If you are responsible for a business premises, the short answer is at least every six months. That is the recommendation in BS 5839-1, the British Standard for fire alarm systems in non-domestic buildings, and it is what insurers and fire officers expect to see. Regular fire alarm servicing is also how you show the system is being looked after.
What the law says
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to almost every workplace and shared building in England and Wales. It says fire safety equipment must be kept in efficient working order and good repair. It does not give a number of months. BS 5839-1 fills that gap, and following it is the accepted way to show you have met the duty.
What the standard recommends
- Every week: test one manual call point, using a different one each time, and check the alarm sounds.
- At least every six months: a service by a competent person.
- Over each year: every device on the system should be tested at least once. On larger sites that can mean quarterly visits, with part of the system checked each time.
What happens at a fire alarm service
An engineer checks the control panel, standby batteries, detectors, call points and sounders, and looks at the log book for faults and false alarms since the last visit. They also check that changes to the building, such as a new partition or a change of use, have not left an area without cover. You should get a written report listing anything that needs attention.
What goes in the log book
Record every weekly test, service visit, fault, false alarm and change to the system. If a fire officer or insurer asks how the system is looked after, the log book is your evidence.
Who can do the work
The standard says a competent person. In practice, look for a company with third-party certification. OC Fire & Security is BAFE registered, which means our fire alarm work is independently audited.
What about fire alarms at home?
Homes follow a different standard, BS 5839-6. Test smoke and heat alarms every month, and replace them at the age the manufacturer gives, which is usually ten years.
Not sure when yours was last serviced? Take the 5-step fire safety check, or read more about our commercial fire alarm servicing.