Control Panel & Batteries
We inspect the main control panel for faults, test the standby batteries under load, and ensure the system can operate during a power failure.
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BS 5839-1:2025 Compliant Servicing
Fire Alarm Servicing & Maintenance
Keeping your premises compliant and your systems ready. Honest advice, thorough servicing, and no unnecessary costs across Dorset, Hampshire, and Wiltshire.
Since 20035.0 from 21 Google reviewsFully insuredFIA memberNo call-out fee
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Straightforward Fire Safety
Real operational experience, honest advice
We service, test, and maintain fire alarm systems for businesses of all sizes - from small workshops and offices to warehouses, retail sites, and managed properties. Our team brings real operational fire safety experience. We know what works, what doesn't, and how to keep you compliant. Whether you need a routine 6-monthly service, fault diagnostics, or straightforward advice on whether a system upgrade is the right call, we handle it. No overselling, no unnecessary costs.
What Our Servicing Covers
All servicing is carried out in strict accordance with BS 5839-1:2025, the British Standard for fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. On a routine service we check:
Detectors & Call Points
We test a percentage of smoke detectors, heat detectors, and manual call points to ensure they trigger the alarm correctly and communicate with the control panel.
Sounders & Visual Alarms
We verify that all bells, sounders, and visual indicators are functioning at the correct volume and intensity to alert all occupants.
System Wiring & Connections
We conduct a visual inspection of accessible wiring and connections to identify any damage or degradation that could compromise the system.
Logbook & Documentation
We review your weekly testing logbook, update the service records, and provide a written maintenance certificate for your compliance files.
When Do You Need an Upgrade or Replacement?
Not every fire alarm system needs replacing, and we will always tell you honestly which route makes more sense. Replacing a system unnecessarily costs you money. Relying on an obsolete system puts you at risk.
When servicing is the right call
If your system is functioning correctly, replacement parts are still available, and it provides adequate coverage for your current building layout, servicing is the most cost-effective option.
When replacement makes more sense
We will recommend an upgrade or replacement when a system is obsolete and parts cannot be sourced, when it suffers from constant false alarms, or when significant changes to the building layout mean the current system no longer provides compliant coverage.
Your Legal Requirements
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the Responsible Person must ensure that the premises are equipped with appropriate fire detectors and alarms, and that they are subject to a suitable system of maintenance.
Professional servicing is a legal requirement. British Standard 5839-1 recommends that fire alarm systems are inspected and serviced by a competent person at least every six months.
Weekly testing is your responsibility. In addition to professional servicing, the Responsible Person must carry out a weekly test of the system, activating a different manual call point each time. This must be recorded in the fire safety logbook.
The consequences of non-compliance are serious. Failing to maintain your fire alarm system can invalidate your business insurance, result in prosecution, and mean your system fails to alert occupants during a real fire.
We take the administration out of compliance. We track your service schedule, remind you when a visit is due, and provide all the documentation you need to demonstrate that your premises are properly maintained.
Key points
- Fire alarm systems must be serviced by a competent person at least every six months under BS 5839-1:2025
- Weekly testing of a different call point is the Responsible Person's responsibility
- Weekly tests must be recorded in the fire safety logbook
- Non-compliance can invalidate insurance and result in prosecution
Transparent pricing
Fire alarm servicing is a fixed price for systems up to 20 heads, then priced per head for larger systems.
| 1 to 10 heads | £85 fixed |
| 11 to 20 heads | £95 fixed |
| 21 to 40 heads | £5.00 per head |
| 41 to 60 heads | £4.25 per head |
| 61 or more heads | £4.10 per head |
Prices exclude VAT. Full report and certificate included.
No call-out fee.
Limited companies can spread the cost over 3 or 12 months.
Checked by
DL
Darren Lowe
Founder and Director, 34 years with the Dorset fire service, FIA member
Founder and Director of Abbey Fire Safety. 34 years with the Dorset fire service and a member of the Fire Industry Association (FIA).
View Darren's LinkedInWho We Work With
We work with businesses and property managers across the South. If you're responsible for fire safety on a premises, we can help.
Commercial offices & business parks
Warehouses & industrial units
Retail units & hospitality venues
Landlords & managing agents
Schools, care homes & public buildings
Tradespeople & small workshops
Frequently Asked Questions
Can't find what you're looking for? We're happy to help.
How often does a fire alarm need to be serviced?
Under BS 5839-1:2025, the British Standard for fire detection and alarm systems, commercial fire alarm systems must be inspected and serviced by a competent person at least every six months. In addition to professional servicing, the Responsible Person is required to carry out a weekly test of the system, activating a different manual call point each time, and to record the results in the fire safety logbook.
What happens if a fire alarm fails its service inspection?
If faults are identified during a fire alarm service, the engineer will categorise them by severity. Minor faults, such as a single faulty detector or a low battery, can typically be repaired on the same visit. More significant issues, such as a failing control panel or inadequate system coverage, will be documented in a written report with a clear, prioritised action plan and a no-obligation quote for remedial works. The premises should not be left without adequate fire detection, so critical faults require prompt attention.
Is a fire alarm service a legal requirement for businesses?
Yes. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the Responsible Person for any commercial premises must ensure that all fire safety equipment, including fire alarm systems, is subject to a suitable system of maintenance and is maintained in an efficient state. British Standard 5839-1 provides the recognised framework for demonstrating compliance with this duty. Failure to maintain a fire alarm system can invalidate business insurance and result in enforcement action by the local fire authority.
Rather not juggle all this yourself?
Our Fractional Fire Safety Officer looks after this and everything else that keeps you compliant, for one monthly fee. From £100 a month for a single site.
Covering Your Area
Lymington and the New ForestBournemouthChristchurchPooleSouthamptonPortsmouthChichesterGuildfordBasingstokeAndoverRomseyWinchesterSalisburyWeymouthShaftesburyDorchesterand beyond
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