Automatic Fire Alarm response axed by Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service

In Norfolk, Fire and Rescue service are always on call to respond to fire alarms. Fire Alarm systems can go off at any moment so the Fire and Rescue service try to get there as quick as possible. But where there are fire alarms, there are also false alarms. When the Fire Service responds to these they bear the cost. The Fire and Rescue Service in Norfolk plan to tackle this situation by not acknowledging an automatic fire alarm until confirmation of a fire is acquired.

BBC’s Show ‘Fake Britain’ is a TV programme in which the show’s hosts expose fraudsters and con artists. In one of their episodes they had managed to find one faker who had been selling fake fire extinguishers! When the authorities were given the alarm of this dangerous revelation, they uncovered the Halon gas in approximately 1000 extinguishers had either been diluted or contaminated.

Just weeks after the life of a Horsham woman was saved by her smoke alarm, A West Sussex Coroner, Penelope Schofield, had called for a change in the law. This law had landlords of the Rental homes forcibly install hard-wired smoke alarm systems.

BSI has released a draft publication of the BS 5306-8:2000 Fire Extinguishing Installation and Equipment on Premises, Part 8: Code of Practice for the Selection and Installation of Portable Fire Extinguishers for public comment. Comments should be made via BSI British Standards Draft Review System (DRS) http://drafts.bsigroup.com

EMS Fire & Security Systems have created a new app, BS5839 Guide, which was launched at Firex South 2012 earlier in March. The aim of the app is provide additional information and guidance to users when considering fire detection design and application.

Sprue Safety Products has launched its first specification and electrical contractor guide designed to help installers, specifiers and contractors.

The Carbon Monoxide Hotspot Report 2011, published by the Gas Safety Trust, reveals a rise in the number of fatalities resulting from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning since 2010.