This depends on what fire risks you have. For a business various extinguishers can be used as well as a suitable fire alarm and in some cases fire sprinkler systems and dry risers. If it is only a private dwelling smoke alarms should be fitted and perhaps a fire blanket or fire extinguisher. Sprinkler systems can also be installed in private dwellings.

You only need to notify the Fire Service or Call Centre if the fire alarm is linked to an automatic remote call centre. You may also wish to advise you neighbours to avoid them calling the Fire Services.

An automatic fire detection and alarm system can increase the safety of your building and its occupants if proper use and maintenance are carried out. As with all devices this system can also produce unwanted signals arising from activities other than a real fire.

It is strongly advised that every family should have an escape plan in the event that a fire should occur. Hopefully you should never have a fire but should one arise it is always better to be ready. An escape route and procedure should be planned out and practised so that all family members are aware of what to do in the event of a fire.

If you have a member of family who faces a greater risk during a fire emergency it is ideal to have them sleep in a bedroom near to someone who can help them escape safely. You may find that an ideal sleeping place would be on the ground floor for easier escape. You should design an escape plan that easy and safe depending on the abilities of the person.

Sprinkler systems are compact and elegant, in most buildings you would be unaware that sprinklers were fitted unless looking for them specifically.

You can now get a miniature sprinkler which are a little bigger than a 50p pence, they are neat and robust and are fitted with ceiling rosettes, which in most cases can be painted to match any colour scheme.

Concealed sprinklers are recessed and covered by a flat cover plate which is flush to the ceiling. These are unobstrusive and almost invisible. These are ideal for clean areas, where there is restricted headroom or where vandalism problems are high.

Every sprinkler system installed varies in price due to the size of the building, what the building is used for and the flow rates you achieve in your water feed.

Although you may find installing a sprinkler system is expensive, you must take into consideration the benefits, the sprinkler system will protect you and your assets for life, should a fire occur there would be less damaged involved.

There is about a 1 in 16 million chance of a sprinkler system activating due to a manufacturing defect. It is rare, but sprinklers can be damaged and activated through intentional of accidental abuse. Just like plumbing piping in every home and building, the sprinkler pipes may occur leaks however this is rare.