Fire Safety in the Home This Christmas

The festive season is a great time of year, but it also brings added fire risks in the home. With lights, candles, extra cooking and decorations, the risk of a house fire increases. This simple Christmas fire safety guide will help you keep your home and family safe.

Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Good fire safety starts with working alarms.

  • Install smoke alarms on every floor.
  • Fit CO alarms if you have fuel-burning appliances.
  • Test alarms weekly and replace batteries or units as needed.

Christmas Lights & Electrical Safety

Festive lights look beautiful, but they’re a common fire hazard.

  • Check all cables and plugs for damage.
  • Avoid overloading sockets or extension leads.
  • Turn off lights before bed or leaving the house.
  • Swap older lights for LEDs, which run cooler.
  • Keep cables away from heat sources and walkways.

Candles, Fires & Heaters

Candles and decorations can pose a significant fire risk.

  • Keep candles away from trees, wrapping paper, and curtains.
  • Never leave candles burning unattended.
  • Consider using LED flameless candles.
  • Keep portable heaters clear of soft furnishings.
  • Ensure fireplaces and chimneys are properly maintained.

Christmas Cooking Fire Safety Tips

Cooking-related fires spike during Christmas, so it’s important to be extra careful in the kitchen.

  • Never leave pans unattended.
  • Keep tea towels, packaging, and decorations away from the cooker.
  • Be extra careful if tired or after a drink.
  • Clean ovens and hobs regularly to reduce grease fires.

Plan Your Escape

Even with precautions, accidents can happen. Having a clear plan is key for home fire safety.

  • Keep hallways and stairs clear.
  • Know where keys are kept.
  • Agree on a meeting point outside.
  • Make sure everyone in the home knows the escape plan.

Stay Safe This Christmas

Christmas is a time for joy and celebration, but it’s important to be mindful of the extra fire risks at this time of year. A few simple checks can make a big difference in keeping your home and family safe.

For more advice on keeping your home safe this festive season, visit the NIFRS website or contact Diamond Systems. Our team is happy to provide expert tips and guidance to help protect your home.

Safe Evacuation for All

Fire safety law in Northern Ireland requires building managers and “responsible persons” to make suitable arrangements for everyone’s safe evacuation. Key legislation includes the Fire and Rescue Services (NI) Order 2006 and the Fire Safety Regulations (NI) 2010, which place a legal duty to plan for all occupants, including those with disabilities or mobility impairments.

Ensuring everyone can exit safely isn’t just good practice – it’s a legal requirement.

Why It Matters

Responsible persons must plan for people with:

  • Mobility impairments
  • Sensory disabilities (hearing or vision)
  • Cognitive or learning difficulties

Failing to do so could put lives at risk and lead to enforcement action.

Key Elements of a Safe Evacuation

  • Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs): Tailored plans for anyone who may need help.
  • Evacuation chairs: For safe stair descent; staff must be trained, and chairs maintained.
  • Disabled refuge areas: Safe zones for waiting if immediate exit isn’t possible.
  • Buddy system: Staff know who needs help and what to do.
  • Accessible routes & signage: Exits, corridors, and doors kept clear and usable.

Keeping Plans Effective

Review plans whenever:

  • New staff or visitors join
  • Building layout changes
  • Equipment or hazards change
  • After drills or practice evacuations

Regular training ensures staff are confident and procedures work in practice.

How We Can Help

We provide a full service for evacuation safety, including:

  • Supply & servicing of evacuation chairs and disabled refuge systems
  • Training for staff on safe and effective use
  • Assistance with PEEPs and evacuation procedures
  • Staff training and evacuation drills tailored to your premises

Contact our team for more information or a quotation – we’ll help ensure your evacuation plans are safe, compliant, and practical for everyone.

Why More Organisations Are Switching to Diamond for Fire & Security Maintenance & Monitoring

2025 has already been a landmark year at Diamond Systems. We’ve welcomed a record number of new fire and security maintenance clients across Northern Ireland and beyond — and when we ask them why they made the switch, the feedback is remarkably consistent.

In an industry where reliability, compliance and fast response times matter more than ever, organisations are choosing partners who take safety seriously, communicate clearly, and resolve issues without delay.

Here are the top five reasons more companies are turning to Diamond as their trusted fire and security partner.


1️⃣ One Partner. One Point of Contact. Zero Runaround.

A growing number of clients come to us after becoming frustrated with juggling multiple fire and security providers — one company for alarms, another for CCTV, another for extinguishers, and yet another for monitoring. Add in several different ARC contacts, and simply getting a straight answer can become a full-time job.

At Diamond Systems, we remove that noise completely.

You get one high-performing partner, one accountable point of contact, and a dedicated team who knows your sites, your systems, and your people. You’re not phoning a generic call centre or explaining your issue over and over again.

We take ownership. We take pride in resolving issues quickly and properly. And most importantly, we care — because this is life safety, not just another service call.


2️⃣ Industry-Leading Response Times (Verified by NSI Gold Audits)

Slow or unreliable responses are one of the biggest reasons organisations switch to us. When something goes wrong with fire or security systems, every minute counts.

Our NSI Gold audits — conducted independently and rigorously — show that Diamond consistently exceeds the 90% benchmark for four-hour emergency response.

Our 4-hour response rate is consistently above NSI’s audited standard.

This isn’t a marketing line; it’s verified performance. When you need an engineer, we’re there. It’s one of the reasons we hold one of the strongest reputations in the region for reactive response.


3️⃣ Planned Preventative Maintenance Completed On Time

Another theme we hear repeatedly: PPM visits that slip month after month, leaving clients exposed, non-compliant, and frustrated.

Diamond’s PPM completion rate consistently exceeds NSI’s 90% benchmark — and again, this is independently verified as part of our NSI Gold accreditation.

We combine technical excellence with transparency. Through our client portal, you can view:

✔️ Upcoming PPM due dates
✔️ All service reports and invoices
✔️ Defect and remedial reports
✔️ A complete asset list with inspection history

It’s lean, streamlined, and built to put you back in control — no more chasing for paperwork, updates, or answers.


4️⃣ 24/7 Engineering Support & Remote Technical Help

The old “man in a van” model simply can’t meet today’s expectations. Modern fire and security systems demand round-the-clock attention, monitoring, and support.

Because we operate as a fully accredited NSI Gold company with a dedicated engineering team, we provide genuine 24/7 cover — not a voicemail, not a subcontractor.

Our remote diagnostics allow us to resolve many issues instantly, without waiting for a site visit. Faster resolution, reduced downtime, and lower disruption for your organisation.

When something goes wrong, you want expertise immediately. That’s exactly what we deliver.


5️⃣ Competence, Experience & True Professional Standards

With almost 40 years in business, Diamond Systems has grown to become one of Northern Ireland’s most respected specialists in fire and security.

Our team holds FireQual certifications across system design, installation, commissioning, maintenance, and verification. Every recommendation we make — whether for a repair, a replacement part, or a site upgrade — is grounded in competence and compliance.

We don’t cut corners. We don’t guess. And we never compromise on safety.

This is why so many organisations — from councils to private sector operators to multi-site estates — trust Diamond with the systems that protect their people, property, and business continuity.


✨ “We felt the Diamond difference from day one.”

That’s the line we hear most from new clients. They value:

✔️ Clear communication
✔️ Rapid response
✔️ Competent engineering
✔️ Transparency at every stage
✔️ A partner who genuinely cares about keeping people safe

In a market crowded with providers, professionalism still stands out. And clients recognise it immediately.


Ready to switch to a smarter, more reliable fire & security partner?

If your organisation is ready for a partner who brings clarity, speed, competence and care to your fire and security systems, we’d love to speak with you.

Get in touch to arrange a consultation or request a competitive maintenance and monitoring proposal.

Diamond Systems — protecting people, property and peace of mind for almost 40 years.