Advice from Kent Fire and Rescue on how to reduce false fire alarms

If there is definitely no fire:

• silence the fire alarm but do not reset the control panel as this will cancel the indications required for investigation purposes
• check the indications on the control panel and establish the area (zone) of the building where the fire alarm originated from. Your system may also indicate the precise location of the actuated device
  as soon as possible after the unwanted alarm occurred, visit the area and locate the break glass call point, heat or smoke detector that has been actuated
• attempt to establish the reason why the call point or detector was actuated. It is also useful to talk to people who were in the vicinity of the actuated device when the alarm occurred. Ask them if they know what happened and why. However it may be necessary to investigate further to determine the real cause e.g. vandalism or accidental damage to a break glass call point or insects entering a smoke detector

• if the actuated detector cannot be readily located, it may be that it is fitted in a duct or above a false ceiling. Check to establish if the detector location drawings are available and if so, use these to help locate the detector. Break glass call points should be easier to locate as they should be mounted in clearly visible positions
• if the control panel does not indicate the location of the fire alarm or if there is no actuated detector, call in the maintenance company as the problem may be due to an equipment fault
• the occupier should accurately record all the information relating to the fire alarm incident in the system log book irrespective of whether it was a genuine or unwanted alarm. This is very important as the information may be needed at a future date
• if unwanted alarms continue and the cause is not evident or remedial actions are unsuccessful, then it is useful to analyse the times at which unwanted alarms occur and the locations from which they originate. This will help to establish if there is any pattern that may help to identify the cause e.g. cooking prior to meal times or a boiler switching on early in the morning.