Angus has been involved in developing and writing British and International Fire & Safety standards since the mid-1980s. The list of standards that he has participated in is impressive and includes BS5839-1, BS8629, EN54-18 and ISO7240-2. Angus utilises his extensive experience to provide an authoritative perspective on the key issues that affect the Fire & Security Industry today.
Whether it's seasonal peaks or expanding operations, facilities, warehouses, distribution centers, and retail spaces are under constant pressure to perform efficiently. When it comes to fire safety, outdated or unreliable systems could leave you exposed from a Fire Safety Law and Insurance perspective.
If you’re relying on traditional Aspirating Smoke Detection (often referred to as ASD or HSSD) or beam smoke detection, with known faults and issues, then don’t procrastinate - you might live to regret it. Taking action now is the only sensible option.
The Limitations of Aspirating Smoke Detection (HSSD) Systems
Aspirating smoke detection (HSSD) has become the industry standard in many high-level open-area environments, but its limitations are often overlooked. Here’s why HSSD systems may not be up to the challenge.
False alarms
A faulty HSSD system triggering a false alarm during peak season can wreak havoc on warehouse operations. Unnecessary evacuations halt productivity, delay shipments, and rack up huge costs. Time wasted on investigations pulls staff from critical tasks, adding stress to an already high-pressure environment. The result? Disrupted workflow, compromised safety, and reduced staff morale. Additionally, with repeated false alarms taking place, the staff become complacent and don’t treat the alarms seriously.
Faults
Due to their high sensitivity, HSSD systems are notorious for fault conditions. When a system is installed and commissioned, the pipework can usually be accessed, but during the lifecycle, it is impractical and often impossible for engineers to find faults on inaccessible high-level pipework. Faults that require a keen eye to find, such as pipes that are cracked or disconnected, can be virtually impossible to locate and fix, especially at height. The procedure to fix these by hiring powered access equipment can be time-consuming, expensive, and a health and safety hazard.
Contamination
The integrity of the pipework and sample holes is vital to the system's ongoing reliable performance. Air is sucked through exceedingly small detection holes which become clogged with dirt and dust over time, resulting in deterioration in the reliability of the system.
Maintenance
Due to the typically inaccessible smoke test holes, it is common practice to install low-level test points. These prove the pipework is complete but do not verify that the high-level smoke detection points are functional and are not reflective of the entire pipework.. In a fast-paced and busy environment, faults can be ignored, and complacency could set in, leaving persons, assets, and property at risk.
Shockingly, engineers sometimes 'fix' faults by simply resetting panel settings and raising fault tolerances instead of addressing the real issue. This masks the problem, giving building users a false sense of security while the system remains compromised.
Retro-fit purging
This refers to the process of cleaning and removing contaminants from an existing (older) pipework system. An inert gas (often nitrogen or argon) or a specialised cleaning agent is introduced to displace or flush out contaminants. It can also cause pipe damage, involving extra cost and necessitating high-level access equipment.
When might HSSD systems be right for you?
Don’t get us wrong, HSSD systems have their place, and they can still be an excellent solution in certain environments where their strengths outweigh their limitations. Ideal applications may include:
- Clean, Controlled Environments – HSSD is highly effective in places like data centers, server rooms, and pharmaceutical facilities, where dust and airflow are minimal, ensuring accurate and early smoke detection.
- Airtight or Sealed Spaces – Enclosed areas such as cold storage facilities, clean rooms, and laboratories benefit from HSSD since traditional smoke detection may struggle in these conditions.
- High-Sensitivity Requirements – Museums, archives, and high-value asset storage facilities require ultra-early detection to prevent damage from fire or smoke.
- Difficult-to-Access Areas – HSSD is ideal for areas like underground tunnels, cable ducts, and suspended ceilings where maintenance of traditional detectors is challenging
- Fast air movement - Extract ducting or air conditioning plenum chambers where point-type detection would be too insensitive.
The Benefits of Optical Smoke and Imaging Detection (OSID)
Optical Smoke and Imaging Detection (OSID) is a great choice, offering significant benefits versus HSSD.
OSID uses coded InfraRed and Ultraviolet light beams to provide superior detection of all smoke types and deliver new levels of reliability in large open spaces. They can successfully be employed in areas where limited free space restricts the use of normal beam detectors, such as through roof support latticework, above gantry cranes, and ductwork. OSID can transmit its UV and IR beam through a gap as small as 20 cm.
Installation of OSIDs offer benefits such as reduced false alarms and better coverage in large areas, and the use of these with Remotest™ changes the game:
Efficient Testing: Using Remotest™ with your OSIDs would improve health and safety risks by eliminating the need for frequent, invasive maintenance at height and make the reliance on scissor lifts a thing of the past, removing fall hazards, manual handling strain, and operational disruptions all together - critical during high-demand periods. This ensures that staff can focus on meeting seasonal order demands without unnecessary downtime or safety risks slowing down operations.
Greater Reliability: OSID’s ability to differentiate between smoke and common warehouse airborne particulates (like dust and steam) means fewer false alarms, preventing unnecessary evacuations and workflow interruptions. Minimising false alarms is crucial during peak seasons when every second counts in meeting tight delivery deadlines and maintaining operational efficiency.
Optimised Fire Detection for Large Spaces: OSID’s superior coverage ensures reliable smoke detection across expansive warehouse floors, even in high-ceiling environments where traditional systems may struggle, which is perfect for peak-season inventory surges that would occur over Christmas and other holiday periods. With increased stock levels and a busier workforce, having a dependable fire detection system ensures safety without compromising
Lower Maintenance, Higher Efficiency: Unlike HSSD, which relies on frequent filter replacements and system cleaning, OSID requires minimal upkeep, making it ideal for busy environments, and allows teams to focus on core warehouse operations instead of frequent system maintenance. With less intrusive testing and maintenance, valuable warehouse space remains clear for stock movement and order processing, reducing the need for workers to navigate around maintenance areas during peak operational periods.
Faster Detection Response: OSID detects smoke in real time using light-based technology, offering quicker response times in an emergency compared to HSSD, where smoke needs to travel to a sensor. Rapid detection minimises downtime and disruption, ensuring that safety incidents don’t interfere with the fast-paced demands of seasonal order fulfilment.
Scalability: These systems can be easily adapted to growing warehouse spaces, making them a flexible and future-proof investment. As warehouse space expands to accommodate peak-season stock increases, OSIDs can easily scale, providing a cost-effective, long-term fire safety solution. This ensures that fire safety keeps pace with increased storage capacity and workforce expansion, preventing bottlenecks during critical operational periods.
Easy Fault Identification: OSIDs operate on an addressable system, meaning that your alarm panel can tell you exactly which sensor is experiencing the fault or has been triggered. With pinpointed issue resolution, OSIDs allow for precise fault identification, enabling quick troubleshooting without disrupting busy workflows, keeping operations running smoothly during critical periods.! When warehouses are operating at full capacity, this is crucial, as rapid issue resolution prevents unnecessary disruptions and keeps shipments moving on schedule.
How do I know which alarm system is right for me?
Periods of high activity are inevitable, so it's crucial to know whether your fire detection system is equipped to handle the pressure, otherwise, the consequences could be dire. Whether it’s persistent false alarms, unexpected maintenance, or outright failures in detecting smoke effectively, the risks are too great to ignore.
You can reach out to Fixfire directly, and we can assess your system and explore more reliable, adaptive solutions before it’s too late. Demand and operational pressures will continue to rise—make sure your fire safety measures are ready to meet the challenge.
Prioritise safety at the highest level and request a demo of Remotest™ today!
For almost 50 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems, and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone: 08000 891 999.
Following the recommendations of BS5839 Part 1 2017 (Fire Alarm British Standard), it is a mandatory requirement to have an up to date, clear and accurate Fire Alarm Zone Chart adjacent to your Fire Alarm Control Panel and any repeater panels you have in your premises.
The purpose of the Zone Chart is to assist persons responding to an alarm to quickly identify the specific location in the building and to help the Fire Brigade understand the building layout before they enter.
When the Fire Alarm System is installed, the building is divided into Fire Zones. Any Manual Call Point (Red Box) or Fire Detector that is fitted will trigger a particular zone when activated.
The Zone Chart shows the division of each zone area with a ‘You are Here’ arrow to identify the position of the Fire Alarm Panel. The view of the building should be orientated in relation to the Fire Alarm Panel position to minimise confusion.
What is involved in producing a Zone Chart?
- Hard copy
- Or preferably AutoCAD (dwg) format
You have a legal duty of care to dispose of waste legitimately and safely via a licensed waste carrier. Failure to do so can result in prosecution, even if you have outsourced the disposal to a third party.
The Fixfire® Extinguisher Recycling Process is your reassurance that any Fire Extinguishers we remove from your premises have been disposed of in a safe and legal manner. 97% of each processed Fire Extinguisher is recycled.
Our contracted Extinguisher Recycling Unit (ERU) is a dedicated facility offering a service for the safe processing and recycling/disposal of fire extinguishers. The facility operates closely with the local Water Authority and the Environment Agency to develop safe, efficient and environmentally friendly processes, ensuring that ISO14001 certification is upheld.
Got a question about Fire Extinguisher Disposal? Need Fire Safety Compliance advice? Get in touch today!
For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 08000 891999
False Fire Alarms remain a huge concern within the education sector- interrupting already carefully scheduled, planned and well-prepared lessons or even causing major disruption and distress to exams.
Clearly, these false alarms cause significant inconvenience and disruption to students, staff, and visitors. They compromise everyone’s safety in the school and present a significant risk to the local community since the Fire Brigade will prioritise the school over other emergency callouts.
Solutions you should consider:
The first and most straightforward way is to use anti-tamper products.
Fixfire® supplies a wide range of solutions designed to protect Fire Alarm Devices from inadvertent damage or deliberate misuse/vandalism.
Products include:
- Local plastic cover flaps which attach directly to manual call points.
- The stopper consists of a clear, tamperproof, tough polycarbonate cover, frame and spacer that retrofits over a break glass call point. When lifted to operate the break glass unit, its optional battery powered integral sounder emits a piercing 96dB (at 1m). Immediate attention is drawn to the area and a prankster will either run or be caught!
- A range of steel web stoppers designed to protect fire detectors and warning devices. They are constructed from heavy-duty galvanised steel rod which is plastic-coated for durability and external use.
- A range of polycarbonate enclosures are available for the protection of devices such as fire alarm control panels and associated control equipment. The enclosures combine tough rugged construction with stylish design and offer excellent protection with a key lock for authorised access.
We also provide anti-tamper devices for fire extinguishers and associated products.
KeyCall® is a patented anti-ligature Fire Alarm and Access Control call point. It is designed to use the same key as the doors, providing simple operation for staff whilst eliminating nuisance activations by service-users.
KeyCall® has been developed by Fixfire® specifically for approved applications where standard versions would be vulnerable to abuse.
It is one of the best solutions for SEN schools and it is also compatible with a wide range of Conventional and Addressable Fire Alarm Systems.
Got a question about False Fire Alarms? Need Fire Safety Compliance advice? Get in touch today!
For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 08000 891999
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