It’s clear that fire alarm systems are an essential part of reducing the risk of emergencies. For any business owner, facilities manager, or landlord in charge of fire safety, however, it’s important to remember that your duty doesn’t end at fire alarm installation.
To make sure your building is compliant with UK regulations and standards, including BS 5839-1, our guide is here to walk you through fire alarm installation, testing, and maintenance requirements.
While there are some nuances around the exact fire detection types needed, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 stipulates that employers and business owners must make sure that:
Your fire alarm system should include a couple of key elements. It needs to include a smoke detector to pick up on what could be the sign of a fire and an alarm to alert building occupants of potential danger. The alarm may be audio-based or also include visual alerts.
If you’re planning to install new fire alarm systems or update your old ones, our checklist will make sure that you’re remaining compliant with fire safety laws at every stage.
Making sure your fire alarm system is in full working order is just as important as its initial installation. Under British Standards BS 5839-1, you should arrange a full fire alarm inspection (carried out by a competent professional) once every six months and carry out weekly tests.
All checks must be recorded in a dedicated fire safety logbook.
Weekly fire alarm tests will help you feel confident that your system will alert building occupants in the event of an emergency.
Activate the alarm from a manual call point to make sure that it triggers the central control panel. Ensure the correct alarms sound and that any automatic door closures and shutters activate.
We recommend triggering the alarm at different call points along the system so you can be sure there are no weak points. It’s also a good idea to carry out regular visual inspections to check for any cracks or other damage that could affect its functionality. Take a look at the smoke detectors to make sure no dust is covering them.
Remember to log the results of every check.
If you have any concerns that your fire alarm is not working as it should, it’s important to book a professional inspection as soon as possible. You can also check out our guide to common fire alarm faults and how to troubleshoot them for more information.
Whether you need fire alarm installation or bi-annual maintenance and servicing, our fully accredited team is here to help. We can conduct full fire alarm inspections to bring you peace of mind and ensure your building adheres to important UK regulations.
Learn more about our fire alarm system services, and feel free to get in touch to speak with one of our experts.
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