No fire alarm at my workplace - should I be worried?

Question

My workplace is spread over 4 floors, with me on the second.

There is no fire alarm in the building, and if anyone shouted fire from the ground floor, no one would be able to hear it.

Are my employers breaking any UK rules because of this?

Should I be concerned about the risk?

Ok, thanks to all - here is some more info-
No emergency break glasses (in fact no break glasses at all)
A few fire extinguishers (I know where the ones on my floor are, but don't know where the others are!)
No smoke detectors
Only 2 fire exits (both located on the ground floor and one leads outside to a blocked alley!!)
My window has bars on it, the only other window on our floor drops onto the roof of the building (so if the fire was there, I would be totally cooked!)
Erm......I think thats it,

Answer 1

It depends. If your building is only 4 stories, is a business occupancy, and has a normal occupant load of 500 or less, then acutally, according to the ICC building and fire codes, they may well be exempt from having to have a fire alarm. (That doesn't mean they couldn't have one, they just may not have to have one.)

Should you be concerned? That depends on a great number of factors. Is the building sprinkled? Is the sprinkler system, if present, monitored? Are there two exits from your floor? Are they equipped with emergency lighting? Is the general upkeep of the building and mechanical spaces good? Not alot of flammable storage? People aren't piling stuff against the HVAC equipment, hot water heater, etc? Does the building have any sort of intercom system? These are the types of questions to ask or look into.

Answer 2

YES VERY concenred as anyone who would do this would also be sloppy about all aspects of safety and does not give a damn about you or training for safety.


Especailly as a building can go up like lightning.


I take it no fire extinguisers or training in how to use them or the right ones for the job... ie water around electricity or oil fires not at all helpful.

And on fouth floor how do you prepose to get out unless you are a free running expert?

Whats the proceedure for getting you out if the bottom floor is blocked...

Bars on windows as well?



and the smoke...

They got first aiders


hell sounds like the kind who would dilute bleach with acid based cleaner and gass everyone with chlorine like used in iraq

Answer 3

A lot of buildings can get away with the bare minimum of equipment, are you sure there isn't even an emergency break-glass button? Because they count as a legal fire alarm installation without smoke detectors on their own, in some cases.

Answer 4

Fire alarms aren't a legal necessity in buildings where it would be easier just to shout. This is never the case in buildings of more than one level, or buildings that have more than one room with closed doors.
Don't wait until the worst happens before you report this to the Health and Safety Executive!!

Answer 5

You should report the company, no fire alarm on a multi level building is illegal.

Of course you should be worried,if there's a fire on the ground floor you are toast, literally.

Answer 6

Totally breaking the law. It is a health and safety at work issues. Call health and safety anonymously and come and get them to check over the building. Do it from home though so the number cant be traced.

Answer 7

they are breaking the law, every work place should have a alarm, breaking health and safety, contact your local environmental department, report it, they will then do a random stop check, keep safe all the best

Answer 8

Yes, especially if the building is set on fire!

Answer 9

YES!!! God I would quit my job if there was no fire alarm. They're breaking the safety code in ANY country!!!!

Answer 10

concerned that your employers are breaking some rules - or concerned about being burned in a fire?