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Recent statistics report just over 15,000 fires in buildings other than private dwellings in the year 2018/19. A working fire alarm can literally save lives by alerting the occupants of a building in the event of a fire, which is why taking steps to make sure yours is fully functional is crucial.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, all premises in England and Wales used for non-domestic purposes, with a few exceptions, must work within these regulations. 

Most premises will require a fire alarm system under the Regulations, the exception being smaller premises that do not store high risk substances; where seeing a developing fire would be easy, and where a verbal warning of ‘fire' would be clearly heard by all occupants.

Why fire alarm servicing is so important

The Regulations provide that every effort must be made to make sure an installed fire alarm system is adequately maintained in good working order. It must also be tested regularly. The person responsible for carrying out the testing and maintenance must be a ‘competent person' and, depending on the nature of the premises, certified and approved to relevant industry standards.

Fire alarm servicing is also a legal requirement under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974.

As well as the vital lifesaving and legal aspects, fire alarm servicing is also essential in order to prevent false alarms. In 2014, the false alarm issue reached such proportions that the London Fire Brigade was compelled to launch a charging scheme to help them recover the costs from buildings presenting a poor false alarm record.

At the time, it was reckoned that false alarms were costing the Fire Brigade in the region of £37 million every year, not to mention the degree to which the Brigade was being prevented from attending genuine emergencies.

How often should my fire alarm be serviced?

Fire alarms must be compliant with British Standard BS 5839. Under this standard, it is suggested that fire alarms are inspected by a competent person every six months minimum. For larger premises with multiple alarms and more intricate systems, quarterly servicing is recommended.

How often should a fire alarm be tested?

British Standard 5839 recommends weekly fire alarm testing. Any business that elects not to carry out weekly testing must be able to explain their reasons to investigating fire officers who visit the premises.

Fire alarm testing and fire alarm servicing are different things. Servicing involves a thorough check of the entire fire alarm system, whereas testing has the objective of making sure the fire alarm is in working order.

Fire alarm testing is normally carried out by the appointed responsible person, although for larger premises or businesses with multiple sites, it is common to request the fire alarm servicing specialist to run the tests.

All fire alarm tests should be recorded in the fire log book, and any issues reported immediately to the fire alarm servicing company. Testing the fire alarm should involve activating at least one call point, checking that the alarm sounds and that the panel receives the signal. Call points should be varied each week.

Common issues with fire alarms

Sometimes issues arise with fire alarms. Things to look out for include:

1. An alarm that sounds when there is no fire
2. The fire alarm panel is emitting a sound
3. The fire alarm panel is displaying a fault
4. There is no power going to the fire alarm panel

These issues usually mean that the fire alarm has not been adequately maintained. They must be reported to the fire alarm servicing company urgently. The company is required to attend within 24 hours minimum, or within 4 hours if the alarm has been disabled.

Fire safety guidance

PMR Solutions has been working with commercial organisations and landlords, managing agents and facilities managers for several years, advising on the vital issues connected with fire safety. We are able to advise on appropriately certified fire alarm servicing companies suitable for particular types of premises, and also offer a competent person service.

To learn more about how we can assist you, please get in touch.