As winter approaches, distribution centres face increased risks from fire, intrusion, poor visibility and adverse weather conditions. With longer nights, increased stock levels and often higher operational demands, now is the ideal time to review your fire and security measures to ensure your facility remains protected throughout the season.

Keeping a commercial property fire-safe involves much more than simply installing an alarm system. From fire risk assessments and routine servicing to staff training, emergency lighting and system integration, businesses have an ongoing responsibility to ensure their premises remain safe and compliant. In this FAQ, we answer some of the most common questions surrounding commercial fire safety, helping businesses understand their responsibilities, identify potential risks and ensure their fire protection measures remain reliable when needed most.

Making sure your service provider turns up on time, does what they say they will and provides reports on time can be a job in itself. SS Systems manages fire and security maintenance contracts so our customers receive hassle-free service delivery.

As security needs continue to evolve, businesses and organisations are moving beyond traditional locks and keys in favour of smarter, more flexible solutions. Electronic Access Control Systems (EACS) provide greater control over who can enter a building and when, while offering valuable features such as real-time access management, audit trails, temporary permissions, mobile credentials and integration with CCTV, alarms and other security systems.

If your fire alarm system was installed before 2006 using twin and earth (T&E) cable, it may still be operational but it does not comply with current British Standard BS 5839-1:2017. While older installations are not automatically considered unsafe, they should be inspected by a qualified fire alarm engineer, supported by an appropriate risk assessment and maintenance plan. In most commercial, communal, or multi-occupancy buildings, T&E cabling used for sounder and detection circuits should be replaced, particularly if the system is being upgraded, extended, or modified, to meet current fire safety standards.