Do fire alarms represent a waste of money? Apparently, some seem to think so. Or, as Steve McHale says in this short opinion piece, ‘are they an invaluable item of safety equipment that may be called upon to save lives?

When planning a new build, or even a refurbishment of an existing building, sometimes – if not most of the time – one of the most important things that should be considered is often left till last. This is especially so in times of austerity the like of which we are currently experiencing.

Facing tough cuts in budgets and needing to cut back on even the most important items, such as a fire alarm, does not mean that you need to compromise in the safety of your residents and / or staff. New EU legislation requires that all fire equipment now needs to have CPD certification. This means, effectively, that you can effectively halve your costs without worrying about the capability or effectiveness of the equipment you choose to install.

Look around

Councils, companies and even landlords should be encouraged to look around for a safe, cost effective solution to their fire needs without the normal worry of installing something that, in their eyes, sits on a wall or ceiling and only earns its value when called upon to activate in times of emergency.

A fire alarm is not just an inert piece of equipment that is more ornamental than a valuable commodity in your building or business. Would you say the same for your intruder alarm, or for the airbags fitted to your vehicle? Are they a waste of money unless you use them, or are they an invaluable piece of safety equipment that may be called upon to save even one life?

Now is the time that all persons responsible for their companies’ fire safety requirements can break away from the usual expectation of spending more than they need to just to meet the same standards compared with a much more cost effective solution. Remember – all proper manufacturers HAVE to meet the same standards.

Choose the brand, set the standard!