Disabled audible alarm on fire alarm panel

  • Safety Flash
  • Published on 23 February 2021
  • Generated on 5 April 2025
  • IMCA SF 06/21
  • 1 minute read

Routine testing of the fire alarm found that the Fire Alarm panel was not emitting an audible alarm – there was only a flashing light; this was found to be due to a cable having been disconnected from the panel.

What happened?

During routine testing of the fire alarm, it was observed that the Fire Alarm panel was not emitting an audible alarm – there was only a flashing light present.

The Chief Engineer together with the ETO inspected the fire alarm panel and found that a cable had been disconnected from the panel.

Disabled audible fire alarm

Disabled audible fire alarm

Disconnected cable

Disconnected cable

Causes

How the cable came to be disconnected could not be determined.

There was no proper testing of the fire alarm system, nor any oversight or recording of maintenance.

Actions

Members may wish to check fire alarm panels or any similar alarm equipment or warning systems to verify that all alarms audible and visual are functioning.

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