDoc summarises key guidelines presented in Apollo's Fire Safety in
Healthcare Buildings CPD webinar on 17 February 2021. It covers HTM05-03
Part B – Fire detection and alarm systems and HTMO5-03 Part H – Reducing
false alarms in hospital premises.

HTM 05-03: PART B - FIRE DETECTION & ALARM SYSTEMS

Supplementary guidance to BS5839-1,  rovides additional recommendations

P
specific to NHS healthcare premises. over BS5839-1: Some recommendations
Applies to new and existing premises. may modify the standard.

Clarifies application of BS5839-1 with Should be read in conjunction with the

consideration for patient profile: latest edition of BS5839-1.
independent, dependent, high dependency.

The system technology

employed should be
in accordance with the
following guidance:

UP TO 50 DEVICES 50 - 100 DEVICES OVER 100 DEVICES

CONVENTIONAL SYSTEM ADDRESSABLE SYSTEM ANALOGUE OR MULTI-STATE
ADDRESSABLE SYSTEM

Networked system
should comply with all
recommendations
of BS 5839-1.
In particular, the cable used
for any network connections
should comply with the
requirements of “enhanced
fire-resisting cables”
as stated in BS 5839-1. CONTROL PANEL 1 CONTROL PANEL 2 CONTROL PANEL 3

CONTROL PANEL 1 CONTROL PANEL 2 CONTROL PANEL 1 CONTROL PANEL 2 CONTROL PANEL 1 CONTROL PANEL 2
Manufacturer A Manufacturer A Manufacturer A Manufacturer A Manufacturer A Manufacturer B
Detector . Detector Detector . Detector Detector . Detector

A
 dditions to existing Compatible system technology New system should have
systems: extension or should be employed: own FAP, suitably interfaced
alteration. •S
 ame manufacturer with existing system.
•D
 ifferent manufacturer with
ability to fully interconnect.

DETECTION & ALARM ZONES Wherever

possible
T
 he alarm zones may include = !
several sub-compartments, but
need to correspond, as far as
possible, with the boundaries DETECTION ALARM
of adjoining alarm zones.
Non-patient
 Atria, commercial departments, areas
hazard departments always
need a separate alarm zone. > !
DETECTION ALARM

TWO-STAGE ALARM SYSTEM

DZ 1 DZ 2 DZ 4 DZ 5

DZ 3 DZ 6

DZ 7 DZ 8 DZ 9
DZ 10

In at least patient access areas, a two-stage alarm system should be operated:

T
 he sub compartment / compartment from Adjacent sub-compartments /
which the alarm has originated receives compartments receive the
the “evacuate” signal and “alert” signal.

HTM 05-03: PART H - REDUCING FALSE ALARMS IN HOSPITAL PREMISES

FIRE SERVICE
Performance measures
CALL OUT and improvement goals
[UNWANTED
FIRE SIGNAL] are specifically aimed at Fire
31% : 6,687
Service Call Out incidents.
ALARM According to the ERIC 2018/19
ACTIVATION report, the total number of
alarm activations across 227
NHS trusts was 21,415, with
31% being UwFS.
FIRE SERVICE NO CALL OUT
CALL OUT [FALSE ALARM] NO CALL OUT
[UNWANTED [FALSE ALARM]
FIRE SIGNAL] 69% (14,728)

43
FREQUENT FALSE CAUSES OF FALSE ALARMS *Detector faults,
% malicious,
ALARMS CAUSE staff, insects

Disruption to care
 Complacency
towards alarm 12
10

Diversion of FRS 7 6 6 6
4
3 3
from duties
Call-out fines Cooking Contractors Electrical Steam Smoking Unknown Patients Dust Other Miscellaneous*

TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP

TCO: Combination of direct (for purchase

and installation) and hidden (maintenance
and service)  costs of system owner during
the lifetime of a system​.
 CAPEX​
Installation costs

OPEX ​
Maintenance contracts​
• Software upgrades​
• Cost of spare parts​
• Call-out costs​
Upgrades

For further support and enquiries, contact our friendly team on

+44 (0)23 9249 2412 | solutions@apollo-fire.com | www.apollo-fire.co.uk
Apollo Fire Detectors Limited, 36 Brookside Road, Havant, Hampshire, PO9 1JR, UK

KEEPING YOU SAFE FROM FIRE. ALWAYS.