An intermittent fire alarm should be treated as a warning and escalated with caution. Use these steps to respond safely and effectively. What to do right away
- Stop what you’re doing and stay calm. Don’t assume it’s a fault or a drill. Treat it as a potential emergency.
- Alert others in your immediate area if needed and move to the nearest safe exit when instructed to evacuate. Do not assume you must evacuate if you’re not in a safe location or if told otherwise by the designated authority on site.
- Do not use elevators during a fire alarm. Use the stairs and follow posted evacuation routes or the directions of fire wardens or safety staff.
Assess whether you should evacuate or shelter in place
- Follow your organization’s emergency procedures. If there is a General Emergency Evacuation Plan (GEEP) or a Personal Evacuation Plan (PEEP) in place, follow those instructions precisely. These plans are common in complex facilities such as hospitals and care homes.
- If you cannot determine the exact instruction from local staff, err on the side of safety and begin evacuation from your current location while staying aware of surroundings and exits.
During evacuation (if advised to evacuate)
- Take only essential items if you can do so quickly, and close doors behind you to slow the spread of fire and smoke as you leave.
- Proceed calmly to the designated assembly point and account for yourself and others as instructed by fire wardens or safety staff.
- Do not re-enter the building until an all-clear is given by authorized personnel.
If you encounter a fire or smoke
- If there is fire or smoke blocking your exit, stay low, move to a safer area if possible, and call emergency services to report your location and situation. Follow the on-site emergency instructions exactly.
What to avoid
- Do not ignore the alarm or assume it’s a false alarm if you cannot determine otherwise. Intermittent tones can indicate a problem that requires prompt attention by safety staff or a fire warden.
- Do not attempt to tackle a large fire yourself unless you are trained and it is clearly safe to do so; otherwise, prioritize getting everyone to safety and letting trained personnel handle firefighting equipment.
Why this matters
- Intermittent alarms can signal various issues, including fire in an adjacent area, a fault in the system, or a developing hazard. Clear, calm, and orderly action reduces risk to occupants and helps responders locate and manage the situation more quickly.
If safe to do so, after the event
- Report any anomalies you noticed to the responsible person or safety team (e.g., unusual sounds, beeping, or a suspected fault) to facilitate a proper inspection and system check.
- If you’re in a facility with specific safety documentation, review the relevant sections (GEEP, PEEP, or site-specific procedures) to reinforce understanding for future incidents.
