Changes to LFB response to automatic fire alarms

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) say they will stop attending automatic fire alarms in most commercial buildings.

From 1st October 2024, LFB will change its approach to how it responds to automatic fire alarms (AFAs). They will stop attending AFAs in most non-residential buildings during daytime hours (between 7.00am and 8.30pm) unless a call is also received from a person reporting a fire.

The LFB report that in 2023/24 AFAs made up 40% of all incidents they attended with 1% being actual fires and 99% being false alarms.

The LFB are reducing the amount of time and resources spent going to unwanted fire signals so they can focus on other priorities such as community fire prevention work and freeing up Fire Fighters to go to real emergencies.

The new policy applies to certain non-residential buildings, business and workplaces such as office blocks and industrial estates. There is an exemption list detailing the premises that will continue to receive responses, such as schools, residential premises, and hospitals. The LFB will only send a response to confirmed fires in non-residential buildings during daytime hours if a fire is confirmed or the premises is exempt.

People who are responsible for a premises are encouraged to:

• Ensure the necessary people are aware of this policy change.
• Review the premises fire risk assessment to check it is up to date.
• Ensure their premises has a suitable emergency plan which includes a process for identifying false alarms.
• Work with Alarm Receiving Centres who pass on fire alarm calls to ensure they have up to date information on the premises e.g. whether it is on the exemption list or not.

Full details are available on the LFB website.

The LFB website also has guidance on developing workplace emergency plans.