THE NEED FOR A FIRE ALARM SYSTEM IN ANY SPECIFIC BUILDING WILL NORMALLY BE DETERMINED BY THE AUTHORITY RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING FIRE SAFETY LEGISLATION IN THAT BUILDING AND / OR BY A FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT CARRIED OUT BY THE REPONSIBLE PERSON OF THE PREMISES. ie OWNER, LANDLORD, OCCUPIER(S) OR EMPLOYER(S) AS APPROPRIATE.
IN GENERAL, IT IS APPROPRIATE TO INSTALL SOME FORM OF FIRE DETECTION SYSTEM IN VIRTUALLY ALL BUILDINGS,OTHER THAN VERY SMALL PREMISES THAT ARE OPEN PLANNED SO THAT ANY FIRE WILL BE QUICKLY DETECTED BY OCCUPANTS, WHO WILL BE ABLE TO WARN OTHERS BY WORD OF MOUTH OR SIMPLE MECHANICAL DEVICES SUCH AS HAND OPERATED BELLS.
MANUAL FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS ARE OFTEN SUFFICENT TO SATISFY LEGISLATION IN WORKPLACES IN WHICH NO ONE SLEEPS.
AUTOMATIC FIRE DETECTION IS USUALLY REQUIRED BY LEGISLATION TO SUPPLEMENT THE MANUAL SYSTEM IN PREMISES IN WHICH PEOPLE SLEEP.
IN ESSENCE, THIS NOW MEANS THAT THE AUTHORITY RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR PREMISES WILL BE THE LOCAL FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE IN THE AREA THE PREMISES IS SITUATED. IT IS THEIR INTERPRETATION OF ANY LEGISLATION THAT DETERMINS EXACTLY WHAT IS REQUIRED IN EACH BUILDING. IN GENERAL ALL HOTELS, GUESTHOUSES, HOSTELS ETC WILL BE REQUIRED TO HAVE AN AUTOMATIC FIRE DETECTION SYSTEM TO A MINIMUM OF L2 STANDARD. .(see categories)