Product category:
Fire and Smoke Protection, Detection and Alarms
News Release from: Fire Protection Centre | Subject: Manual fire alarms for on-site safety
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 10 July 2008
Manual fire alarms for on-site safety
Fire and Safety Centre recommend several product solutions to ensure occupiers comply with their responsibilities under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order.
On Construction sites, industrial premises and open-air events it is not always possible to provide automatic wired alarms Fire and Safety Centre recommend several product solutions to ensure occupiers comply with their responsibilities under the Fire Safety Order
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 7 Mar 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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Alerting employees to a fire incident and ensuring safe evacuation is a paramount responsibility of the Fire Marshall and Safety Officer.
On Construction sites, industrial premises, temporary installations and open-air events it is not always possible to provide automatic wired fire alarms.
Similarly it is often cheaper and more convenient to retrofit battery powered or manually operated fire alarm systems in existing older buildings typically those with structures which make rewiring more difficult.
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This is where manual fire alarms play their part.
Fire and Safety Centre recommend several product solutions to ensure occupiers comply with their responsibilities under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order.
A compact and cost effective option is the Emergency Gas Horn.
Powered by a pressurised non-toxic gas canister it is small enough to be carried in an emergency kit bag.
It produces a high decibel siren with an audible range up to 1500metres.
Replacement gas canisters are also available.
As these are hand held it is advisable to include ear protectors in your safety kit.
The Rotary hand bell - literally hand wound to generate the alarm is a popular choice for those on a budget although clearly if the Bell is close to the fire source the safety of the operator is an issue.
Stand-alone portable fire alarms are particularly useful for construction sites, outdoor applications and where wired alarms are impractical.
The market leading Howler site fire alarms are specifically designed to provide effective fire alarm cover in these situations.
Battery powered with fast push button activation they can be installed in minutes and are completely portable.
Their rugged construction and IP65 rating makes them suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
They generate around 120decibels and options include inter-linkable units, and an integral strobe light as an additional safeguard in noisy environments.
Although these manual fire alarm options are extremely effective in sounding an alarm, a siren clearly cannot provide staff with specific information in an emergency situation.
Fire Marshalls may need to transmit instructions to direct people away from a fire source or to an assembly point.
In the absence of an intercom system, hand held megaphones provide the answer.
A battery powered Mini Megaphone is a convenient and compact design with press to talk trigger and integral siren to alert staff and ensure essential information is communicated.
For larger sites a high-powered Megaphone is more appropriate.
Preferably you should select a model with anti-howl microphone.
Other features include press to talk trigger, volume control and a shoulder strap.
To ensure the safety of personnel it is important to provide awareness training so all employees can recognise the alarm siren and are aware of the evacuation procedures, fire assembly points, location of fire fighting equipment and how to contact the fire service.
Although formal training methods have an essential part to play don't rely solely on printed information or verbal communication of safety procedures.
Run fire drills on a regular basis as these will highlight any practical issues that may put employees at risk or hinder safe evacuation.
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