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FAQ's
The FAQ section is designed to help you with your questions and answers; however please feel free to call us 0333 320 8035 if you would like more detailed information.
FIRE ALARMS FIRE RISK ASSESSMENTS FIRE EXTINGUISHERS EMERGENCY LIGHTS CCTV
FIRE ALARMS
Do I need a Fire alarm service contract?
The RRO 2005 requires you to have your fire alarm system serviced in accordance with British Standard 5839 Part 1 2013.
It is also normally a requirement of your insurer. In the event of a fire you may find your insurance is invalid!
What is British Standard 5839?
British Standard 5839 governs the servicing of a fire alarm system in the UK.
What benefit does the service contract give me?
Full compliance to your legal obligation and insurance requirements; along with total "peace of mind".
What sort of organisation or business needs a fire alarm service contract?
No one is exempt, where a Fire Alarm System is fitted as a requirement of planning laws and thus must be maintained.
Why do I need a minimum of 2 visits per year?
To comply with BS5839 a minimum of two visits per annum are scheduled to ensure the Fire system is operational inc. detection, sounders, internal batteries, etc. For larger sites, we normally recommend four visits pa
What does the engineer do when he visits?
He will ensure every callpoint, sounder, detection devices & interfaces are in working order by the end of the 2 visits pa and that the fire system as a whole is in good condition, inc. battery backup, etc.
Does the engineers visit, disrupt my business?
There is a likelyhood that a small amount of disruption is possibe, this will depend on the type of system and location of equipment. However, our engineers understand how important your business is and will work with you to minimise any disruption including sound issues. Unless you instruct us we have to make sure your bells/sounders work!
What do I get at the end of the service contract?
At the end of each visit our engineer will issue a certificate detailing the work carried out which you need to keep with your fire a alrm log book. Our engineer will also complete the section within the fire alarm log book which is mandatory. An electronic copy of the certificate will be forwarded after the service has been completed, for you and your insurers and "Peace of mind"
Do I need a Fire Alarm service contract every year?
Yes, again this is a mandatory requirement
How long do the back-up batteries last for the Fire Alarm panel?
Battery life is guaranteed by the manufacturers for appx 4 years although this is under "normal" ambient conditions. This is a life safety system, batteries should be changed every 4/5 years depending on condition & use.
FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT
The FAQ section is designed to help you with your Fire Risk Assessment questions; however please feel free to call us 0333 320 8035 if you would like more detailed information.
Why do I need a Fire Risk Assessment?
The "Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005" was introduced into English law to improve fire safety levels. If you have a HMO (House of MultipleOccupancy)property or business premises which employs 5 or more persons, including part time staff, or you have members of the general public in the premises you have to have one in place and act upon it's findings.
What is the Fire Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005?
Introduced to improve the fire safety in the workplaces and all public premises this document replaces the "fire certificate" previously issued by the local fire service. The emphasis is now placed on the owner/propietor to have a valid fire risk assessment in place and to have a "responsible person" to monitor the compliance.
What benefit does the Fire Risk Assessment give me and my business?
The report will identify the risks and gives you guidance on how to manage it for the benefit of all staff and members of public.
What sort of organisation or business needs a Fire Risk Assessment?
Any business premises with 5 or more staff, HMO or a public premises.
What does the assessor do during his visit?
The assessor will need access to all areas of the premises and ideally needs to be accompanied by the "Responsible Person" so he can get to understand your business, and how it operates. It is important that the report is written in conjunction with the information you give us. He will look at all safety aspects and regulatory requirements before compiling his detailed report.
How long does the visit last?
Obviously this depends on the size of the building but typically 2-3 hours.
Does the assessors visit, disrupt my business?
No, but the assessor does need to spend some time with the "Responsible Person" and have access to all areas.
What do I get at the end of the Fire Risk Assessment?
The approved document will be in a bound format which details all the findings and if applicable a list of recommendations.
Do I need a Fire Risk Assessment every year?
No, it is your responsibility to keep this document updated with regular reviews. We would always advise that this is incorporated with a review meeting with ourselves, which we make a small charge.
Fire Extinguishers
The FAQ section is here to help you with your Fire Extinguisher questions; please feel free to call us 0333 320 8035 if you would like more detailed information.
Why do I need my Fire Extinguishers serviced?
It is a requirement of the RRO 2005 to have all fire extinquishers serviced in accordance with the British Standard.
This enables you to comply with your legal requirements to provide a safe environment for your occupants, employees, public, etc.
What is British Standard 5306?
This is the standard that provides the guidelines to which portable fire extinguishers, how they are serviced and maintained which will ensure that they operate correctly if required.
What benefit does the Fire Extinguisher service give me and my business?
Peace of mind that the extinguishers will work when required, compliance with your insurance requirements and the law!
What sort of organisation or business needs its Fire Extinguishers serviced?
Every company, individual and/or organisation, no one is exempt, where the extinguishers are fitted as a requirement of planning laws and thus must be maintained.
What does the engineer do during his visit?
We will ensure that every extinguisher is clean, with a new security seal fitted and labelled correctly and in the correct location for its environment.
Does the engineers visit, disrupt my business?
This is very unlikely but he will require someone to show him the locations of all extinguishers if this is a first visit.
What do I get at the end of the Fire Extinguisher service?
At the end of each visit our engineer will issue a certificate detailing the work carried out which you need to keep with your fire a alarm log book. Our engineer will also complete the section within the fire alarm log book which is mandatory. An electronic copy of the certificate will be forwarded within 14 days of the service being carried for you and your insurers and "Peace of mind"
Do I need my Fire Extinguishers serviced every year?
Yes, if you have them in your premesis then they must be serviced.
What are different types of Extinguishers used for?
Please call the office and we will explain in detail.
How long do Fire extinguishers last?
This is dependant on location and the enviromental conditions but normally they have a shelf life of 10 yrs before they need replacing or a stretch test.
Emergency Lights
The FAQ section is designed to help you with your Emergency Lighting service questions; however please feel free to call us 0333 320 8035 if you would like more detailed information.
Why do I need my Emergency Lights serviced?
The Fire Risk Assessment of your Premises, will require that if lights are fitted then they must be maintained in accordance with the British Standard.
What is British Standard 5266?
It is the code of practice for emergency lighting maintenance.
What benefit does the Emergency Lighting Service give me and my business?
Peace of mind that the system will work when required, compliance with your insurance requirements and the law!
Why do I need a minimum of 2 visits per year?
The visits ensure that the internal battery is still operational and to comply with BS5266. By discharging the battery for a period of time helps the battery life and ensures that it will last a sufficient amount of time in the event of an emergency.
What does the engineer do during his visit?
The engineer firstly has to establish which of the lights have an emergency back up facility. He will then record this detail and ensure every light is working and has a minimum 1 hour capacity.
Does the engineers visit, disrupt my business?
There is a possibilty, however it does depend on the type of fittings you have. If the fittings are part of the main lights then we will need to turn them off during the test. We understand how this may affect you and you will find our engineers are flexible and will work around any disruption issues if at all possible.
What do I get at the end of the Emergency Lighting service?
After each visit our engineer will leave you with a certificate detailing our visit and this will be sent electronically 14 days after for you and your insurers and of course for your "Peace of mind".
Our visit must also be recorded in the fire alarm log book which is a mandatory requirement for your building.
Do I need my Emergency Lights serviced every year?
Yes, under BS5266.
How long will Emergency lights last?
The life span of a emergency light battery is very much dependant on its location. The battery is being constantly charged and gets warm so cooler locations are better but as a rule of thumb, typically 4/5 years before new batteries will be required.
CCTV
What is CCTV?
CCTV is a method of protecting your property with cameras which are recorded to a storage unit, providing you with the ability to view those cameras on a monitor locally or remotely on a PC or phone. Although the systems vary greatly depending on the application, the basis of the system is always the same
Who has CCTV?
Anyone can have a CCTV system. Apart from commercial and industrial applications, many home owners are also protecting their property in this way. The system, however, must comply with Data Protection requirements
What does a CCTV system consist of?
A system comprises of basic components such as cameras, lens, interconnecting cable and a recording device. These components vary depending on the level of protection required and type of equipment for the application. For example; a small corner shop may only require a static (fixed view) monochrome (B&W) camera linked to a small monitor and recorder to monitor people entering the shop, whereas a an office complex may have many cameras of various types including high speed pan, tilt and zoom dome style cameras linked to a larger storage capacity digital recorder or RAID/Server backup for IP cameras
Why do I need CCTV?
CCTV is a very effective deterrent to scare off a would be intruder intent on breaking into your premises or looking to harm you personally. This also applies to possible 'trouble makers' who would think twice about being seen on camera. Systems are not necessarily expensive and can be tailored to suit your budget.
How many cameras do I need for my property?
This will be dependant on your requirement. i;e what you are trying to achieve with the system. IPS Ltd offers free survey and consultancy
Can I record the cameras?
Yes. All cameras can be recorded to a DVR (Digital video recorder) which is the modern day equivalent of a time lapse video recorder. This stores the captured images from the cameras on a hard drive similar to that of a PC. These recordings can be kept for several weeks or months depending on the storage capacity of the DVR. IPS Ltd try to maintain a recording capability of at least 31 days on your system at optimal recording quality
Can I view these on my PC?
Yes. Most DVR's these days can be connected to a broadband line allowing you to view your cameras remotely anywhere in the world on your PC, laptop, tablet or phone. All that is required is a fixed IP address for the DVR which can be arranged through your broadband provider
I have an existing system, can I upgrade and keep these cameras?
Yes. We can add your existing cameras to the new DVR providing they are offering quality pictures and in good working condition. We do have the ability to add old analogue cameras to a new digital system.
What is the difference between analogue and digital systems?
Analogue systems record to time lapse video recorders which record a 'snapshot' of each camera in turn. This gives the impression of an old black and white movie when playing back a recording as the image appears to jump slightly.....you may have seen this on programmes such as Crimewatch. The tapes need to be changed every day and are recorded over on a regular basis which degrades the image quality. Digital systems record to a hard drive with superior record quality and record all cameras at the same time, hence providing a smooth playback. The quantity of data you can store is only limited by the size of the hard drive within the DVR. More complex systems record to dedicated RAID/Server systems for a far superior system.
I have heard of IP cameras, what are these?
IP cameras transfer images (and audio if required) into data and then transfer this data over a computer network LAN/WAN or the internet. These cameras provide a superior image quality and accommodate HD (High Definition) megapixel cameras.
These cameras can be added to your existing network, therefore reducing installation costs. PoE or Power over Ethernet IP cameras can be used which further reduces the installation costs as separate power supplies are not required
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