As of 1 April 2024, the Service will no longer attend Automatic Fire Alarms (AFA’s) at low risk commercial premises. During 2022/23, the Service attended 1,946 AFA’s in commercial premises which turned out to be unwanted fire signals (false alarms).
This change is being introduced to reduce the number of unwanted fire signals attended by fire crews. Such mobilisations can cause unnecessary risks to the public and responding firefighters, cause disruption to the business, and may delay a response to a genuine emergency.
We will still attend for AFA activations:
- In domestic and residential buildings;
- At all other places where people sleep, and identified higher risk premises; and
- At any premises where a fire is suspected, on receipt of a 999 call, or by confirmation by other means.
Click here to find out how you can reduce fire alarm activations or take a look at our information leaflet.
Fire safety legislation says it is the responsibility of premises, not the fire service, to investigate the cause of Automatic Fire Alarms, whether there is a fire or not.
We have collated some frequently asked questions about automatic fire alarms.