Annual Fire Alarm Servicing Isn’t Enough: What Else You Have to Do?

Annual fire alarm servicing: why it’s only the start of compliance

Many businesses believe that arranging annual fire alarm servicing is all they need to do to fulfil their legal fire safety obligations. In reality, UK fire safety law requires a continuous testing and maintenance programme, because faults can appear at any time — and fire alarms must work flawlessly when needed.

If a fault arises shortly after the service visit and goes unnoticed, the system could remain unreliable for months.

What BS 5839 requires from annual fire alarm servicing

During annual fire alarm servicing, a competent fire alarm engineer must:

• inspect and test 100% of all devices within a 12-month cycle

• confirm audibility meets approved evacuation criteria

• check batteries and power supplies meet standby time requirements

• verify zonal accuracy and device coverage

• ensure cause & effect programming works correctly

• record all results in a formal servicing report

Annual servicing confirms system integrity — but only at one point in time.

Legal obligations beyond annual fire alarm servicing

Weekly testing (Responsible Person)

• activate a different manual call point each week

• confirm alarm sounders operate throughout the premises

• reset the control panel

• record the activity in the logbook

Weekly testing uncovers silent failures early.

Monthly visual inspections

• check detectors aren’t painted, damaged or obstructed

• ensure no fault or disablement lights on the panel

• check power supply condition

Even unnoticed dust or vandalism can impair detection.

Biannual servicing (every 6 months)

Performed by a competent engineer, including:

• testing a proportion of devices at each visit

• checking communication paths & monitoring

• reviewing fault logs

• inspecting condition of cabling and terminations

Biannual means at least twice per year — this is now the accepted UK standard.

Why skipping these checks is a huge liability

If you rely solely on annual fire alarm servicing:

You risk:

• evacuation failure in a real fire

• insurance claims refused due to lack of maintenance

• enforcement notices from Fire Authority

• prosecution under the Fire Safety Order 2005

Fire alarms are life safety systems — and failure can be catastrophic.

Summary

Annual fire alarm servicing isn’t enough. Compliance requires:

• weekly user checks

• monthly visual inspections

• biannual servicing by qualified engineers

• full documentation and prompt fault resolution

Need compliant annual and biannual fire alarm servicing in London or the South East? Contact us today to arrange your fire alarm maintenance programme.