This page was updated on 18/10/2024
When will this change in policy on AFAs be rolled out?
LFB’s change in policy on AFAs will be rolled out from Tuesday 29th October at 08:00 across London.
LFB have based our strategy on analysis of data and risk. 99% of the AFAs that LFB attends are false alarms, not fires. LFB will continue to attend all fires at any time of the day when someone calls 999.
What will LFB do with the time saved by not responding to some AFAs?
The time saved from not attending some AFA calls will give LFB more time to utilise its resources in a more efficient, effective and productive way. This will help to reduce risks to London communities through additional fire prevention and protection work and operational training.
How do I confirm whether my building will get a response or not? How do I check my status?
You can see the full list of exemptions on our AFA exemptions page.
Are listed buildings included in LFB’s exemption policy?
Yes, listed heritage buildings are one of the exemption categories for LFB’s AFA policy. Listed heritage buildings will continue to receive an LFB response to an AFA.
What do I need to do if I'm a business owner? What do I need to do to prepare?
What guidance is available for business on how to investigate a fire safely?
LFB guidance on how to investigate a fire safely is available on LFB’s website. This guidance includes information on how to reduce unwanted fire signals and false alarms. LFB are currently updating this guidance in line with the AFA policy changes and will republish this in time for the change of policy.
Where do I find the information that I need?
You can find all the information on our dedicated resources for workplace pages.
How does LFB define a ‘sleeping risk’?
LFB defines a ‘sleeping risk’ as a premises that will generally have dedicated enclosed rooms for sleeping. These premises are set out in our exemptions policy and include, for example, private dwellings, hotels, and prisons.
If a building’s AFA activates and an individual calls LFB to report the alarm, how will LFB respond?
An AFA activation reported to LFB will be subject to LFB’s AFA call filtering process by the Control room. The individual calling will be asked to confirm if there is any sign of fire and if someone has investigated the reason for the alarm. Our Control room will confirm what the building is used for, if it is a commercial or residential building, and these responses will determine the most appropriate response, and we will inform the caller if the LFB are attending or not.
How does this change my fire safety arrangements?
You need to make arrangements to be able to differentiate between AFAs that are false alarms and those that are confirmed fires. LFB will only send a response to confirmed fires in commercial buildings during daytime hours if a fire is confirmed or the premises are exempt from this policy.
If your premises is exempt from this policy, then ensure the person responsible for calling LFB via 999 in the event of a fire, is aware of the exemption and can relay that information to LFB in that call.
Please note that all AFA calls to fire in commercial buildings in daytime hours, will be subject to consideration before any emergency response is made, so please ensure the advice above is clearly understood by your call operators and do not assume any exemptions.
How should an alarm receiving centre respond to an AFA in an unoccupied building?
If a building is unoccupied, the Responsible Person should have arrangements in place with their Alarm Receiving Centre for filtering fire alarm signals before forwarding a call to LFB. LFB will still be responding to calls to AFA between the hours 20:30 to 07:00.
Will alarm receiving companies, will I still get a response? What do I have to do differently?
Commercial premises will not receive an LFB response to AFAs during daytime hours. LFB will only send a response to AFAs in commercial buildings during daytime hours if a fire is confirmed or the premises are exempt from this policy.
You need to make arrangements to be able to differentiate between AFAs that are false alarms and those that are confirmed fires. If your premises is exempt from this policy, then ensure the person responsible for calling LFB via 999 in the event of a fire, is aware of the exemption and can relay that information to LFB in that call.
Please note that all AFA calls to fire in commercial buildings between the hours of 7am and 8:30pm, will be subject to consideration before any emergency response is made, so please ensure the advice above is clearly understood by your call operators and do not assume any exemptions.
In the event of two smoke detectors or a heat detector or a manual call point or a sprinkler flow switch activating would this be considered a 'Confirmed Fire'?
The majority of AFA calls received by LFB do not include that type of information and 99% of the AFAs that LFB attends are false alarms, not fires. However, LFB Control Operators are good at identifying calls and recognising when calls are a result of automatic alarms rather than confirmed fire calls. LFB will continue to attend all confirmed fires. Confirmation of actuation of a sprinkler flow switch will also receive an LFB response.
Are we giving training to businesses and RPs?
No, the responsibility of staff training for commercial premises does not fall under the remit of London Fire Brigade. If you own, manage or operate a business, you need to comply with fire safety law. The main law is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 or "the Fire Safety Order". It applies across England and Wales and came into force on 1 October 2006. As part of your responsibilities under the Act, you need to make sure Employees are provided with adequate fire safety training.
What if my fire risk assessment does not cover this change?
All existing fire risk assessment and general fire precautions arrangements for commercial premises should be on the basis of evacuation without the need for intervention by the fire and rescue service.
If you had multi-sensor detectors would this remove the need for the 999 calls in relation to AFAs and would this mean automatic attendance by LFB, as it would be treated as a confirmed fire?
You need to make arrangements to be able to differentiate between AFAs that are false alarms and those that are confirmed fires. LFB will only send a response to confirmed fires in commercial buildings during daytime hours if a fire is confirmed or the premises are exempt from this policy.
If your premises has multiple sensors actuating, then ensure the person responsible for calling LFB via 999 in the event of a fire, relays that information to LFB in that call.
Please note that all AFA calls to fire in commercial buildings in daytime hours, will be subject to consideration before any emergency response is made, so please ensure the advice above is clearly understood by your call operators and do not assume any automatic response.
Can alarm receiving centres identify the device which has actuated, or are most only able to report a general fire alarm signal?
These arrangements are many and varied, so there is no single answer.
Duty holders need to make arrangements to ensure alarm receiving centre's will be able to differentiate between AFAs that are false alarms and those that are confirmed fires. LFB will only send a response to confirmed fires in commercial buildings during daytime hours if a fire is confirmed or the premises are exempt from this policy.
How often are exemptions reviewed?
There are no current plans to review the agreed policy exemptions. However, new policy is currently being drafted in relation to local identification and exemption of high-risk buildings that may not sit within the agreed exemption list. Therefore, review periods may be considered for these types of premises.
How do I apply for an exemption?
LFB is not inviting any applications for exemptions. However, if you feel that you have a special case to make in relation to a specific risk, then you should contact your local Borough Team or your local Prevention and Protection Team
How do you define what is 'publicly significant'? How do I apply for that?
LFB is not inviting any applications for exemptions and will consider whether a building is of significant public interest on an individual basis, rather than publish any broad definitions.
LFB recognises that some individual sites e.g. police HQ or training centres, could present a significant societal/community impact in the event of a fire and therefore could be considered for exemption. Again, the level of risk and whether exemption may apply will need to be determined on an individual premises basis.
Therefore, if you feel that you have a special case to make in relation to a specific risk, then you should contact your local Borough Team or your local Prevention and Protection Team
How do you define a building of public interest?
LFB’s exemption policy includes “other buildings of substantial public significance”. This exemption will only apply to premises that have been individually considered via LFB internal policy, formally agreed as an exemption and registered as such on the LFB mobilising system.
This descriptor was introduced to give LFB some flexibility in situations which may not have been foreseen. Nobody should assume that any building falls under this exemption unless LFB has given formal notice of exemption for a specific premises.
How does this work with multi-use buildings? Shops with flats above?
All AFA calls to LFB will be considered through our call filtering process and if there is any indication that sleeping accommodation, private dwellings or other exempt premises are affected, then an LFB response will be sent. This will be decided by the call operator, but there is no way of determining whether any particular premises is mixed use, unless the operator is informed at the point of call. Alarm Receiving Centres (ARCs) who manage and pass on fire alarm calls should have basic data on the premises the fire alarm signal originates from.
Therefore, an AFA actuating with no sign of fire in a shop may not attract a response during daytime hours, but any residential accommodation should have suitable fire separation from any commercial elements of the building. However, if a fire is confirmed, then a response will be sent.
How will LFB respond to an AFA in a multi occupied building with a large numbers of visitors?
LFB’s response to AFAs at venues which host large numbers of visitors will depend on the building. Different buildings will have different fire safety protocols, for example some such as a listed theatre building will be exempt and will continue to receive an LFB response to AFA, whereas a more modern building which is not listed will not be exempt and won’t receive an LFB response to AFA during the hours of 07:00 to 20:30. If a building has mixed use and there are any indicators that the residential or exempt parts of the building are affected then LFB will respond to the AFA. LFB will continue to attend all confirmed fires.
How does LFB know if a building is residential?
LFB holds a range of data on buildings across London already. In addition to this, where a sleeping risk is not obvious, for example in hotels, residential accommodation, or prisons, as part of LFB’s Control Room call handling procedures, the caller will be asked to confirm if the premises is residential. If they are unable to confirm, it will be treated as residential, and a response will be sent.
How do we know where all of the multi-use buildings are?
This is not necessarily information that LFB hold for mobilising purposes, it usually comes from the caller.
Do we know if the alarm is coming from the business or the residential space?
Every system is different and LFB can only respond to the information we are given. All AFA calls to LFB will be considered through our call filtering process and if there is any indication that sleeping accommodation, private dwellings or other exempt premises are affected, then an LFB response will be sent.
If a school is unoccupied when the fire signal is sent to the ARC, will LFB attend when there is no one on site to ‘call confirm’?
Yes, schools were added to the exemptions following feedback from the consultation.
Are youth residential centres included in LFB’s AFA exemption policy?
Yes, all residential premises are included in LFB’s exemption policy and will receive an LFB response to AFA at any time of the day.
Will LFB respond to false alarms in places of worship?
LFB’s response to an AFA at a place of worship will depend on the building. If a place of worship is a listed building, then that will be exempt and will continue to receive an LFB response to AFA. However, a more modern place of worship which is not listed will not be exempt and will not receive an LFB response to AFA during the hours of 07:00 to 20:30. LFB will continue to attend all confirmed fires.
Are health centres included in LFB’s exemption policy?
No, health centre premises do not come under LFB’s exemptions policy for AFAs. However, LFB will continue to attend all confirmed fires at all premises.
Will data centres be included in LFB’s exemption policy?
No, data centres do not come under LFB’s exemptions list for AFA. However, LFB will continue to attend all confirmed fires.
Are Police stations included in LFB’s exemptions policy?
Police stations that have custody suits are exempt as “other secure establishments” in LFB’s exemption policy and will continue to receive a response to AFAs.
For buildings that contain animals – will they be exempt and offered an auto-response or subject to call challenge?
It is considered unlikely that any commercial premises would be unoccupied during daytime hours if the business involves the care of animals. Also, data has not suggested that this type of premises presents a particular risk. Therefore, there is no reason to automatically exempt these types of premises.
However, LFB recognises that some individual sites could present a risk to animals in the event of a fire. Therefore, following a local review of such premises indicating that all appropriate safety precautions have been undertaken and a significant risk to animals still exists, then the premises could be considered for exemption. The level of risk and whether exemption may apply will need to be determined on an individual premises basis.
What action is required by rail industry in response to LFB change to automatic fire alarms?
The rail industry will need to take the same action as any other commercial enterprise.
These types of locations do not have any sleeping accommodation and have staff on site who will make an emergency 999 call to LFB in the event of a fire, as will numerous members of public.
How do you define a dangerous substance?
LFB’s exemption policy includes “high risk sites storing volumes of dangerous substances (e.g. COMAH sites)”. Under this exemption, we already know what those substances are and where they are, as storage of these types of substances is regulated. Any new sites will go through the regulation process and LFB will be updated as part of this process.
Are rail stations, including sub surface rail stations, included in the exemption category of buildings of public significance?
No, rail stations, including sub surface rail stations, are not included in this exemption.
LFB have based our strategy on analysis of data and risk. 99% of the AFAs that LFB attends are false alarms, not fires. LFB will continue to attend all fires at any time of the day. Premises such as this are managed premises, and the responsible person must ensure systems are in place to report a confirmed fire. This includes staff calling 999 in the event of a fire.
Are sites where lithium batteries are stored included in LFB’s exemptions policy?
The majority of AFA calls received by LFB do not include that type of information and 99% of the AFAs that LFB attends are false alarms, not fires. Storage of Lithium batteries alone would not mean an exemption is made. A full list of exempt premises is available on our website.
If I call in because an AFA is going off, I'm not sure if it’s a fire, will LFB 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 commercial property with signs of fire such as smoke issuing, then LFB will still attend.
However, if you know it to be a commercial property with no sleeping risk and there is no sign of fire, LFB will not attend.
Is LFB asking people to put themselves at risk to check if there is a fire when an alarm is sounding?
No, nobody should put themselves at risk to check if there is a fire. A building’s risk assessments and emergency plans should ensure that is the case.
If a caller has good reason to believe that an AFA is sounding because there is an actual fire, then LFB will send a response. Examples include seeing fire, smoke or smelling burning. Multiple detector heads or manual call points actuating alone, do not necessarily mean a fire is occurring and, if safe to do so, should be investigated and considered alongside other indicators. Confirmation of actuation of a sprinkler flow switch will receive an LFB response.
AFA calls to commercial premises are already subject to challenge and call filtering, and work to develop this strategy noted that LFB Control Operators are good at identifying calls and recognising when calls are a result of AFAs rather than confirmed fire calls. LFB will continue to attend all confirmed fires.
If I hear an AFA, how do I investigate? What am I expected to do to investigate? Will investigating the cause of the AFA activation put us in danger?
This procedure should all be decided beforehand, considered in line with the premises fire risk assessment and drawn up in an emergency plan specific to the premises. Nobody should be put in danger and you should not put yourself in danger. You can read our guidance on emergency plans
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 the LFB to comment on. However, LFB can confirm that a response will continue to be sent to all confirmed fires within the LFB area.
Does LFB 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 an FRS to attend a call to an AFA if no fire is suspected nor confirmed.
What legal background permits this approach?
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 nor confirmed.