Prevent and Manage False Alarms
Prevent and Manage False Alarms
False alarms waste time, interrupt business, and can put lives at risk. Most are avoidable with the right system design, maintenance, and management.
This guide explains what a false alarm is, why it matters, who is responsible, and how to prevent recurrence through good practice and professional support.
What is a false alarm?
A false alarm occurs when a fire detection and alarm system activates without an actual fire. When this happens, two things occur:
- Occupants hear an audible or visual alarm
- A signal may be sent to the Fire & Rescue Service or Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC)
Common causes include:
- Cooking fumes or steam
- Smoking materials such as cigarettes or candles
- Aerosol sprays or dust build-up
- Hot work like welding or grinding
- Changes in temperature or humidity
- Accidental or malicious operation of a manual call point
- Testing or maintenance without following correct isolation procedures
Understanding the cause of each false alarm is the first step toward prevention.
Why false alarms are a problem
Repeated false alarms can:
- Disrupt your business and production
- Cause unnecessary evacuations
- Damage your organisation’s reputation
- Lead to complacency among staff
- Waste fire and rescue resources
- Result in charges for attendance
It is estimated that false alarms cost the UK economy over £1 billion each year. Reducing them saves time, money, and lives.
Who is responsible?
Responsibility for preventing false alarms is shared, but ultimately rests with the Responsible Person for the premises. Others play key roles:
- Building Owner or Occupier – must designate a responsible person and provide training
- Fire Alarm Company – must install and maintain systems correctly
- Fire Risk Assessor – should consider false alarm management in their recommendations
- Fire & Rescue Service – may support you but can charge for repeated false callouts
Working together is the most effective way to identify issues and maintain a reliable system.
When the alarm sounds
When an alarm goes off, act promptly but calmly. Follow your fire response plan.
Depending on your system, there may be options such as:
- Delayed alarm – a short investigation period before full evacuation
- Confirmed alarm – requires two detectors to activate before alerting everyone
- Pre-alarm – early warning sent to trained staff for investigation
Trained fire wardens should investigate safely and confirm whether there is a real fire. Always prioritise safety over delay. If in doubt, call 999 immediately.
Notifying the Fire & Rescue Service
If your system connects to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC):
- Provide up-to-date contact details for key staff
- Share your business operating hours and risk information
- Make sure the ARC understands your response procedures
When a real fire is confirmed, always call 999. Do not rely solely on automatic signalling. Each Fire & Rescue Service sets its own policy for attending unconfirmed alarms, so check your local policy to avoid confusion or delay.
After a False Alarm
Once the alarm has been silenced and the area made safe:
- Record the incident in your fire log book
- Note the date, time, and detector zone involved
- Identify the cause and contributing factors
- Take corrective action before resetting the system
If false alarms become frequent, contact your fire alarm service company immediately rather than waiting for the next scheduled visit. Persistent faults indicate a deeper issue that needs professional attention.
Technical Ways to Reduce False Alarms
A competent fire alarm company can adjust your system to reduce false activations. Options include:
- Choosing the right type of detector for each environment
- Repositioning manual call points to prevent accidental operation
- Using control panel features such as delays or multiple signal confirmation
- Disabling certain zones temporarily during known risk activities
Always make sure any adaptations are justified within your fire risk assessment and carried out by a third-party certified company.