Fire alarm systems at universities, hospitals and at an RAF base are among the poorest performing in relation to false alarms across Wales, it’s been revealed.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that Welsh fire and rescue services have been called out an average of 90 times a day between 2007 and 2009 by automatic fire alarm systems, according to a report in walesonline.co.uk.

Hospitals such as Wrexham Maelor recorded 298 false alarms between 2007 and 2009, while University Hospital Cardiff and the Royal Gwent also had high call out rates. Universities Swansea, Glamorgan and Aberystwyth also featured highly in false alarms.

RAF St Athan in south Wales was also highlighted as having a high rate of automatic activations. This is put down to having many buildings on the site, including large hangars where hot works take place. However, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service say that they have implemented a successful recall system with the base, which has resulted in around 110 recalls in a 12-month period.

A spokesperson for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said they were working with responsible persons and fire alarm contractors to reduce false alarms from automatic systems, and that control room staff now “challenge” automatic calls to establish their legitimacy.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service will be adopting the CFOA policy for the reduction of false alarms and unwanted fire signals from 1 August. David Phillips, head of legislative fire safety said: “False alarms place a large burden on our resources and can divert firefighters away from real emergencies where people in life-threatening situations urgently need our help.

“Unwanted fire signals in fire detection systems can be caused by a number of factors including fumes from malicious actuation of break-glass alarm points, fumes from cooking, dust from building work and poor system maintenance.”

“We closely monitor the level of unwanted fire signals from premises throughout mid and west Wales and are working in close partnership with many premises to identify problems and reduce the number of unwanted fire signals.”