What to Do Before Calling a Fire Alarm Engineer
Fire alarm engineers play a vital role in keeping systems safe and compliant. However, not every situation requires an immediate callout. In many cases, trained staff can carry out basic checks first, saving time and reducing costs, while still maintaining safety.
This guide outlines sensible steps staff can take before calling a fire alarm engineer. These steps must always be carried out in line with your organisation’s procedures and risk assessments.
Step 1: Identify the Type of Condition
First, determine whether the panel is showing:
- A Fire condition (usually a red light)
- A Fault condition (usually yellow/amber)
- Both fire and fault indications
Fire conditions should always be treated as a priority, following your evacuation and investigation procedures.
Step 2: Read and Record the Panel Information
Staff should carefully check the panel display and note:
- The exact text message or fault code
- The zone or address affected
- The time and date of the event
This information is extremely helpful for the engineer and should be recorded in the fire logbook where applicable.
Step 3: Check the Indicated Area (If Safe)
If it is safe and permitted by your procedures, staff may:
- Inspect the area indicated on the panel
- Look for obvious causes such as steam, dust, aerosol use, or building works
- Check whether a manual call point has been activated (for example, a broken glass element)
Staff should never open, dismantle, or attempt to repair fire alarm components unless they are qualified to do so.
Step 4: Consider Recent Activities or Changes
Many alarms or faults are linked to other work or changes in the building. Staff should ask:
- Has any drilling, sanding, or building work taken place nearby?
- Has any electrical work been done?
- Has there been heavy use of steam, cooking, or aerosols?
- Has any detector been capped, removed, or relocated?
This context helps determine whether the event is likely to be a false alarm, a contamination issue, or a genuine fault.
Step 5: Attempt a Safe Reset (If Appropriate)
In some cases, after investigation and once the cause has been removed, it may be appropriate for trained staff to reset the panel. If the system returns to normal and no further issues occur, an immediate engineer callout might not be necessary, though the event should still be recorded.
If the alarm or fault re-occurs, this indicates an underlying issue that should be escalated.
Step 6: Decide Whether an Engineer Is Required
An engineer should be called if:
- The fault persists after basic checks
- The system will not reset properly
- Multiple devices or zones are affected
- There is any doubt about system integrity
Life safety systems must always be maintained in full working order. If there is any uncertainty, it is better to contact an engineer than to take risks.
Why Training Helps Reduce Unnecessary Callouts
Without clear guidance, staff may call an engineer for every minor issue or, worse, ignore problems altogether. Proper fire alarm training teaches staff what they can safely check and when to escalate, leading to:
- Fewer unnecessary callouts
- Better communication with engineers
- Improved safety and compliance
Our course is designed specifically for non-technical staff who need to operate and understand fire alarm panels in Irish workplaces.