EACIE Evacuation Alert Control and Indicating Equipment
User Manual & Log Book
Approved Document No. DFU5030070 Rev 1
Page 5 of 10
3 USER RESPONSIBILITIES
BS 8629 is the British Standard code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of
evacuation alert systems for use by fire and rescue services in buildings containing flats.
Clause 22 of BS 8629 (Users’ responsibilities) states that a single, named member of the premises management
should be appointed to supervise all matters pertaining to the evacuation alert system.
BS 8629 Clause 22.1.2 states the responsible person should meet the following recommendations:
a)
ensuring that the EACIE is checked at least once every month to confirm that it is, visually, in good order
and not indicating any faults;
b)
ensuring that arrangements are in place for inspection, testing and servicing of the system in accordance
with BS 8629 Clause 21.1;
c)
ensuring the system log book (BS 8629 Clause 22.2 and Section 6 of this manual) is kept up-to-date and
is available for inspection by any authorized person (e.g. representatives of the fire and rescue service);
d)
ensuring that all residents are instructed to report audible fault indications, and are instructed on the action
to take in the event of operation of evacuation alert devices within their flats (i.e. instructed to evacuate
without delay if the evacuation alert device(s) within their flat is operated, and to contact the fire and
rescue service if they are unable to evacuate). The premises management should be advised to incorporate
this advice within fire action notices for the building;
e)
establishing liaison with residents to ensure that material changes in the layout or internal subdivision
within their flat do not compromise sound pressure levels or visibility of visual evacuation alert devices;
f)
ensuring that when changes are made to the system, record drawings and operating instructions, supplied
in accordance with BS 8629 Clause 20.2, are updated;
g)
in buildings with more than one evacuation alert zone on any storey, ensuring that a suitable plan of the
evacuation alert zones is displayed, is undamaged and is kept up-to-date (see BS 8629 Clause 13.2.2h);
h)
ensuring that the fire and rescue service are aware of the presence of the system, and that fire and rescue
service crews are afforded the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the system.
Familiarization visits by the fire and rescue service should not include operation of any evacuation alert signal;
this is to avoid complacency by residents when an evacuation alert signal is given during the course of a fire.
Six monthly inspection, testing, servicing and maintenance
The responsible person must ensure that an ongoing six monthly plan is in place that meets BS 8629 Clause 21
(Inspection, Testing and Servicing). The work required to meet this clause must be carried out by a competent
person with specialist knowledge of evacuation alert systems. The standard recognises this will normally be an
outside specialist organisation.
