Pulling out the fire alarm wires

[Owain]

Thought you might like this thread on Reddit

 

Quote

this is a fire alarm system in a theatre. We had a production last week and the colleague (who has no qualifactions) who was working it couldn't remember how to isolate the performance space as they were using smoke/fog machines so resorted to yanking out wires instead.

 

[pmiller056]

The person concerned is most likely guilty of an offence under Section 8 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. At the very least the person concerned should be held liable for the bill to re-instate and re-certify the system by a qualified technician. And banned from every public building around.

[themadhippy]

Pity it wasn't an old skool alarm,at best puling a wire out would bring up a fault condition(unless you had a spare end of line resistor) or more likely  set the  bells  off.

[Ynot]

I have literally NO words at this point...

(Though I'm sure if I thought long enough (maybe 2 or 3 minutes) I could come up with a few choice ones...!! 😮 😮 😮 )

 

[kerry davies]

You don't need qualifications in the UK, you need "competence". Qualifications may or may not indicate competence. This system is sold as a DIY install on E-bay for a few hundred quid and, as per the Fire Regulatory Reform Act, it is down to the "responsible person" to make or have made a Fire Risk Assessment. It is then down to that self-originated FRA what category fire alarm is required and what level of competence needed to install it. 

Edited March 29, 2022 by kerry davies

[Glyn Edwards]

10 hours ago, Ynot said:

I have literally NO words at this point...

(Though I'm sure if I thought long enough (maybe 2 or 3 minutes) I could come up with a few choice ones...!! 😮 😮 😮 )

 

Just one word required "... Off"

[sleah]

And I feel like it's a mortal sin asking if a zone can be (correctly) isolated for a specific duration, during which a Fire Marshal shall be in said zone...

Some people shouldn't be allowed near screwdrivers!

[pmiller056]

@kerry davies The legailties are similar, but subtly different in the devolved UK nations. One important point to consider is what requirements your fire insurer/underwriter has for system installation, maintenance and risk assessments for continued fire insurance cover. The insurer may have specific requirements related to training, qualification, trade association membership or accreditation of any business/person doing fire safety related work for cover to be effective in permises covered by the policy.

[mac.calder]

In Western Australia - all public entertainment venues are required to have Direct Brigade Alarms fitted to the FIP - so unless you isolate the DBA, yanking a wire is going to get at least 2 trucks and a nice little fine of $2400 per truck, plus whatever fine you get for not being an accredited fire alarm technician - at a minimum.