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ensure your system falls into the correct fire alarm category. By adhering to the Fire
Safety Order, you can help keep everyone in your building safer.
There are eight individual fire categories, as defined in the BS 5839 code. This is the
British standard for fire alarm installation, set out in a governmental code of practice.
Each category falls under three different types of systems — manual, life protection
and property protection. The category of fire alarm system your business requires will
depend on various factors, such as:
* Your type of premises
+ The contents within your business
+ The nature of your business
+ The level of risk
The best way to find out which fire alarm system is required by your business is to
book in for a professional Fire Risk Assessment, carried out by fire safety experts.
They will be able to grade your fire alarm system and establish which alarm needs to
be fitted,
Fire alarm system categories
There are eight fire alarm categories that your system can fall within. They vary
depending on the nature of your business and the other factors stated above. The fire
alarm categories include:
+ Category M - Manual fire alarm system
+ Category L1 - Maximum life protection automated fire alarm system
* Category L2 - Additional life protection automated fire alarm system
« Category L3 = Standard life protection automated fire alarm system
« Category L4 = Modest life protection automated fire alarm system
« Category L5 = Localised life protection automated fire alarm system
* Category P1 - Maximum property protection automated fire alarm system
+ Category P2 - Minimum property protection automated fire alarm system
Want to know more information on the different fire alarm categories? Keep reading
for a detailed explanation of each category.Call us today 0330 094 7404
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which rely on the building's
occupants to detect a fire and
provide a warning to others.
When a fire is discovered,
employees must activate the
alarm manually, in order to alert everybody else in the building to the danger.
A typical example of a manual fire alarm system is a series of break glass units, which
are installed at each point of exit in a building. This allows those escaping a fire to
raise the alarm as they leave the danger zone.
Manual fire alarm systems can be effective but due to reliance on individuals, it
means that there can be an increased risk of employee and visitor safety, especially if
the site is not highly populated with few people to raise an alarm.
Automatic fire alarm systems for the
protection of life
Fire alarm systems that fall into the L category are those deemed most suitable for
protecting life within a building. Systems designed for this purpose are divided into
five sub-categories, depending on their level of effectiveness.
Category L1 — Lt Fire alarm system
Maximum life
protection
This is the most
comprehensive fire alarm
system, which features
detectors in all areas of a
building where a fire could
feasibly start. Detectors areCall us today 0330 094 7404
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cianues Ur esvape.
Category L2 — Additional life protection
Fire alarm systems that fall
into this category feature
L2 Fire Alarm System
smoke detectors in all rooms
that form part of an escape
route, including corridors.
Detectors also need to be
installed in all high-risk rooms,
such as kitchens, boiler rooms
and areas with heavy plant
machinery.
L2 systems are effective at
providing an early warning to occupants beyond the source of the fire and those
working in high risk areas. Examples of properties that typically employ this system
include factories or medium sized residential premises.
Category L3 - Standard life protection
Standard life protection
. L3 Fire Alarm System
systems feature detectors in
all escape routes and rooms
that open onto an escape
route. The objective of this
system is to ensure that all
inhabitants of the building are
given enough warning to
escape a fire, before their exit
is impeded by the presence of
flames, smoke or toxic fumes.Call us today 0330 094 7404
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system consists of detectors
within escape route areas
only, such as in corridors
and stairways. Any
circulation areas that make
up part of the escape
passage should also be
fitted with a detector when
the site is classed within this
fire alarm category.
Commercial properties that generally adopt this category of system are those that
have a lower level of risk. For example, an office that consists of ground floor rooms
only would require less warning time to evacuate all personnel.
Category L5 — Localised life protection
LS fire alarm category bo Ppa dees Sete
systems are those that are
installed to tackle a specific
fire risk in a certain area of a
building, For example, if
there is a room in a building
that poses an exceptional
hazard because of the items
stored there or business
activities carried out there.
An L4 category system may
be appropriate for the building in general but an L5 system is also required, in order to
recognise the level of risk this particular room presents.
Automatic fire alarm systems for the
protection of propertyCall us today 0330 094 7404
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‘AP? tire alarm system
involves installing detectors
in all areas of the building
The objective of a system
like this is to protect
buildings that are critical to
the operations of a business.
By implementing maximum
protection across a whole
site, those in charge of fire safety can ensure that any fire that breaks out is detected
and neutralised as quickly as possible. This lowers the risk of damage and disruption
and in turn, the financial impact that a fire could inflict on a company.
Category P2 P2 Fire Alarm System
In a category P2 fire alarm
system, fire detectors are
installed in high risk areas
only. Whilst a system like
this does not provide the
same level of cover as a P1
solution, it does provide
early detection for the most
likely sources of a fire
This early detection will decrease the time it takes for the fire services to arrive on the
scene and will help to minimise any damage to the property and losses to the
business.
About BS 5839 and the Regulatory
Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005Call us today 0330 094 7404
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There are a wide range of alarms and detectors available for your business, which you
can browse on our . In order to establish the category of system
required and devices most suitable to your premises, our expert fire safety team
recommend a full is carried out on your site.
Find out more
To learn more about getting a fire alarm installed for your business, you can download
our or find out more about our services
BusinessWatch are a BAFE accredited fire safety company. We are trusted by
hundreds of companies around the UK to install, maintain and monitor fire alarm
systems.
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