How often should a fire alarm be serviced?

Key points

• Non-domestic fire alarm systems should be inspected and serviced by a competent person at least every six months under BS 5839-1.

• Someone on site should test a different manual call point every week and record it in the logbook.

• The responsible person is legally required to keep fire safety equipment in efficient working order.

What the law requires

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person for a building must make sure fire safety equipment, including the fire alarm, is maintained in efficient working order and good repair. The law doesn’t set an interval itself. In practice, the benchmark that fire risk assessors, insurers and enforcing authorities use is the British Standard for fire detection and alarm systems, BS 5839.

The six-monthly rule

For commercial premises and the communal areas of residential blocks, BS 5839-1 recommends periodic inspection and servicing at intervals of no more than six months. Higher-risk buildings, or systems with a history of faults, may warrant more frequent visits, which your fire risk assessment should identify. Systems inside individual flats and houses follow BS 5839-6, where the routine depends on the grade of system installed.

What a proper service covers

A six-monthly visit is more than pressing a few buttons. Our engineers work through:

• The control panel, its fault and event log, and the standby batteries

• A sample of detectors, call points and sounders, so every device is tested across the year

• Changes to the building since the last visit that could affect coverage

• Any false alarms recorded, and what caused them

• Updating the logbook and issuing a servicing certificate

Anything we find is recorded on the service report, with a clear recommendation, so you know exactly what needs attention and why.

Your weekly checks

Between services, someone on site should activate one manual call point each week, rotating so each one is tested in turn, and confirm the alarm sounds and the panel resets. Record the call point and the result in the logbook. If anything fails, report it straight away rather than waiting for the next scheduled visit.

Keeping the records

Service certificates, the logbook and any remedial work are your evidence that the system has been maintained. For higher-risk residential buildings, they also form part of the Golden Thread of building safety information. We supply Golden Thread records on every job, so your evidence is ready when an assessor or insurer asks for it.

Frequently asked questions

Can I service my own fire alarm?

Weekly tests can be done by site staff, but the six-monthly inspection and service should be carried out by a competent person. Using a third-party certificated contractor, such as one registered with BAFE, is the simplest way to demonstrate competence.

Does a wireless fire alarm need servicing as often?

Yes. The same six-monthly interval applies, and the service also checks device batteries and radio signal strength.

What happens if my fire alarm isn’t serviced?

Faults can go unnoticed, insurance may be affected, and the responsible person could face enforcement action from the fire authority.