Automatic Fire Alarms
The way we respond to Automatic Fire Alarms (AFAs) is changing
Fire alarm systems provide an early warning of fire, and are one of the most effective ways to keep people safe in the event of a fire-related emergency.
Unfortunately, most calls South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) receives from automatic alarm systems are not fires, but false alarms, which means our crews are often called out unnecessarily. False alarms can be caused by cooking fumes, dust, or a lack of maintenance.
These unwanted fire signals (UFS) have a significant impact on our resources. In 2023-2024, we attended 5,982 UFS, which accounted for 31.5% of all incidents. This diverts resource from other, more worthwhile activities, including our work to reduce risk, and our vital training.
What is the change?
From January 2025, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service will adopt a sleeping risk, nighttime only (18:00 – 07:59) AFA response model.
This means we will no longer attend AFA call outs to commercial business and workplace premises, such as factories, offices, shops, and leisure facilities, unless a fire has been confirmed.
We will respond to AFA call outs at some premises during nighttime hours only (18:00-07:59). These include:
During the daytime, the person responsible for the building should establish suitable procedures to safely investigate a fire alarm activation before calling 999. Our Control Room operators will ask for confirmation of an actual fire, or signs of fire, before sending an appliance.
Accordingly, there will be situations where an appliance will not be dispatched on receipt of a call arising from operation of a fire alarm system, unless it can be confirmed by the caller that there is a fire or indicative signs of a fire. These can include visual signs, such as flames or smoke, a smell of burning, or any other fire alarm signal.
We will always respond to confirmed fires which will attract a full or enhanced emergency response, dependent upon the information received.
For some premises, such as nursing or care homes and high-rise residential buildings that currently do not comply with fire safety law, we will continue to respond to AFA callouts during the daytime.
Private dwellings (for instance, houses) will not be affected by this proposed change.
It is anticipated that this change will greatly reduce unnecessary callouts, ensuring our crews are available for other emergency response and working in the community to reduce risk.
Why are we making the change?
This proposal would have reduced our attendance at AFA incidents by almost 60% in 2023-2024, or 19% of all incidents
This proposed change will bring us closer in line with other fire and rescue services, including North Wales and Mid and West Wales, as well as saving valuable time and resources, and reducing the impact on other factors, such as;
What are the benefits of reducing false alarms?
The new model will allow us to achieve a significant reduction in the impact of unwanted fire signals, whilst ensuring that the most vulnerable in our communities continue to receive a timely response.
What do I do if I hear the fire alarm?
If I call in because an AFA is going off but I’m not sure if there’s a fire, will SWFRS still attend?
This will depend on what information you can give. If you think it is a residential property, one of the exemptions, or a property with signs of fire such as smoke issuing, then we will still attend.
However, if you know it to be a property with no sleeping risk, and there is no sign of fire, we will not attend.
If I hear a fire alarm, how do I investigate? What am I expected to do to investigate? Will investigating the cause of the activation put me in danger?
This procedure should all be decided beforehand, considered in line with the fire risk assessment for the premises, and drawn up in a tailored emergency plan. Nobody should be put in danger, and you should not put yourself in danger. You can read our guidance on ‘safe investigations on fire alarm signals’ here…
Insurance and legal duty
Do I need to inform my current insurers of your change in response to AFA activations?
This is a matter between you and your insurer, it is not a matter for us to comment on. However, SWFRS can confirm that a response will continue to be sent to all confirmed fires in our area.
Does SWFRS have a legal duty to attend?
The statutory duties of Fire and Rescue Services in England and Wales are set out in the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004. There are no requirements within this act that compel a fire and rescue service to attend a call to an AFA if no fire is suspected or confirmed.
Further guidance
Further guidance is available on our Business Fire Safety page.
If you require further information or advice in relation to the change in our response to automatic fire alarm actuations from January 2025, then please email afaenquiries@southwales-fire.gov.uk
For specific guidance on eliminating unwanted fire alarm actuations, please refer to the National Fire Chiefs Council