By the SightShield team · · 3 min read
Raising the alarm by hand
Detectors sense fire automatically, but often a person sees a fire before a detector does. A manual call point (MCP) lets anyone raise the alarm instantly. Hooters, sounders and strobes then warn everyone in the building. Together they are the human side of a fire alarm system, and they are as important as detectors.
Types of manual call points
| Type | How it works | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Break glass | Pressing breaks a glass element and operates the switch | Older style; glass must be replaced after use |
| Resettable | A plastic element pushes in and is reset with a key | No glass to replace; easy to test |
| With protective cover | A hinged cover over the call point | Reduces accidental or mischievous operation |
| Weatherproof | Sealed housing | For outdoor areas, parking and wash-down areas |
| Hazardous area | Certified for flammable atmospheres | For fuel stores, paint shops and similar |
Where call points should be
- On escape routes, at each exit from a floor and at the final exits to open air.
- Next to staircase doors on each floor.
- Close enough that nobody has to travel far to reach one; the applicable code sets maximum distances.
- At a consistent, reachable height and clearly visible, never hidden behind doors or furniture.
- In areas of special risk such as kitchens, stores and workshops.
Hooters, sounders and strobes
Sounders must be heard everywhere in the building, including closed meeting rooms, toilets, stores and noisy areas. Codes generally require alarms to be clearly louder than background noise; in noisy factories that needs more or louder sounders. Strobes, or visual alarm devices, flash so people with hearing loss, staff wearing ear protection and people in loud areas know there is an alarm. Voice sounders and public address systems give spoken instructions, which people respond to faster than a tone.
Choosing alarm devices by area
| Area | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Offices and corridors | Sounders or sounder-strobes on each floor |
| Toilets and accessible rooms | Strobes, as people may be alone |
| Factory floors | High-output sounders plus beacons |
| Hotels and hospitals | Voice alarm or public address, plus strobes |
| Outdoor yards and parking | Weatherproof sounders and beacons |
What happens when a call point is pressed
- The panel goes straight into alarm — call points are not delayed or verified like some detector inputs.
- Sounders and strobes operate in the area or the whole building, depending on the evacuation plan.
- Programmed outputs run: doors release, lifts return, ventilation stops.
- The panel shows the exact call point (addressable) or its zone (conventional), so security knows where it was raised.
- After the area is checked, the call point is reset with its key or the glass replaced, and the panel is reset.
Common mistakes
- Call points blocked by stacked boxes, displays or furniture.
- Broken glass never replaced, leaving a dead call point.
- Sounders that cannot be heard in conference rooms with doors closed.
- Different alarm tones for fire and other events that confuse staff.
- Call points not tested in rotation during maintenance.
Testing
Each call point should be operated in turn during routine testing so that over a cycle every one is checked, and sounders should be checked for audibility after any change to the layout. Record each test in the logbook.
Fire alarm maintenance and testing →Planning them right
We place call points and sounders on your layout based on exits, escape routes and noise levels, and check audibility on site after installation.
Fire alarm installation →Quick answers
What is a manual call point?+
A wall-mounted switch that anyone can press to raise the fire alarm.
Are resettable call points better than break-glass?+
They are easier to test and reset, with no glass to replace, and are now widely used.
Why do fire alarms need strobes?+
For people with hearing loss, staff wearing ear protection and people in noisy areas.
Can a call point be pressed by accident?+
It can happen in busy areas or schools. A hinged protective cover reduces accidental and mischievous operation without slowing a real alarm much.
How often should call points be tested?+
In rotation during routine testing, so that every call point is checked over each test cycle.