Under the Policy, SFRS will continue to attend all calls arising from automatic fire alarm systems, except calls triggered by a “single smoke detector” in premises in which no one sleeps. 

It should be stressed, therefore, that all calls to a fire alarm actuating (whether from an alarm receiving centre or persons on the premises) will continue to receive an attendance to all premises in which people sleep (e.g. hospital, hotels, care homes and domestic premises). Similarly, there will be an attendance to non-sleeping risks if there is a sign of fire or a technological indication of a real fire (e.g. smell of burning, smoke, etc or if it can be confirmed that the fire alarm signal has been triggered by a manual call point, heat detector, multi-sensor detector or sprinkler head).

The FIA applaud the forward thinking of SFRS in their recognition of the advantages of new technology, such as multi-sensor fire detection in the reduction of false alarms. FIA member companies engaged in design and maintenance of fire alarm system can provide assistance to dutyholders in further optimising technological solutions.

The FIA has worked with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and health and safety experts in producing guidance for dutyholders, advising them on how to safely investigate any alarm signals from automatic fire alarm systems prior to summoning the SFRS. 

The guidance is available on the FIA website here.

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