NFPA and International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) have released a 17-page document, available for download, that offers guidance on how to respond to unwanted fire alarms. The "Fire Service Guide to Reducing Unwanted Fire Alarms" provides knowledge for firefighters, fire officers and fire prevention personnel on how alarm systems and devices work and what could cause them to go off when no emergency situation is apparent. According to NFPA, an unwanted alarm is "any alarm that occurs that is not the result of a potentially hazardous condition."
"Unwanted fire alarms are a drain on fire department resources and pose a significant safety hazard to both responders and the public," says IAFC President Hank Clemmensen. The guide will reportedly be able to help fire service members create strategies to best manage responses to these alarms.
A Blog From the American Society of Safety Engineers
