What is fire alarm monitoring?
Remote fire alarm monitoring sends signals from a building’s fire alarm system to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) using compatible signalling equipment. The ARC handles the signal under the site’s agreed response procedure. The local fire and rescue service decides whether and how to attend under its own policy.
What happens when a monitored fire alarm goes off?
- The building alarm activates. A detector or manual call point can trigger the system. People on site follow the building’s fire and evacuation plan.
- The signalling equipment sends the event to the ARC. What the ARC receives depends on the equipment and how the system is configured.
- The ARC follows the agreed procedure. Depending on the arrangement, staff may contact the site or a keyholder, seek confirmation, or pass the call to the fire and rescue service.
- Fire control assesses the call. Attendance can depend on the local policy, the type of premises, the time and whether there is evidence of fire.
If there is a fire or signs of fire, get to safety and call 999 immediately. Follow your fire and evacuation plan and make the call even if the alarm is monitored.
London Fire Brigade’s guidance for ARCs describes how fire control decides whether to attend. Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s automatic alarm policy gives a separate example, with exceptions for certain premises. Check the policy for the service that covers your site.
Fire alarm dialler vs ARC monitoring
A voice or SMS dialler sends an alert to programmed contacts. Those contacts are responsible for acting on it. ARC monitoring combines a compatible signalling path with an agreed monitoring service and a response procedure. Confirm the equipment, signalling path and service together before specifying a replacement.
What the two communicators on this page do
Eaton SD-LTE voice and SMS dialler
The Eaton SD-LTE is a 4G speech dialler that sends voice or SMS messages to configured contacts. Use it as a contact-notification example. Eaton’s product specification describes its voice and SMS functions. Confirm any ARC signalling solution separately with your installer and monitoring provider.
Zeta GSM-COM communicator
The Zeta GSM-COM can send voice and SMS notifications. The linked TELL Compact GSM II manual also documents Contact ID reporting to a monitoring station. If ARC monitoring is required, ask the ARC and installer to confirm the exact device, protocol, transmission path and installation before relying on that function.
When is remote fire alarm monitoring useful?
An agreed monitoring service can be useful where a building is unattended for periods or where a fire strategy or insurer specifies remote signalling. The installer and ARC should check the panel interface and signalling equipment for the actual site, including any existing conventional, addressable or wireless system.
Replacing legacy telephone-line signalling
The UK is moving from analogue to digital landlines. Government guidance says most customers are expected to have switched by the end of January 2027 and that timing depends on the provider. If your records mention PSTN or BT Redcare, ask your installer and ARC to identify the active signalling path, confirm the migration plan and test receipt at the ARC after any change.
What to check with your installer and ARC
BSI describes BS 5839-1:2025 as the code of practice for fire detection and alarm systems in non-domestic premises. Ask the system designer and ARC to confirm the transmission and fault reporting arrangements that apply to your site.
- Which fire and fault signals the ARC receives and how you will verify receipt.
- Who is contacted, who can confirm a fire and when the ARC calls the fire and rescue service.
- What happens during a mains or network failure, including how a signalling fault is reported.
- What your fire strategy, insurer and local fire and rescue service require for your premises.
