If your premises are still using a traditional fire alarm system, many businesses across the United Kingdom find themselves in the same position. However, the issue here is that the fire alarms which have been installed for decades cannot provide the speed, precision, and compliance that your premises now need. This is why an increasing number of businesses turn to a professional fire alarm company for help with the upgrade process.
Let’s have a look at how to upgrade a system with the help of a professional fire alarm company in this blog.
Why Older Fire Alarm Systems Fall Short
Unlike loop-addressable systems, conventional systems will alert you about the activation of any zone but won’t be able to specify the exact device. This is explained in detail in the article “How Fire Alarm Zones Work”. In case of fire in big premises, this can take away valuable minutes spent on locating the source of the fire. As a way to learn more about how the two systems differ from one another, you can check out our article “loop addressable systems vs conventional fire alarm systems” and find out why so many companies switch to modern systems.
Apart from that, older systems will hardly be compliant with new regulations due to the fact that there is no such thing as constant compliance, and regulations evolve. A system installed 15-20 years ago might no longer suit new conditions. It is here that a fire alarm company becomes helpful.
Steps to Upgrading Older Fire Alarm Systems
Step 1: Get a Proper Site Assessment
The process of updating any fire alarm system begins with a comprehensive assessment of the property. A good fire alarm company will consider more than just the condition of your existing system. They will assess your whole property, including its uses, occupancy, areas that pose the greatest danger, and how the layout has changed since the original system was installed. We explain when this kind of assessment matters most in “when do you need security consultation in the UK”.
This must be done as it shows that different properties have varying needs for fire alarm systems. If a fire alarm company tries to offer a generic package that applies to all of their customers, then they aren’t doing their job.
Step 2: Choose the Right System Type
After the assessment process, your fire alarm company will advise you on the best type of system suited to your installation. In most commercial installations, it will mean that you should consider going from a conventional zoned system to a loop-addressable system. The advantages of addressable loop systems are that they give information for individual devices, making it easy to detect where a fault occurs and making it easy to maintain because each individual device has its own unique digital address.
In some installations, especially those that have greater risks, your fire alarm company might also advise you to go for an aspirating smoke detection system because of its early detection ability. This works through sampling the air continuously as opposed to waiting for the smoke to trigger the sensor.
Step 3: Check Compatibility With Existing Infrastructure
A factor that is usually neglected is how the new fire alarm system integrates with other building systems. An experienced fire alarm installation company will ensure that your new fire alarm system integrates with your building management systems, emergency lights, PA system, and even your current CCTV or access control system, which is something that we usually discuss on our compatibility and customisation page. This makes sure that the whole process is done right from the get-go to avoid any expensive fixes down the line, not to mention having a single safety network rather than having separate systems running independently.
Step 4: Plan the Installation Around Your Business
Fire alarm upgrades don’t have to disrupt your operations. An efficiently run fire alarm company will schedule the installation in stages and will install during off-work periods, as far as this can be done. This is particularly true for school facilities, hospitality premises, and retail facilities, where disruptions must be kept to an absolute minimum – and we elaborate on this point for one particular sector in our “guide for fire and security systems for schools in the UK”.
While installing the system, the fire alarm company must maintain communication with you, from removal of the old fire alarm panel to commissioning of the new system. Good communication will make all the difference.
Step 5: Commissioning and Compliance Checks
Once the installation of the system is completed, it is necessary to test and commission it for compliance with fire regulations in the UK. This ensures that all devices communicate effectively and that the entire system operates well during an emergency. Any respectable fire alarm company will ensure the testing of the fire alarm system in compliance with BS 5839 – the British Standard for fire alarms and will produce the required documentation for your insurance and other compliance purposes.
This is often the time when most businesses realise the importance of choosing a recognised fire alarm company.
Step 6: Set Up Ongoing Maintenance and Monitoring
This does not conclude when the upgraded system is installed. You will need ongoing fire alarm services for years after installation. Servicing, remote diagnostics, and 24-hour monitoring all contribute to this longevity. The latest trend from most fire alarm system installation companies is the provision of remote diagnostic software such as Controlled R, which is our in-house remote diagnostics software package that helps engineers diagnose small problems without having to go out on-site.
Going for fire alarm systems with ongoing services means you can always get help whenever there is any problem. It also ensures that your system does not fall out of regulatory compliance.
Why Choose Controlled Ltd
As a company that has been serving UK clients for more than 25 years, we at Controlled Ltd have extensive experience in helping businesses upgrade from legacy systems to systems that are not only fully compliant with the current requirements but also ready for the future. Being a more experienced fire alarm company in the business, we take care of everything, from site surveys all the way through the installations, commissioning, and even monitoring. You can find out more on our Why Us page.
We are accredited to NSI Gold and BAFE standards, and our engineers design all of the systems with the specifics of your building in mind and not based on the one-size-fits-all approach. In addition to fire detection, we provide cloud-based CCTV, access control, intruder alarms, and disabled refuge systems for complete integration of your safety and security setup.
If your fire alarm system has seen better days, do not hesitate until something goes wrong. Contact Controlled Ltd now and get a free consultation about how upgrading and integrating your system will benefit you.
