Under the British Standard regulation, all large and small business fire alarm systems should be tested weekly by a nominated officer in the company, who is responsible for fire safety.

Under the British Standard regulation, all large and small business fire alarm systems should be tested weekly by a nominated officer in the company, who is responsible for fire safety. These tests are conducted in addition to any other checks and maintenance carried out by the business fire alarm systems installer. The purpose of the regular fire alarm test is to make sure that your company’s fire alarm system is fully operational. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states that the responsible person must ensure that the premises, facilities, equipment and devices are subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state in efficient working order and in good repair. Fire alarm systems in commercial premises should be subject to weekly testing as set out in British standards BS5839-6:2019 section 25.2. This ensures the fire alarm is “in efficient working order” as stated in the RRO.
The results of all weekly fire alarm tests are kept in a log book, administered by the nominated officer, and it is their duty to ensure all logbooks are updated regularly and accurately. The data held in the log books will include all occasions when a fire alarm has been triggered on the premises, what action was taken in the event of finding a fault within the system (including the nature of the fault, and who it was reported to), any occasions when the alarms had to be disconnected, and the reason why. fire alarmIn addition to the weekly tests that ensure the system is operating correctly, any business fire alarm systems need to have a full diagnostic check at least twice a year. That said, many premises insist on a more regular check-up – perhaps as often as once every three months – so it is important that you are clear how often checks are expected to be made in your building. While the weekly tests are conducted on-site by a nominated fire and safety officer, the regular diagnostic checks need to be performed by a UKAS certified organisation. At Keybury Fire & Security, we provide essential business fire alarm monitoring services to clients across Yorkshire and beyond. If your fire alarm system need to be serviced, speak to a member of our team today on 01535 661 197, or visit our website for more information.