Essex Fire Authority. Essex County Fire & Rescue Service EFA/095/12. Agenda Item 12 EFA/095/12 Page 1 of 5. Essex Fire Authority.

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1 Essex Fire Authority Essex County Fire & Rescue Service Agenda Item 12 Page 1 of 5 MEETING MEETING DATE Essex Fire Authority 5 September 2012 AGENDA ITEM REPORT NUMBER 12 SUBJECT REPORT BY Changes to Automatic Fire Alarm Policy The Chief Fire Officer, David Johnson PRESENTED BY T/Assistant Chief Fire Officer Gary Fleming SUMMARY This report places before Members revisions to the Automatic Fire Alarms Policy currently operating with ECFRS. The changes are proposed as the result of evidence based review of the policy after 12 months of operation. RECOMMENDATIONS Members of the Essex Fire Authority are asked to: 1. Agree to the recommendation that the Service attends Designated Heritage Sites without further verification when the Service receives a signal from an Automatic Fire Alarm (AFA). 2. Agree to the Service developing and implementing a process by which it can review attending a premises without verification in either of the above categories should that premises generate an unacceptable level of Unwanted Fire Signals (UwFS). 3. Agree to the Service developing a definition of a double knock fire alarm system and attending premises fitted with such a system without further verification when the Service receives a fire alarm signal from an Automatic Fire Alarm (AFA).

2 Page 2 of 5 BACKGROUND In November 2010 Essex Fire Authority approved an Automatic Fire Authority Policy which identified the approach that Essex County Fire and Rescue Service would take to calls for assistance that were generated by Automatic Fire Alarms. EFA/105/10 refers at that time it was agreed that the policy would be monitored and reviewed. This paper presents a proposal for revision to that policy following a recent review. The Service currently mobilises to calls originating from automatic fire alarms according to a hierarchy of response level, driven by an assessment of risk. The hierarchy is detailed as: a) Risk Definition Premises are categorised into three levels as follows: Level 1 - Sleeping Risks, Schools (NOT Further Education Establishments) Level 2 - Sites designated as Top Tier under the Control of Major Accident Hazard (CoMAH) Regulations, Designated High Risk Premises Level 3 - All other premises (Factories, Offices, Shops etc) b) Mobilising Response The following mobilising response will be made: Level 1 The full Pre-determined Attendance (PDA) for the risk Level 2 The full Pre-determined Attendance (PDA) for the risk Level 3 No response is to be made to these types of premises unless a fire is confirmed. A confirmation call will initiate the full Pre-determined Attendance (PDA). Designated Heritage Assets The process to place a premises on the Level 2 High Risk Premises list, and as a result receive an attendance from the Service without verification of a call, is deliberately rigorous. However, whilst the process for determining the significance of individual heritage premises and the potential impact of their loss in the event of fire is a rigorous one, it does involve a degree of subjectivity. The Department for Communities and Local Government Planning Policy Statement 5 Planning for the Historic Environment: Historic Environment Planning Practice Guide, (PPS 5) defines the difference between a heritage asset and other components of the environment as, holding meaning for society over and above its functional utility 1 1 Planning Statement 5 Planning for the historic environment, CLG ( accessed August 2012.

3 Page 3 of 5 The guide also provides the following clear definitions for Designated Heritage Assets (DHA): World Heritage Sites are inscribed by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee for their Outstanding Universal Value. Scheduled monuments are designated under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 by the Secretary of State for their national importance. Listed buildings are designated under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 by the Secretary of State for their special architectural or historic interest. Protected wreck sites are designated by order under the Protected Wrecks Act 1973 for their historical, architectural or artistic importance. Conservation areas are designated under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, primarily by local authorities, for their special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance. Registered parks and gardens are designated by English Heritage under the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 for their special historic interest. Registered battlefields are designated by English Heritage on a non-statutory basis. Given the nature and definition of Heritage Assets the potential societal loss, should such an asset be destroyed by fire, Service Managers are recommending an amendment to the existing AFA Policy. The automatic inclusion onto the Level 2 High Risk premises list, for all premises classified as being of historic significance according to definitive criteria would provide clarity and reduce subjectivity. It is recommended that in order for a heritage type premises to qualify for exemption from the Automatic Fire Alarm policy (i.e. receive an attendance) it would have to qualify as a Designated Heritage Asset as defined in the PPS 5 document (outlined above). The reduction in risk to the reputation of the Service would be significant as the potential loss of a heritage site due to fire will generate significant media interest e.g. Windsor Castle. The proposed exemption is not expected to cause a significant increase in demand for Service resources as most of the premises proposed for inclusion do not house people. Of the premises that might fall into the category, it is thought that just over 400 could require an attendance from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. Examples of these premises are;- Audley End House Ingatestone Hall Southend Pier Chelmsford Cathedral Colchester Castle Layer Marney Tower In order to safeguard against an undesirable rise in attendances there should be a referral process by which the Service can prevent a premises from receiving an attendance if it generates and unacceptable level of unwanted fire signals. Recommendation 2 of this report supports the Service in determining the response to premises producing and

4 Page 4 of 5 unacceptable level of unwanted fire signals where the automatic fire alarm system is not reliable through design, maintenance, or poor local management. Double knock system definition When introduced, the Automatic Fire Alarm policy allowed for premises with a double knock system to secure an attendance from the Service without the need for a manual call to verify the validity of the call. A double knock fire alarm system is one where a signal is not sent to the fire service from the automatic fire alarm until there have been two notifications received by the system e.g. a detector activating and a call point being operated. There are many varied interpretations across the fire safety industry in terms of the specification of a double knock facility, and there is currently no clear definition of what Essex County Fire & Rescue Service consider to be adequate. The introduction of a basic specification requirement for automatic fire alarm systems to qualify as double knock and therefore for an automatic exemption, would provide clarity to all stakeholders and reduce the workload involved in processing applications. Details of such a specification would need to be confirmed, but one option may be; One detector activating sounds a local alarm only; followed by, A second detector activating routes a fire signal through to the Alarm Receiving Centre. A call to an automatic fire alarm under these circumstances would then qualify for an immediate response and an attendance would be made. The proactive promotion of such a specification would support those businesses that have upgraded or are willing to upgrade their automatic fire alarm system(s). It will also send a positive message to the wider business community, offering a clear alternative to the requirement to provide arrangements for the attendance of key-holders out of hours. Premises provided with such a system would be monitored, and those that generate an unacceptable level of unwanted fire signals may be removed from the list of premises receiving an automatic attendance. RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS The activities outlined within this paper could lead to a small increase in attendances at premises proposed for inclusion at level 2. This will be mitigated by applying scrutiny to those premises generating unwanted fire signals and any premises generating an unacceptable level of unwanted fire signals could be removed from the list of premises that receive an automatic attendance unless remedial action is taken and the level of unwanted fire signals drops significantly. The recommendations within this paper continue to support the reduction in road risk through reducing unnecessary blue light movements, balanced against the risk to life and heritage sites from fire. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS There will not be any significant financial implications of this paper.

5 Page 5 of 5 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS There are no legal implications of this paper. USE OF RESOURCES This adoption of the recommendations within this paper will lead to a better use of resources. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS This adoption of the recommendations within this paper will support the reduction in carbon emissions achieved since the introduction of the Automatic Fire Alarm policy in February 2011 by reducing unnecessary appliance movements. EQUALITY IMPLICATIONS This paper does not have any equality implications. LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) ACT 1985 List of background documents Proper Officer: Contact Officer: T/ACFO Gary Fleming T/ACFO Gary Fleming Essex County Fire & Rescue Service, Kelvedon Park, London Road, Rivenhall, Witham CM8 3HB Tel: gary.fleming@essex-fire.gov.uk