The law and the standard
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 says fire alarm systems must be maintained in efficient working order. BS 5839-1 is the code of practice for alarms in non-domestic premises. The 2025 edition came into effect on 30 April 2025 and replaced the 2017 edition.
The six-monthly service
A competent engineer should:
- inspect and test the system
- check the panel, batteries and power supplies
- check signals to any alarm receiving centre
- test devices so that every detector, call point and sounder is tested over each 12 months
- check zones match the zone plan
- give you a certificate
Faults should be fixed or reported, never hidden.
Your weekly test
Once a week, at about the same time, set off a different manual call point each time, check the sounders work, reset the panel and write it in the logbook. Keep the test short, and tell staff it is a test.
The logbook
Record weekly tests, faults, false alarms, services and any changes to the system. Under the 2025 edition, all agreed variations from the standard should be written in the logbook, and every false alarm should be investigated.
What changed in 2025
The main changes are the 5 to 7 month service window, every variation recorded in the logbook, every false alarm investigated, new rules for extending or modifying systems, and a preference for automatic detection where people sleep.