Do your branch offices, even the smaller ones, have smoke and fire detectors installed? As the internal auditor I have recommended these be installed but am meeting resistance from our facilities manager. Here are some of his reasons and objections:

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If we occupied these buildings 24 hours a day I would agree but we do not and I feel that we will put employees at MORE risk...as they will go check to see why the dectector is going off and NOT leave the building. My feeling is our employees noses will smell the smoke or they're eyes will see the flames in plenty of time to get out of our smaller branches. Buildings like the home office are much different and we do treat them differently, i.e. fire alarm systems and/or sprinklers. I just want us NOT to make a mistake by installing smoke detectors just to say we have them.

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I have searched the internet for best practices and for government standards but can find nothing pertaining to small offices. Most of our branch offices are stand-alone buildings in rural areas and small towns.

Thank you for your help.

I am the Security Officer and Facility Manager and as the Security Officer I made sure that their were smoke detectors and emergency lighting at all branches and administrative offices as part of my risk management review. I would imagine that there would also be fire codes in your area that insist on smoke detectors.. you may wish to check with your local fire departments.

There is no good reason NOT to install them. All of my branches have them. Some of the cost may be offset by a reduction in insurance.

How will your facilities manager explain to the board the complete loss of a branch that burns during the night and the fire is not discovered in time to save the facility?

This is more than a life safety issue. Sounds like your bank should have an updated disaster recovery plan.

In Michigan the building code requires any building open to the public to have smoke detectors. For $10 and a couple sets of batteries why wouldn't you? If a good nose was an adequate substitute for a smoke detector they wouldn't be required by most codes. As for employees running to the fire instead of away . . . I think he'd stuggle to find any evidence of that.

Thank you for your advice and comments. Does anyone else know of a source for authoritative guidance on the use of these devices?

fire safety codes are usually maintained (and inspections performed by)either your state fire marshal's office or local fire department. Most states adhere to national fire safety codes. Talk to your insurance company too.