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M Fire Alarm System

Manual systems - hand bells, gongs etc. These may be purely manual or manual electric which may have call points and sounders. The occupants will have to discover the fire and act to warn others by operating the manual call point . Such systems form the basic requirement for places of employment with no sleeping risk. These systems are generally not used anymore

P1 Fire Alarm System

The system is installed throughout the building - the objective being to call the fire brigade as early as possible to ensure that any damage caused by fire is minimised. Small low risk areas can be excepted, such as toilets and cupboards less than 1m².

P2 Fire Alarm System

Detection should be provided in parts of the building where the risk of ignition in high and/or the contents are particularly valuable. Category 2 systems provide fire detection in specified parts of the building where there is either high risk or where business disruption must be minimised.

L1 Fire Alarm System

A category L1 system is designed for the protection of life and which has automatic detectors installed throughout all areas of the building (including roof spaces and voids)with the aim of providing the earliest possible warning. A Category L1 system is likely to be appropriate for the majority of residential care premises. In practice detectors should be placed in nearly all spaces and voids. With category 1 systems, the whole of a building is covered apart from minor exceptions.

L2 Fire Alarm System

A category L2 system designed for the protection of life and which has automatic detectors installed in escape routes, rooms adjoining escape routes and high hazard rooms. In a medium sized premises (sleeping no more than ten residents) a category L2 system is ideal. These fire alarm systems are identical to an L3 system but with additional detection in an area where there is a high chance of ignition e.g. kitchen) or where the risk to people is particularly increased (e.g. sleeping risk).

L3 Fire Alarm System

This category is designed to give early warning to everyone. Detectors should be placed in all escape routes and all rooms that open onto escape routes. Category 3 systems provide more extensive cover than category 4. The objective is to warn the occupants of the building early enough to ensure that all are able to exit the building before escape routes become impassable.

L4 Fire Alarm System

Category 4 systems cover escape routes and circulation areas only. Therefore, detectors will be placed in escape routes, although this may not be suitable depending on the risk assessment or if the size and complexity of a building is increased. Detectors might be sited in other areas of the building, but the objective is to protect the escape route.

L5 Fire Alarm System

This is the ‘all other situations’ category e.g. computer rooms which may be protected with an extinguishing system triggered by automatic detection. Category 5 systems are the ‘custom’ category and relate to some special requirement that cannot be covered by any other category.