Before an office refit in Stockport starts, include the fire-alarm arrangements in the project brief. New meeting rooms, relocated desks and changes to how a space is used can affect the assumptions behind the existing system. Bring the person responsible for fire safety and the alarm contractor into the discussion before the layout is finalised.
Give the contractor a marked-up plan showing the proposed partitions, doors and room uses. Include ceiling changes and areas that will remain occupied during the work. Government guidance for offices and shops highlights that new partitions must not compromise escape routes or reduce fire-alarm sound levels. A layout review should consider how people will receive a warning as well as where detectors are located.
Ask what needs surveying rather than assuming the existing devices can simply stay in place. The appropriate detection and warning arrangements depend on the premises and the fire-risk assessment. If Ajax EN54 equipment is being considered, agree the system design and compatibility with the installer; selecting a product range alone does not establish that the completed installation is suitable.
Plan how fire safety will be managed while work is taking place. Make sure contractors know the reporting contact and the building's emergency arrangements. Dust-producing work and any proposed interruption to detection need a controlled plan. Do not cover, remove or disable devices on your own to avoid unwanted alarms; any temporary measures and restoration should be agreed and managed by the relevant competent people.
Agree the checks required before the refurbished area is brought back into use. Ask the alarm contractor what testing, commissioning and documentation are needed for the changes, and how outstanding defects will be handled. Where a system is monitored, coordinate relevant testing with the monitoring provider. A normal-looking panel display is not, by itself, evidence that every changed area has been checked.
Finish the project with an updated handover. Keep the relevant drawings, device or zone information, service records and instructions together. Explain any changes to staff who use the premises, including temporary staff and people working outside normal hours. The person responsible for fire safety should review the risk assessment and arrangements to reflect the completed work.
Spicy Protect provides fire-alarm installation and maintenance for businesses in Stockport, Greater Manchester and across the North West. To discuss a refit or an Ajax EN54 fire-alarm project, call 0161 339 7072 or email hello@spicyprotect.com.