Bespoke Fire Alarm System Installation across Leeds and the surrounding areas of Yorkshire.

It is always better to be safe than sorry. But in the world of fire safety, it is not only about protecting your property in case something happens. If your premises are open to the public, it is a legal requirement for your building to have a fully operational fire alarm system to ensure the safety of the building users and make sure you don’t face any devastating issues with insurance companies and lawsuits if something goes wrong.

There are 17,500 arson attacks on commercial property in the UK each year. This amounts to 42% of all fires. Arson attacks threaten 50 businesses each day, and most businesses will only recover around 50% of the costs of a major fire through their insurance. Making sure you take preventative action is an important part of protecting your business and livelihood.

Why Choose Us?

Optical Fire and Security Limited can design, supply, and install bespoke fire systems, specifically designed to give your building optimal protection against fires. We install everything from the most basic forms of fire protection to high-end, top-quality systems, jam-packed with state-of-the-art features. All you need to do is get in touch with us today.

We are experts in installing fire alarm systems as well as CCTV, access control, intruder alarms, data and telecom networks, fibre optic cabling, electrical power and lighting, and much more. Our priority is the security of your building. We combine high-tech systems with our thorough knowledge of engineering, electrical systems, and legal regulations, to ensure your property has the best line of defence against accidents and fires.

Fire alarm Installation Services

We offer a design, supply, installation, and service package, perfect for those looking for a high-tech system built from scratch. With this service, you not only know the fire system you have in place is made to work most effectively in your building by design, but it also means we will service your system regularly, ensuring there are no problems, everything is working as it should, and keeping you compliant with the law. We also offer one-off contracts for those who have a specific service in mind. We make all our contracts bespoke for each client so we can ensure you get the best service.

Our Fire Alarm systems can protect your business

An obvious benefit of installing an improved fire alarm system is the increased safety it will bring to your premises and those who use it. In 2017/18, there were 334 fire-related deaths in England. Making sure you have a fire protection system that can cope with incidents on your specific property can protect people from fire-related dangers and reduce the number of fire fatalities in the UK.

It can also help lower your insurance costs. When you take out fire protection policies and products, you can receive insurance premiums at a reduced cost. These can be as simple as a smoke detector, however, this often depends on your individual insurer so it is wise to check the benefits it could have for you.

Working with us is simple

We work to foster excellent communication with our clients to make sure your fire alarm system is perfect for you and your property. We are hands-on in our approach. We will attend the site to inform our expert opinion before discussing your needs. We value your input when it comes to designing the right fire safety system for your particular site and we work with you to make sure you receive a brilliant system within your budget so you don’t have to worry.

After the initial site visit and discussions, our engineers install the system quickly and efficiently. We carry out the work around your working hours, ensuring there are minimal disruptions to your schedule and business operations. If we need to work outside of traditional office hours, this is what we will do to make sure the protection of your building doesn’t come at a cost to your business.

What makes our business great

Optical Fire and Security Limited works on building relationships that last with our clients, no matter the size of your business or premises. We have worked with our largest client, a leading supermarket in the UK, for almost 20 years, while also being contracted to undertake large projects for other big-name companies. Other past contracts include shopping centres, superstores, hospitals, prisons, offices, and schools.

Areas Covered

We are based in North England operating across Leeds, Dewsbury, Wakefield, and throughout the rest of Yorkshire, so get in touch with us today.

Don’t wait for the worst to happen. To protect your business, staff, and livelihood, get in touch with Optical Fire and Security Limited today via our website, or by emailing your questions, comments, or send quote requests to info@ofsl.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions that we receive from our customers. If you need any further help or advice, please do not hesitate to contact us and we'll be happy to help.

How much does it cost to install a fire alarm system?

There’s no single answer to this question because of the number of variables involved. 

The cost will fluctuate depending on the size of the building in question, its purpose and risk-level, and the grade of fire alarm system.

Also taken into consideration are the individual components needed to facilitate an effective evacuation strategy based on the property’s layout. 

Whether the system needs to be wired in, or is a wireless battery setup, is also a factor along with the construction time. 

To scope out these variables, and figure out which system you’ll need, your place of work will need to undergo a Fire Risk Assessment carried out by someone with the appropriate training to make judgements about fire prevention strategies.

As a result, the overall cost depends on the nature of your business space, ranging from a four-figure sum through to six.

Some places that offer installation may not have prices listed.

In those cases, you’ll need to ask the alarm system provider directly what you can expect to pay.

Can an electrician install a fire alarm system?

In the UK, regulations dictate who can install a fire alarm system, stating work must be completed by a competent person that has the relevant training, experience and capability. 

This means a single electrician, or a team of them, can fit a fire alarm providing they have the appropriate level of skill.

The best way to guarantee the quality of a commissioned fire alarm installer is to check they possess third-party certification confirming they have the relevant knowledge and expertise.

That includes an understanding of different fire alarm system types and how they work.

They’ll also need to be familiar with the manufacturers, models and grades so they can identify which best suits your individual business needs.

On the theory side, they should also be familiar with the main corresponding legislation – British Standard BS 5839 – and any other related regulations if the work is undertaken in devolved parts of the UK such as Scotland or Wales. 

If wiring is required, more likely with newer installations, they also need to comply with British Standard BS 7671.

How does a fire alarm work?

Fire alarm systems are managed by a control unit located somewhere on the premises which monitor components and relays information between them. 

Backup power supplies are also present in a sophisticated system, usually if a building is large enough that a lack of operational electronics would pose a threat in the event of an emergency. 

The system itself is activated by initiating devices such as manual pull stations or heat and smoke detectors that automatically trigger an alarm when tripped. 

Heat detectors are activated upon detecting room temperatures that exceed a maximum limit where fire becomes a likely cause of the heat increase. 

These are more commonly used in kitchens and other places of food preparation.

Smoke detectors come in a variety of categories, the most popular of which are ionisation and photoelectric (also referred to as optical). 

Ionisation smoke detectors function by using a radioactive material connected to two electrically-charged plates. 

Photoelectric variants instead aim a light source into a sensing chamber at an angle away from the sensor.

When smoke enters, reflecting light onto the sensor, the alarm is triggered.

The former is more responsive to flaming fires, whereas the latter is more effective at detecting ones that being with a period of smouldering.

For an alarm to pass basic safety standards, it must be able to detect both, and it is common to have a combination of each under the same roof.

Who can install smoke alarms?

An electrician, an approved fire safety engineer or even members of the local fire brigade that are part of the business fire safety team can install smoke detectors for you.

However, they are usually part of a comprehensive fire alarm system and would have been fitted at that stage.

When it comes to replacement, however, you can get any of these to demonstrate how to install a smoke detector on your property so that can do it yourself in future.

For peace of mind, make sure the smoke detectors have been tested by a recognised laboratory.

That’s easier when they are wireless and battery-powered. 

Some hard-wired smoke detectors are straightforward to install, but it depends on your level of confidence and ability whether you do the job.

For standard smoke alarms, batteries should be replaced every 12 months to ensure they comply with the law and keep everyone safe. 

For a business, investing in mains-powered smoke detectors may be the safest and cheapest long-term option.

What are the different types of fire alarm systems?

Fire alarm systems fall into the following categories:

• Conventional Fire Alarm Systems

They are, as the name suggests, more standard setups that consist of several call points and detectors wired to a fire alarm control unit. They are segmented into zones on a semi-isolated circuit which bundles up a system’s functions floor by floor. 

Among other advantages, it allows first responders to see where a fire has been detected.

Addressable Fire Alarm System

Instead of zones, the control unit knows which detector has been activated. 

They are wired as a large loop of up to 99 devices. 

• Analogue Addressable Fire Alarm System

Most analogue systems only output detection data processed by the control unit to determine if it was a false positive. 

A smarter Analogue Addressable System has each detector make that decision.

Analogue systems are more complex than the previous versions, but they limit false alarms effectively. 

A total of 127 input and 32 output devices can be connected to an analogue system, making them suitable for larger premises.

It is a straightforward mechanism that is a useful alternative to a conventional wired system. 

Sensors and devices are connected via radio, creating the dynamic of an analogue addressable fire detection system without any wires.

What is the prescribed placement of smoke alarms within a property?

Smoke detectors are usually located on the ceiling, making them harder to tamper with.

They are often screwed into place, while sticky pads are an alternative option.

An alarm should be fitted as close to the centre of the room as possible so that it covers the whole area.

However, it must be at least 12 inches (approximately 30 centimetres) away from any wall or light fitting to avoid interference with a sensor and reduce the risk of dampening noise a detector makes.

If your office is on one level, then detectors can be placed in the hallway providing they are within earshot.

Should your budget be restricted to a single alarm in a property with two levels, then it should be installed close to where employees work.

Rooms with electrical appliances present an increased risk, and it should be a priority to have a detector in those spaces.

How much does it cost to install a hard-wired smoke detector?

As with the systems themselves, smoke detector pricing depends on several variables, including whether they are hard-wired.

The cost also depends on the system they form part of, the manufacturer, type and quality of the detectors themselves.

You also must factor in labour costs associated with the installation itself.

Any installed alarms must not only be compliant with the BS 5839 and any other applicable British Standards but also the Institution of Electrical Engineers Regulations for the Electrical Equipment of Buildings Regulations (IEE).

It insists on skilled installers, which pushes up the price.

Get in touch with a smoke detector provider to obtain a more detailed breakdown of costs.

Do fire alarms need to be hard-wired?

In every new property built since 1992, building regulations insist at least one smoke detector is wired into the mains. 

Hard-wired alarms used to be more expensive to maintain because the average homeowner didn’t possess the knowhow to replace them when required.

That means a regular call out for electricians, but now products are more straightforward to look after.