Fire alarm questions, answered.

None is best in general. The right system depends on the size and layout of the building, how it is used and what the fire risk assessment requires. A small shop is often well served by a conventional system; a multi-floor office or a building with several tenants usually benefits from addressable.

Fire safety law in England and Wales requires the responsible person to carry out a fire risk assessment and to provide appropriate fire safety measures, which includes a suitable fire detection and warning arrangement where the assessment shows one is needed. GOV.UK states businesses must have a fire detection and warning system. See your responsibilities.

For commercial premises, BS 5839-1 recommends servicing by a competent person at intervals of not more than six months. Users test a call point weekly and record it.

A review of the logbook, testing of devices in rotation, checking of the panel, batteries and sounders, and a written report of findings.

All extinguisher bodies are red. A coloured band or label shows the contents: red for water, cream for foam, black for CO2, blue for dry powder and yellow for wet chemical.

CO2 is the usual choice, because it leaves no residue and does not conduct. Always check the label, and where possible isolate the power.

A fire risk assessment is the formal assessment of fire risk that the responsible person must carry out and review under fire safety law. A fire safety check is a practical review of your fire alarm and equipment, which helps you act on the findings. It does not replace the assessment.

A small premises takes an hour or two. Larger buildings take longer, and we tell you in advance.

No, not in those words. For non-domestic premises in England and Wales, the responsible person must carry out a fire risk assessment and provide appropriate fire safety measures, which, according to GOV.UK, includes a fire detection and warning system. For homes, different rules apply, including requirements for smoke alarms in rented property.

The employer, owner, landlord, occupier or anyone with control of the premises. Where there are several, they must cooperate.

The code of practice for fire detection and alarm systems in non-domestic premises, covering design, installation, commissioning and maintenance.

They are categories of automatic life-protection systems. L1 covers the whole building, L2 escape routes and high-risk rooms, and L3 escape routes and rooms opening onto them.

It depends on the building, system type, category and extras. We price each job after a visit rather than quoting a figure that might not fit your premises.

The equipment usually costs more, but installation labour and disruption are lower. Over a whole job, it can be competitive in older or occupied buildings.

The most common causes are cooking fumes, dust, the wrong type of detector, faults and building work. A competent engineer can identify which.

No. A disabled detector leaves part of the building unprotected. Have the cause fixed.