Landlords & HMO owners

Your local authority or HMO licence conditions may specify the grade and category of fire alarm system required for your property.

Depending on the property, this may require a Grade A panel-based fire alarm system.

Homeowners

Renovating, converting a loft, adding an extension or carrying out major building work? The fire alarm arrangement required will depend on the property layout, Building Control requirements and the type of work being carried out. This may involve mains-powered interlinked alarms or, where required, a panel-based system.

Commercial premises

Shops, offices and other commercial premises may require a panel-based fire alarm system depending on the building, occupancy, fire risk assessment and applicable fire safety requirements.

Where required, the system can cover escape routes and higher-risk areas such as kitchens, plant rooms and other identified risk areas.

Property managers

If a panel is flagging faults, won’t hold its standby supply, has become unreliable or is simply past its working life, we can assess the existing installation and replace the panel where appropriate.

Existing detectors and other components may be retained where they are compatible, serviceable and suitable for the new panel.

1. You get in touch

Tell us roughly how many detectors you’ve got, or plan to have, what type of property it is, how many floors there are, and whether you already have an existing fire alarm system. If you have HMO licence conditions or a fire risk assessment, you can also send these to us.We’ll then give you an initial indication of the likely scope and cost.

2. We book a visit

Where necessary, an engineer comes out, checks the property, confirms detector numbers, existing wiring, equipment compatibility and the panel or system requirements, and answers any questions on site.

3. We install and wire the panel

The panel is mounted in a suitable and accessible location based on the system design and property layout.

We then install or connect the required compatible detection, alarm and control equipment.

4. We test everything

The system is tested before handover, including relevant detectors, call points, sounders, zones or device identification, fault monitoring, backup power and mains supply.

5. You get your certificate

After successful installation, testing, and commissioning, we provide relevant installation documentation for the work completed. Where the installation & commissioning are completed, certification can be issued.

Conventional

A conventional fire alarm system divides the property into zones. If a detector or call point triggers, the panel identifies the affected zone rather than necessarily identifying the exact individual detector. It’s a practical and cost-effective panel option for many smaller buildings where a panel-based system is required and individual device identification isn’t necessary.

Addressable

With an addressable system, compatible individual devices have their own identity or address within the system. Instead of simply showing something like “Zone 3”, the panel can provide more precise information about the detector or device that has activated. Addressable systems can be better suited to larger HMOs, blocks of flats and commercial buildings where locating an activation or fault more precisely is useful.

Wireless

Wireless fire alarm systems use radio communication between compatible devices and control equipment, reducing the amount of new cabling required. They’re useful where running new wiring isn’t practical or would cause significant disruption, including listed buildings, occupied HMOs, refurbished properties or buildings with limited access to wall and ceiling voids.

Wireless and addressable are not the same thing. Wireless describes how compatible equipment communicates, while addressable refers to the system’s ability to identify individual devices.