Why is this change happening?
In the 2023/24 period, AFAs accounted for 40 per cent of all London Fire Brigade incidents, with a staggering 52,000 calls made1. However, less than one per cent of these calls from non-residential buildings turned out to be actual fires. The overwhelming majority—99 per cent—were false alarms2.
By reducing the number of unnecessary trips to these Unwanted Fire Signals (UwFS), the London Fire Brigade will free up valuable time and resources. This allows them to focus more on fire prevention efforts within the community and ensures firefighters are available for real emergencies.
Which buildings are affected?
This policy does not apply to all buildings. Schools, residential buildings, and certain other types of buildings are exempt from this change. Commercial buildings, including offices, will need to confirm whether or not they are exempt. A detailed list of exemptions can be found below3:
- Private Dwellings/Houses
- Flats (includes high-rise)
- Houses in Multiple Occupation
- Mobile/Park homes
- Houseboats
- Hospitals
- Residential care homes / Nursing homes / Hospices
- Children’s homes
- Specialised housing premises (e.g., sheltered housing, extra care sheltered housing, supporting living)
- Student accommodation / halls of residence
- Residential Boarding schools
- Hotels/Motels/B&Bs and other guest accommodation
- Hostels (e.g., homeless, rehabilitation) / Youth Hostels
- Prisons / Young offenders’ institutions/other secure establishments
- Grade 1, Grade 2 & Grade 2S Listed Heritage buildings
- Schools
- Nurseries
- Buildings of substantial public significance identified as exempt by LFB
What should you do if you're a responsible person for a commercial building?
If you are the Responsible Person for a commercial or non-residential building, and your building is not exempt, there are key steps you need to follow:
- If an AFA is triggered between 7:00 AM and 8:30 PM, you must call 999 and confirm that there is an actual fire at your premises before the London Fire Brigade will respond
- Review your fire risk assessment to ensure it is current and comprehensive
Please note, the London Fire Brigade will still respond to AFAs outside of daytime hours,
What if your building is exempt?
If your premises are on the exemption list, it is important that the person responsible for making emergency calls is aware of this exemption. They should be prepared to relay this information to the London Fire Brigade during a 999 call in the event of a fire.
However, even for exempt buildings, all AFA calls between 7:00 AM and 8:30 PM will still be carefully evaluated before any emergency response is dispatched. It is crucial that call operators are trained to communicate clearly with the London Fire Brigade and do not assume automatic exemptions.
Stay informed
As the London Fire Brigade implements this new policy, it’s essential to stay informed and ensure your building’s safety protocols are up to date. For more details and to verify whether your building is exempt, be sure to check the London Fire Brigade's website4 for updates once the policy goes live.
By adjusting how they handle AFAs, the London Fire Brigade aims to create a more efficient emergency response system, better equipped to focus on true fire incidents and community safety initiatives.
If you’re looking to find out more, you can access the London Fire Brigade’s dedicated FAQ resource centre5.
How can Gallagher help?
At Gallagher, we offer comprehensive fire risk management services to help protect your staff, customers and premises. Our fire risk assessments, compliant with PAS 79 standards, involve a detailed evaluation by a Gallagher risk specialist who identifies hazards, assesses risks, and advises on reducing or eliminating them where possible. To get in touch, call 0800 138 7538 today.
