What action should you take if you hear an intermittent fire alarm?

Summary of the Article

When the fire alarm sounds, you must leave the building immediately. Never assume that the alarm is false or that the system is being tested. This is an emergency situation, so as soon as you hear a fire alarm, get yourself out of your seat and exit the building via the fire exits as quickly as possible. Fire spreads fast, and you don’t always know how long you’ve got before your means of escape are blocked. Typically, an intermittent chirp is an indication that the battery is starting to lose charge. For ways to troubleshoot the problem, see What Causes Intermittent Beeping or Chirping.

Do not hesitate in activating the fire alarm pull station upon detection of fire and/or smoke. Close all doors in the fire area to confine fire and smoke. When the alarm sounds, immediately evacuate the building by the nearest stairwell or exit; DO NOT use elevators. Evacuate the building to the designated emergency assembly area. Pull the fire alarm and warn others nearby as you are leaving. Close doors and windows if time permits. Move away from the fire and smoke whenever possible.

The most likely reason smoke detectors go off unexpectedly is that people aren’t changing the batteries in them often enough. In most sensors, the strength of the signal goes up when they detect what they’re supposed to. The first person to become aware of a fire should raise the alarm immediately by operating the nearest break glass call point or by shouting “fire”. If smoke is seen coming from under a door or in a closed room, staff should not attempt to open the door, but should immediately raise the alarm.

To stop your fire alarm from beeping intermittently, you can go out to the circuit breaker and turn off the power to the smoke detector. This will allow you to safely remove the connector. Another option is to press the “Test/Silence” button on the front of the unit or detach it from the base and replace the battery in the back. During an emergency, it is important to follow the four phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

Questions and Answers

1. What immediate action should you take if you hear the fire alarm?
When the fire alarm sounds, you must leave the building immediately. Never assume that the alarm is false or that the system is being tested. When a system test is being conducted, the building will be posted with a notice indicating the day and time of the test.

2. What should you do if the fire alarm goes off?
This is an emergency situation, so as soon as you hear a fire alarm, get yourself out of your seat and exit the building via the fire exits as quickly as possible. Fire spreads fast, and you don’t always know how long you’ve got before your means of escape are blocked.

3. What is an intermittent fire alarm sound?
Typically, an intermittent chirp is an indication that the battery is starting to lose charge. Rarely, it’s due to the white wire becoming loose in the wire nut. For ways to troubleshoot the problem, see What Causes Intermittent Beeping or Chirping.

4. What should you always do if you hear an emergency alarm?
Do not hesitate in activating the fire alarm pull station upon detection of fire and/or smoke. Close all doors in the fire area to confine fire and smoke. When the alarm sounds, immediately evacuate the building by the nearest stairwell or exit; DO NOT use elevators.

5. What are the three basic steps to take during a fire emergency?
Evacuate the building to the designated emergency assembly area. Pull the fire alarm and warn others nearby as you are leaving. Close doors and windows if time permits. Move away from the fire and smoke whenever possible.

6. Why would a fire alarm go off randomly?
The most likely reason smoke detectors go off unexpectedly is that people aren’t changing the batteries in them often enough. In most sensors you might think of, the strength of the signal goes up when they detect what they’re supposed to.

7. When might it be appropriate to shout a fire alarm?
The first person to become aware of a fire should raise the alarm immediately by operating the nearest break glass call point or by shouting “fire”. If smoke is seen coming from under a door or in a closed room, staff should not attempt to open the door, but should immediately raise the alarm.

8. How do I stop my fire alarm from beeping intermittently?
To stop your fire alarm from beeping intermittently, you can go out to the circuit breaker and turn off the power to the smoke detector. This will allow you to safely remove the connector.

9. How do I stop my smoke alarm from intermittent beeping?
Pressing the “Test/Silence” button on the front of the unit should stop it from beeping or chirping. If this doesn’t work, grasp the device and turn it counterclockwise. It should detach from the base so you can open the battery compartment in the back. Remove and replace the battery to see if it caused the issue.

10. What are the four steps that we must follow during an emergency?
Current thinking defines four phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. There are entire courses on each of these phases.