Witnesses:
Iain Houseman, Area
Commander, Prevention and Protection
Sally Wilson, Service
Improvement Manager
Declarations of Interest:
None
Key
points of discussion:
-
Officers introduced the report by informing the
Board that the purpose of the paper was to explain the current
procedure for attending incidents notified through Automatic Fire
Alarms and explore changes that Surrey Fire and Rescue Service
(SFRS) were proposing. Officers highlighted
that the Service was attending a high number of false alarms, and
the proposals set out in the paper were around responding
differently to cut out attending so many non-emergencies which
effectively would make savings and increase safety for SFRS staff
and crew.
-
The Board were advised that the current position to
responding to automatic fire alarms was based on policy set in
2008. This entailed, the Service always responding on blue lights
to “Level One” premises which were domestic premises,
hospitals, care homes and prisons. “Level Two” premises
required a call challenge, however if there was no confirmation
call the Service would respond and make an attendance, which would
operate between 0700 and 1900. With “Level Three”
attendance, the Service would not respond unless a call was
received confirming any signs of fire, which if there was the
Service would respond in an emergency way.
-
A Member queried whether the service charged for
frequent calls out to false automatic fire alarms. Officers
clarified that the Service did not charge but under the Localism
Act 2011, there were legislative mechanisms the Service had
available to enforce conformity to health and safety
standards. As the
burden of proof lay with the Service to prove fault with the
property owners, it was very difficult to ensure a penalty charge
could be successfully made. It was commented that resources
required also would be higher than the charge received.
-
One Member suggested a list should be created,
noting premises that were reported to have frequent false automatic
fire alarms, and for this list be made available to insurance
providers. Officers responded that these steps would not be
necessary and may breach other legislation, however the Service had
legal powers to enforce commercial premises which had repeated call
outs for false alarms to conform and rectify their alarm
system.
-
The Board also noted that the Service could penalise
businesses for frequent false alarms by issuing notices to enforce
the business owner to rectify the problem or in extreme cases to
restrict that business from operating.
-
In addition the Service held a statutory duty to
provide guidance and information to commercial premises with
regards to their automatic fire alarm. With regards to residential
premises the officer highlighted that these would be fulfilled by
the Initial Premises Survey (IPS) and Safe and Well Visit (S&W)
programme. From the 1/12/16 all incidents would receive either an
IPS or a S&W visit where residents would be visited to ensure
they knew how to operate their alarms properly and also give
valuable guidance towards their health and safety.
-
There was a discussion around the requirement of
fire alarms and Officers outlined that all commercial buildings and
new builds, under legislation, would have to be fitted with an
automatic fire alarm to validate their insurance policy. Officers
outlined the onus was on the business owner to resolve any
defective alarm.
-
Officers offered a report that could be provided in
12 months to detail the follow up on the advice been given to the
commercial and domestic premises.
-
When looking at the proposed changes to the Policy,
one Member was concerned with the premises listed as Level Two
which required a call challenge for attendance. Officers assured,
the default position would remain to always respond when a
confirmation call was not received or the call did not provide
sufficient information, based on the Service’s risk
assessment criteria. To keep resources available for confirmed
emergencies, SFRS resources may attend under non-emergency
conditions.
-
Officers highlighted some key factors why the
Service needed to review the current process and endorse a new
policy. It was explained to the Board that on average the Service
was taking over 3000 calls a year with regards to automatic fire
alarms, which takes resources away from other emergencies. Over
47,000 houses will be built by 2030 and will be fitted with
automatic fire alarms, therefore the demand will increase. It was
explained that similar proposals were already in force in other
regions, five other Fire Services operate under similar policies
and were running successfully.
- Members noted
neighbouring authorities who have implemented new policies and
procedures had significantly reduced emergency response attendances
on automatic fire alarms, requiring a confirmation call before a
response is sent. (see Page 53 of the agenda pack).
- The report proposed
the implementation of the new policy to take effect in early 2017
but Officers assured the Board it will develop over a series of 3
phases to allow the Service to review the results of each phase and
give businesses and residents the chance to understand change their
procedures in line with advice from the service.
- Officers advised
Members that phase one of the policy proposed non-attendance to all
calls for assistance to automatic fire alarm systems at lower risk
commercial premises during the day, however at night these premises
would undergo a call challenge, to determine if there is enough
information to warrant an attendance.
- It was further
highlighted that, during phase one, the following premises would
receive automatic attendance; critical national infrastructure,
major heritage, control of major accident hazard sites, health
care, residential care, residential multi occupied dwellings and
residential individual dwellings.
- After six months and
review of phase one, Members noted phase two would follow which
will attract call challenge during the day time as well as at night
for the lower risk commercial premises outlined in phase
one.
-
Following the outcome of review of phase 2, the
application of phase 3 proposes all premises, at all times will
attract a call challenge to establish if sufficient intelligence
can be gained to mobilise the appropriate response.
-
The Board were informed that the implementation of
the new procedures could reduce an estimate of 3000 calls a
year.
-
The Chairman mentioned that there was no reference
to out of county call outs in the report and asked how the Service
would respond to these calls going forward. Officers assured the
Board that neighbouring counties would be receiving written notice
of the new policy and figures could be provided to show a true
representation of statistics.
-
It was noted that resources were being used to
attend false automatic fire alarms, when it could be preserved for
real emergencies. A Member indicated a charge should be imposed on
false alarm call outs. Officers explained that in this instance the
service could issue notices for improvement and where notices were
not complied with, businesses could be summoned to
court.
-
A Member expressed concern with the Service being
spread thinly throughout the county by removing the second pump and
becoming vulnerable. Officers explained that the Service has
modified their footprint and reduced their travel time by changing
the locations of fire stations, increasing their ability to respond
in a quicker time.
-
A Member shared the view that a recommendation
should be created to pursue an avenue for income in this area
regarding false call outs. The Officer explained the purpose of the
paper was to reduce call outs, as well as improving the safety of
staff and residents.
Recommendations:
•
The Board supports Surrey Fire and Rescue
Services’ proposed policy changes to how it responds to
automatic fire alarms.
•
The Board recommends that Cabinet approves the
policy changes on 13 December 2016.
•
The Board requests a report on findings from each
Phase of the change to the response policy, including usage of the
enforcement legislation available and attendances over county
borders.