Inadequate fire detection and emergency notification for vulnerable people in housing
First to latest report 17 Jan 2014 — 26 Apr 2022
Reports that mention this concern
6
Times this concern has been raised
6
Stated actions linked to this concern
16
What this concern includes
Includes failures of fire detection and emergency-notification controls specifically intended to protect vulnerable people in housing, including alarm installation and operation, automatic links to Alarm Receiving Centres or telecare systems, alarm-status communication, and arrangements that enable prompt emergency-service notification.
What is not included
Excludes general fire-prevention, evacuation, sprinkler, building-design or fire-risk-assessment deficiencies unless they directly concern fire detection or emergency notification.
Excludes generic telecare, communication or emergency-response failures without a fire-detection or fire-notification connection.
Excludes failures limited to smoke-alarm interlinking status where the existing dedicated smoke-alarm interlinking concern is the more specific supported boundary.
Excludes fire-alarm deficiencies in prisons, workplaces or public venues unless the assertion concerns the same vulnerable-person housing context.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Barnet Assist1
British Standards Institution1
Home Office1
Leeds City Council1
Liaise (London) Limited1
London Borough of Brent1
London Borough of Hackney1
London Fire Brigade1
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government1
National Fire Chiefs Council1
Sovereign Network Homes1
London borough council2
Ministerial department2
English metropolitan district council1
Fire and rescue service1
Local authority service1
National fire and rescue body1
Private limited company1
Registered provider of social housing1
Standards body1
Reports and published responses 6 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
East London
Concerns raised1
Non-compliant fire alarms lacking automatic links to an Alarm Receiving Centre
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
British Standards Institution
Kennedys
London Fire Commissioner
National Fire Chiefs Council
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.6
National Fire Chiefs Council
Report the alarm connection concern to relevant British Standards committees to encourage debate and pursue improved outcomes.
London Fire Commissioner
Continue advocating with government, regulators and the sector for legislative change enabling enforcement of relevant British Standard requirements.
British Standards Institution
Consider strengthening standards commentary on zone plans, including their life-safety importance and potential non-conformity.
British Standards Institution
Consider recommending that users establish local fire-and-rescue-service policies for automatic fire-alarm responses and confirm premises coverage.
Kennedys
Complete and activate the Alarm Receiving Centre link for one home’s fire alarm system.
Kennedys
Update two homes’ fire alarm systems and install Alarm Receiving Centre links, with completion scheduled for 24 June 2022.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.6
National Fire Chiefs Council
Enforcement of fire safety regulations is outside the organisation’s functions because it is not an enforcing authority and has no regulatory functions.
Outside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
London Fire Commissioner
British Standard recommendations cannot be directly enforced without legislative authority or a demonstrable safety risk arising from non-compliance.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
London Fire Commissioner
Where alternative arrangements provide an equivalent safety level, no enforceable risk exists requiring compliance with British Standard ARC recommendations.
Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
British Standards Institution
Fire detection installation and servicing issues should be examined by subcommittee FSH/12/1, which is responsible for the relevant standards.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Kennedys
The three homes did not follow British Standards guidance but were not non-compliant with the applicable requirements.
Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Kennedys
Completion of alarm system upgrades at two homes was delayed because the implementing team was absent due to Covid-19.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
North London
Concerns raised1
Inadequate fire detection systems in premises housing vulnerable individuals
This report raised 10 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
Barnet Homes Limited
Sovereign Network Homes
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Barnet Homes Limited
Pursue with the London Borough of Barnet a requirement for sheltered housing tenants to receive local fire and rescue service home fire safety visits.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Sovereign Network Homes
Matters of Concern 2, 3 and 4 are not issues for the landlord to address.
Outside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Sovereign Network Homes
Existing fire prevention, detection and response systems are considered adequate and appropriate under applicable law and guidance.
Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Failure of smoke detection systems to provide sufficiently early warning of cigarette-related fires
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Inner North London
Concerns raised1
Lack of a smoke detection system in the bedroom
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Black Country
Concerns raised1
Installation of alarms in locations inaccessible to elderly or immobile occupiers
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
West Yorkshire Eastern
Concerns raised1
Failure to ensure smoke detectors are fitted in housing properties
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Housing Leeds
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.9
Housing Leeds
Install hard-wired smoke detection in approximately 1,200 properties subject to fire-risk assessment.
Housing Leeds
Install smoke detection through the CareRing system in 4,300 sheltered-housing dwellings during FY2014/15.
Housing Leeds
Rewire approximately 1,100 properties during FY2014/15, including hard-wired smoke detection in each property.
Housing Leeds
Identify approximately 40 properties for the ring-fenced March–April 2014 rewiring programme, which will include hard-wired smoke detection.
Housing Leeds
Install battery smoke detection in remaining properties without detection over the next 12 months, using a targeted plan developed with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Housing Leeds
Review and update the Electrical Specification to require hard-wired smoke detection when major electrical works are completed.
Housing Leeds
Install battery and, where applicable, carbon-monoxide detection in sheltered dwellings lacking existing detection.
Housing Leeds
Install battery detection in LCC-owned Caspon-type properties lacking existing detection, alongside the completed fire-safety works.
Housing Leeds
Add smoke-detection identification to annual tenancy visits and refer properties without detection to West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service for interim detectors.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.