● Most false alarms come from automatic fire detectors, especially smoke detectors, rather than manual call points.

● Automatic detection typically enhances fire safety but may offer little benefit in some situations, such as small factories occupied 24/7.

● Risk assessment should weigh the benefits against the potential for false alarms.

● Avoiding automatic detection solely to prevent false alarms is generally inappropriate.

● Identify potential false alarm conditions and choose suitable system types, detection principles, and detector locations.

● Designers should estimate the likely frequency of false alarms, qualitatively or quantitatively.

● If unacceptable, consult with the user and consider additional measures to limit false alarms without compromising system objectives.

● Change detection principles or system types, or implement false alarm filtering.

● Ensure measures do not compromise life safety, property protection, business continuity, or environmental protection.

● Agreement from interested parties may be needed for some measures.

● Consider each major area of the building separately.

● Iterate the design process to minimize false alarms as shown in Annex E.

The following recommendations are applicable:

● Formally consider potential for false alarms and unwanted fire alarm signals to ensure acceptable frequency (see Clause 32).

● Record and document relevant design information regarding false alarms and unwanted fire alarm signals in accordance with Clause 40.

34 Design process for limitation of false alarms and unwanted fire alarm signals