Fire alarm maintenance requirements explained

As a business owner, it is only natural that you want to protect your commercial property, assets and people. And while the number of workplace fires reported in the UK has generally declined over the last decade, there were still over 7,000 reported in 2023/24.

This highlights the ongoing importance of robust fire safety measures, with fire alarm systems being a critical component. Understanding your obligations and implementing best practices for fire alarm maintenance ensures the safety of your employees and the continuity of your operations.

Who is responsible for fire alarm maintenance?

In the UK, the legal responsibility for fire safety, including fire alarm maintenance, falls on the ‘responsible person’ for a commercial premises. This can be the employer, owner, landlord or anyone else who has control over the premises, such as a facilities manager or building manager.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) mandates that this individual or entity ensures adequate fire safety measures are in place and properly maintained.

What are the legal requirements?

The FSO requires the responsible person to take general fire precautions to ensure the safety of employees and relevant persons. This includes making sure that fire detection and warning systems are maintained, in efficient working order and in good repair.

While the FSO does not explicitly detail maintenance frequencies, it strongly recommends adherence to British Standard BS 5839-1:2017, which is the code of practice for design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in non-domestic premises.

BS 5839-1 recommends that fire alarm detection systems are inspected once every six months, and internal checks should be carried out every week. Compliance with BS 5839-1 is considered best practice and is essential for meeting your legal obligations and for insurance purposes.

The importance of fire alarm maintenance for businesses

Regular fire alarm maintenance is paramount for businesses for the following reasons:

Life safety: The primary importance of a properly functioning fire alarm system is, of course, to provide early warning in the event of a fire, allowing building occupants to evacuate safely and promptly.

• Property protection: Early detection and warning can limit fire damage to your premises and assets, reducing business disruption and potential financial losses.
• Legal compliance: As highlighted previously, it is a legal duty for business owners and responsible persons to ensure fire alarm systems are maintained in order to avoid any legal repercussions.
• Insurance validity: Many insurance policies require proof of regular fire alarm maintenance to validate claims in the event of a fire. Non-compliance could void your coverage.
• System reliability: Regular servicing helps identify and rectify potential faults before they escalate, ensuring the system is reliable and reduces the likelihood of false alarms.

Best practices for business owners to safeguard people and assets

Beyond legal compliance, proactive fire safety management involves adopting best practices to create a truly safe workplace. As a business owner, you should:

• Conduct regular fire risk assessments: Periodically review and update your fire risk assessment to identify potential hazards and ensure your fire safety measures remain adequate for your premises and activities.
• Ensure proper fire alarm system design: Your fire alarm system should be designed to suit the specific needs of your building, its occupancy and the risks present. This often requires professional expertise in order to meet relevant British Standards (BS 5839-1).
• Provide staff training: Make sure all employees are trained on fire safety procedures, including how to react to a fire alarm, evacuation routes, and the location of fire exits and assembly points. Appoint and train fire wardens.
• Maintain emergency lighting and signage: Ensure emergency lighting is functional and escape route signage is clear and unobstructed.
• Keep fire exits clear: Regularly check that all fire exits and escape routes are free from obstructions.
• Perform regular equipment checks: In addition to professional maintenance, conduct internal weekly checks of fire alarm call points and maintain a log.
• Promptly address faults: Any faults identified in the fire alarm system must be addressed and rectified by a competent person as quickly as possible.

How to choose a suitable fire alarm maintenance provider

Selecting the right fire alarm maintenance provider is quintessential to the effectiveness and compliance of your system, demanding careful consideration of a few key factors.

Firstly, the experience and expertise of the provider are paramount. It is advisable to choose a company with extensive experience in maintaining fire alarm systems. Their engineering team should be demonstrably fully trained, qualified and certified to handle the intricacies of modern fire detection systems.

Additionally, maintaining strict compliance with British Standards, especially BS 5839-1, is non-negotiable. The chosen provider must be intimately familiar with and rigorously adhere to these critical guidelines for fire alarm system maintenance.

A suitable provider will also offer complete service offerings. This means they should be capable of delivering a full spectrum of services, including carefully planned preventative maintenance schedules, efficient fault finding and repair services and reliable emergency call-out support to address unforeseen issues promptly.

Ideally, the provider should also demonstrate the flexibility to offer tailored solutions, crafting bespoke maintenance plans that are specifically adapted to the unique requirements and inherent risks associated with your particular premises.

How ODIN Services can help

Our engineers are deeply committed to providing robust fire safety solutions, specifically designed to safeguard your valuable assets and personnel. We understand that fire safety is a paramount concern for all types of businesses and facilities, especially large or multi-purpose buildings with their unique challenges.

A thoughtfully designed and well-maintained fire safety system is key when it comes to reducing the risk of fire damage, protecting lives and ensuring minimal disruption to your operations.

Our full-service approach to fire safety encompasses every stage of your system’s lifecycle. We excel in fire alarm system design, installation and commissioning, prioritising early detection and rapid response.

Our team can custom-design and seamlessly integrate an advanced fire alarm system tailored to your building’s specific infrastructure. We also conduct rigorous testing and commissioning to guarantee its full functionality and ongoing adherence to industry standards – an investment that can enhance both safety and your property’s value.

And of course, we are dedicated to proactive fire alarm maintenance and repair. Our commitment extends to delivering planned preventative maintenance designed to avert potential faults and extend your system’s lifespan, thereby reducing the likelihood of breakdowns.

When issues do arise, we provide prompt fire alarm repairs to minimise any downtime and ensure your business consistently complies with current health and safety legislation.

Beyond detection systems, we also provide fire extinguishers and essential safety equipment. Our comprehensive range of high-quality fire extinguishers and apparatus is supplied to meet your building’s legal requirements.

By partnering with ODIN Services, we’ll work closely with you to protect your assets and boost your reputation in fire safety. Contact us today to explore your options.