False Fire Alarms
A false fire alarm is the activation of a fire alarm system when there is no fire, threat to life or property, ongoing test, or ongoing practice demo or fire drill. There are many causes for false alarms, both unintentional and intentional. There are lots of ways to prevent both kinds of false alarms.
Why false alarms can be dangerous
A fire alarm activation causes the dispatch of the fire department to that building in monitored systems or causes someone to call the fire department. This puts emergency response vehicles out of service while the fire department investigates the alarm. Meaning the possibility of an unnecessarily delayed response to any real emergencies in the area. Another concern is about the regular occupants of the building. If false alarms happen frequently in the building, People might start being numb to evacuation, and may fail to evacuate in a real fire. This is what caused the casualties of January 9, 2022 Bronx apartment fire as an example. This concept is known as "alarm fatigue". False alarms also cause a unnecessary disruption to the business or building.
Types of false alarms and ways they are prevented
Intentional
- Pulling the fire alarm maliciously (such as for a prank, joke, to get out of something, etc)
- Stopper Covers with alarms, when the cover is opened to access the station, a siren powered by a battery inside the stopper sounds which draws attention to the person and may scare them away.
- Spreading knowledge and information about the risks of false alarms and telling people to not pull fire alarms maliciously
- Smoking or vaping to smoke detectors
- Banning indoor smoking
- Changing the sensitivity of a detector in private rooms
- Alarm Verification
- Tampering with equipment
- Locking fire alarm equipment (eg. a panel and/or an annunciator) in halls or rooms open to the public
- Turning off testing functions on detectors
Unintentional
- Excessive dust buildup in smoke detectors
- Regular cleaning of smoke detectors
- Excessive heat activating heat detectors
- Programming addressable detectors to a higher fixed temperature or a different rate-of-rise
- Improperly programmed fire alarm system
- Programming system correctly
- Fire Alarm Equipment Sensitive to power outages, weather, etc
- Pests chewing on wires and causing shorts
- Pest control
Consequences for False Alarms
The consequences depend on the fire department, jurisdiction/state, building, etc. These are examples of common punishments given by different types of buildings:
Schools
- Revocation of permission for certain academic activities such as clubs, sports, events, etc.
- Detention
- Suspension
- Expulsion
Public Buildings
- The offender may be removed from the building by security
- Charged with trespassing and barred from entry
- Ban from coming back temporarily or permanently
Employer
- Termination of employment
Fire Departments and Police Departments typically fine and/or arrest the person who caused the false alarm and may fine the building for repeat false alarms. This is a list of the fines for people who cause false fire alarms in different U.S. states.
Removal of Pull Stations in buildings
In a lot of newer built and renovated buildings, especially schools, there are less or no pull stations installed, This is done to prevent false alarms and also due to the increasing threat of school violence. Different codes may apply based on the state or jurisdiction or type of building for the pull stations being removed. But most codes require pa systems, pull stations in occupied areas, and proper smoke and/or heat detection and sprinklers in the building.