Fire alarm systems are made from powerful detection devices. By installing them throughout your premises, you can create a comprehensive fire safety network that can be relied on to detect fire and smoke at the earliest possible stage. While investing in the right fire safety tools is important, maintaining the quality of the equipment is crucial. That’s why at OHEAP Fire & Security, our expert engineers are available not just to help you choose the right tools but to assist you with maintaining them too.

As a trusted fire alarm installer company, OHEAP Fire & Security focuses on providing proactive fire safety. This includes the designing, installation, testing and servicing of your equipment. But where to start? Don’t worry, this comprehensive guide will explore the world of fire alarm installation services. Before we explore what we offer, let’s start by looking at the types of fire alarm systems available.

What Types of Fire Alarm Systems Are Available?

Fire alarm systems continuously monitor a space for developing fire threats. Depending on the detection device, a fire alarm will either react to increasing heat or rising smoke particles and flames by sounding an alarm.

Fire safety equipment is not a one-size-fits-all all. Different buildings will require different types of fire alarms to combat any fire risks unique to the specific building. The size of the building will also impact the type of fire alarm you will need to invest in. Let’s look at the different types available.

Conventional Fire Alarm 

Is your building small to mid-sized? Are you looking for a cost-effective fire alarm solution? Conventional fire alarms are the ideal choice to protect smaller buildings, such as shops, smaller offices and smaller schools.

A conventional fire alarm system works by having each detection device hardwired to the control panel. This allows the system to divide a building into zones or circuits. If a conventional fire alarm is triggered, it will send an alert to the control panel that states which zone has been activated. For smaller buildings, being alerted to the zone is enough to quickly locate the origin of the fire. However, in larger warehouses, factories or construction sites, the conventional fire alarms’ limited fault-finding capabilities could become a problem.

Ultimately, conventional fire alarm systems are cost-effective safety solutions that require less intensive installation and simpler wiring but are less accurate in pinpointing the exact location of fire.

Addressable Fire Alarm

Are you looking for a comprehensive fire alarm system that is suited to protecting larger buildings? If an alarm is triggered, do you want it to pinpoint the exact location of the fire? Addressable fire alarms create a more complex fire detection system that is ideal for larger commercial premises such as warehouses, hotels and larger office buildings.

Addressable fire alarm systems are a comprehensive fire detection network created via individual detection devices that are connected by wire or wireless technology. What makes addressable fire alarms so effective at fire detection is their ability to pinpoint the exact origin of fire. This is done through each detection device having a unique address; when a fire starts and triggers an alarm, the alarm transmits its unique address to the control panel. This allows building occupants and fire services to quickly and accurately find the source of the developing fire threat.

The main advantage of installing an addressable fire alarm system is the accuracy of the alarms. For larger buildings, like factories or warehouses with several rooms, hidden areas, high ceilings, and remote locations can all impact the risk of hidden fires. Because of this, having an addressable fire alarm system that can accurately locate the fire will help remove this stress and prevent unnecessary costs or company downtime. As a fire alarm installer company, we highly recommend investing in these alarms for larger commercial premises. However, if you have a smaller building, you may not need to invest in the increased installation cost of complex wiring and advanced fire detection. To ensure you have the right equipment, the responsible person can perform a fire risk assessment.

Wireless Fire Alarm

Are you looking for a fire alarm system that does not rely on cabling running through the building? Do you want to invest in fire alarms for a construction site or a church? Wireless fire alarms are systems of detection devices that utilise RF radio waves to communicate between the different alarms, detectors and control panels. If a wireless fire alarm detects the presence of smoke or fire, it will transmit a message to alert another device. This means the devices instantly increase the scope of fire detection by working together. 

Wireless fire alarm systems offer many benefits. They provide highly reliable fire detection, can easily be installed and have flexible placements, which is ideal for construction sites and churches that cannot have the obstruction risk of messy wiring. These detection devices are also battery-powered, meaning that if the power goes out, they will continue to provide fire detection. Ultimately, wireless fire alarms are an ideal temporary fire safety solution.

How to Choose the Right Fire Alarm System

Choosing which type of fire alarm system to invest in can feel overwhelming. At OHEAP Fire & Security, our fire installer company is always available to offer support and advice on selecting the right tools. However, if you want a system that can help you determine which fire alarm system to invest in, we recommend you conduct a fire risk assessment.

FRAs offer a structured guide to examine and assess any potential fire risks within a building, the scope of fire spread that could occur, and the people who may be affected. Fire risk assessments are also a proactive step towards fire safety. By assessing a building’s fire risk level, you can determine which equipment you need to invest in.

For example, conducting an FRA for a smaller building might help you decide that a conventional fire alarm system is the ideal safety solution. FRAs can be performed by the responsible person or building owner. However, if you are unsure about how to perform an FRA or you want to have an expert engineer’s support, OHEAP Fire & Security has you covered. Booking a fire risk assessment is simple and can be done today.

Fire Alarm Installation Services OHEAP Fire & Security Offers

Fire Alarm System Design

• • Bespoke Designs
  • Sleek and Compact Devices
  • Non-Invasive Installation

Fire Alarm Installation

• • Discreet Installation
  • Minimal Company Downtime
  • Flexible Installation Time

Fire Alarm Maintenance

Investing in fire safety equipment is an important first step. However, servicing, testing and monitoring your fire alarms ensures they last longer – and that they don’t fail when you need them the most.

As a fire alarm installer company, we believe that fire alarm maintenance is an investment for your future. That’s why our expert engineers don’t just install your fire alarms but are available to maintain them too. Fire alarm servicing and fire alarm system monitoring help keep your equipment functioning at its best. OHEAP Fire & Security offers both.

Fire Alarm Servicing

Under BS 5839-1:2017, fire alarms must be serviced every six months. This six-month servicing means a qualified professional will inspect the entire system and address any faults to ensure compliance with standards.

Having a competent professional service your fire alarms every six months is a legal requirement. But should you wait that long? How frequently you need to test your fire alarms will depend on the size of your premises. Our fire safety experts recommend you test your fire alarms weekly. Routine weekly tests gained popularity on social media through the #TestItTuesday campaign. OHEAP Fire & Security echoes this campaign as we promote weekly testing for your fire alarms. These tests include checking different manual call points to confirm that the alarm system functions properly.

At OHEAP Fire & Security, we understand that even the best equipment can experience wear and tear over time. For fire alarms, this means that as they lose battery life or become damaged, their lifesaving features can falter or even fail. Installing equipment alone is not enough. Through regular servicing, you can regain control over your fire safety. OHEAP Fire & Security offers affordable servicing of fire alarms in accordance with British Standards. The fire alarm servicing will be conducted by our BAFE-accredited engineers and can be performed with minimal downtime and disruption.

Fire Alarm System Monitoring

OHEAP offer 24-hour monitoring for your full fire alarm system. This allows us to respond to a triggered alarm to eliminate the risk of false alarms costing you time, stress and money.

Running a fast-paced business, protecting a large premises and responding to activated fire alarms through the night can make monitoring your fire alarm system seem like an overwhelming task.

That’s why OHEAP Fire & Security offers 24-hour monitoring services. If your fire alarm system is triggered, our control room will catch it. One of our experts can then contact your nominated key holder so that the alarm can be properly and safely assessed.

Legal Requirements For Fire Alarms

In the UK, the legal requirements for fire alarm servicing, testing, installation and alarm quality fall under BS 5839-1:2017 and The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Why Trust OHEAP?

OHEAP Fire & Security have been a trusted fire alarm installer company since 1958. We serve over 12,500 customers across 40,000 sites nationwide, offering comprehensive fire protection services. We have amassed many accreditations and are committed to providing excellent fire and security protection.