How often should fire alarms be tested (UK)?

A fire alarm is a potentially life-saving piece of equipment used to alert people in the event of a fire. Here, we highlight why installation and maintenance of fire alarms is so important, outline where they’re needed and explain how to test fire alarm systems, plus define who is responsible for them.

Why are fire alarms so important?

Between April 2020 and March 2021, government statistics showed 240 fire-related fatalities and 6,347 non-fatal casualties in England. Early warning systems such as fire alarms can alert occupants to danger, giving them chance to safely evacuate the building, and potentially save many lives.

While often intrinsically linked, it’s important to note that smoke alarms and fire alarms are not necessarily one object. A fire alarm is often triggered by a smoke detector, but some types, such as rotary fire alarms, are triggered manually.

Who is responsible for fire alarms?

Article 13 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRFSO) stipulates that “in order to safeguard the safety of relevant persons, the responsible person must ensure that the premises are, to the extent that it is appropriate, equipped with appropriate fire-fighting equipment and with fire detectors and alarms.”

The RRFSO defines the responsible person as anyone who has control of a premises – for example, the owner or employer. This also applies to landlords, who must ensure that early warning systems installed in their properties are in working order to protect property and lives of tenants and other building users. To learn more, read our guide to fire safety for landlords.

Where are fire alarms needed?

As mentioned above, the RRFSO stipulates that premises are equipped with fire detectors and alarms “to the extent that is appropriate”. This is determined by a fire risk assessment, which examines hazards and risks of each premises.

Noisy environments such as construction sites may require a high-performance unit such as the CommandAlert Site Alarm to alert people should a fire break out. This site alarm can easily be heard through ear protection, over the noise of hammers and drills and across a significant distance so it’s suitable for most industries and environments. Manufactured from ABS plastic, it’s also incredibly tough, resilient and completely waterproof. Conversely, an Air Horn Alarm may provide adequate cover for smaller premises or fire drills.

How often do fire alarms need to be tested?

British Standard BS 5839 stipulates that all commercial building fire alarm systems must be tested weekly, with the purpose of verifying they are in good working order, and identifying any issues. It’s also advised that smoke alarms in every home or property are tested once a week. The #TestItTuesday social media campaign has gathered real momentum in raising awareness of the importance of fire alarms and their weekly testing.

Note that fire alarm servicing is different from weekly testing. BS 5839 recommends that a fire alarm system should be inspected by a competent person at least every six months.

How to test fire alarm systems

In each weekly test, a different fire alarm call-point should be activated to check that the alarm sounds and the panel (if applicable) receives the signal. The responsible person can carry out the weekly fire alarm test, or – if there are a number of properties to look after – the fire alarm company can be asked to carry out the test instead. If a problem is encountered during the test, the fire safety company should be contacted. Finally, the test must be recorded in a fire safety log book, including the location of the call-point(s) that were tested.

How to reset fire alarm systems

Once a successful check has been performed, the fire alarm can be reset if required. Not all fire alarms need to be reset, as some – such as air horns or rotary alarms – only sound during manual use. Others can be reset via their panel, according to manufacturer’s instructions.  

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