What Is an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC)?

An Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) is a dedicated, 24/7 monitoring facility that receives, processes and responds to alarm signals from fire alarm systems, intruder alarms and other life-safety systems. Its role is to ensure that when an alarm activates, the correct response happens quickly and reliably — whether that means contacting the Fire and Rescue Service, alerting keyholders, or escalating the issue to responsible persons. In many buildings, particularly those with higher occupancy levels or increased risk, an ARC plays a critical role in ensuring that fire safety systems function as intended beyond normal working hours.

How an Alarm Receiving Centre Works

When a fire alarm or life safety system activates, a signal is automatically transmitted to the ARC via a secure communication link. This may include alerts from:

  • Fire detection and alarm systems.

  • Sprinkler or suppression systems.

  • Emergency voice communication systems.

  • Intruder or hold-up alarms.

  • Critical building or plant monitoring systems.

Trained operators assess the alert and follow predefined response procedures, which may include contacting the Fire and Rescue Service, notifying nominated keyholders, or filtering false alarms in line with agreed protocols. This ensures consistent, controlled decision-making when it matters most. For the visually minded, this video by Churches Fire provides a good overview of what a typical ARC looks like:

Why Alarm Receiving Centres Matter

An ARC provides a level of resilience that standalone alarm systems cannot achieve on their own. Key benefits include:

  • Continuous monitoring, including nights, weekends and holidays.

  • Faster emergency response, particularly for unoccupied buildings.

  • Reduced false alarms, helping to minimise unnecessary call-outs.

  • Improved compliance, especially for higher-risk premises.

  • Clear accountability and audit trails for incidents and activations.

For many organisations, particularly those managing residential buildings, care environments or complex commercial sites, an ARC forms a vital part of their overall fire safety strategy. Indeed, we have seen the use of ARCs for fire safety increase in Chester and the wider region over the last few years.

When Is an ARC Required?

While not every building is legally required to be connected to an ARC, it is often expected or strongly recommended in situations such as:

  • Buildings with sleeping occupants, including care homes and supported accommodation.

  • Premises without 24-hour staffing.

  • Sites with higher fire risk or complex layouts.

  • Buildings where insurers or enforcing authorities require monitored systems.

In some cases, local fire and rescue services will only accept automatic alarm signals that are routed through an accredited ARC.

Next Steps

If you are responsible for a building and are unsure whether your current fire alarm arrangements provide adequate monitoring, now is the right time to review them as part of a fire risk assessment. Understanding whether an Alarm Receiving Centre is appropriate for your premises can help reduce risk, improve compliance and provide reassurance that incidents will be handled swiftly and professionally.

If you would like advice on whether an ARC is suitable for your building, or support reviewing your existing fire alarm arrangements, Fletcher Risk can help. Our team works with organisations across Chester, the North West and North Wales to ensure fire safety systems are proportionate, compliant and fit for purpose. Please reach out today.

Disclaimer

This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or technical advice. Fire safety requirements vary depending on building type, use and occupancy, and should always be assessed on a case-by-case basis. For formal advice, a competent fire risk assessor or relevant enforcing authority should be consulted.

© Fletcher Risk Team - 19 January 2026

Tim Fletcher