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How often should a fire alarm system be serviced?

BS 5839-1 recommends inspection and servicing at intervals not exceeding six months, in addition to the weekly test by the user.

Direct answer

A fire detection and alarm system needs attention at several intervals: a daily check of the control and indicating equipment, a weekly test by the user, monthly attention where a generator or vented batteries form the standby supply, and periodic servicing by a competent person or service organisation at intervals not exceeding six months. BS 5839-1 states that a system serviced at a longer interval should be considered no longer compliant with the standard, so many organisations arrange two service visits a year. A shorter interval may be appropriate where the risk assessment, insurer or enforcing authority requires it.

Applies to

  • Products / Models: All Hochiki Europe addressable and conventional systems (general guidance)
  • Firmware / Version: Not applicable
  • Region: UK
  • Standards: BS 5839-1 (routine testing, inspection and servicing, and premises management responsibilities)

Who is responsible

Two roles share responsibility for keeping a fire alarm system serviceable.

  • The premises management (the user). BS 5839-1 recommends appointing a single, named member of the premises management to supervise the system, keep the documentation, ensure testing and maintenance are arranged and keep the logbook up to date. In England and Wales that person normally acts for the responsible person as defined in Article 3 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
  • A competent person or servicing organisation. BS 5839-1 states that periodic inspection and servicing needs to be carried out by a competent person with specialist knowledge of fire detection and fire alarm systems, including knowledge of the causes of false alarms. BS 5839-1 notes that the competence of a servicing organisation can be assured by using an organisation that is third-party certificated by a UKAS-accredited certification body; insurers and some purchasers ask for this, but it is not itself a legal requirement.

What the premises management does

  • Daily. BS 5839-1 recommends that the control and indicating equipment be checked at least once every 24 hours to confirm there are no fault indications.
  • Weekly. The user tests a manual call point (a different call point each week is commonly recommended), confirms that the panel and sounders respond, and records the test in the system log book. The appointed member of premises management may nominate someone else to carry out the test, and it does not require a competent third-party engineer. If the system reports to an alarm receiving centre, contact them immediately before and immediately after the test. BS 5839-1 treats this as essential, both to avoid an unwanted call-out and to confirm the signal was received. See How to carry out the weekly fire alarm test.
  • Monthly. Where an automatically started standby generator forms part of the standby supply, start it by simulating failure of the normal supply and run it on load for at least one hour, following the generator manufacturer's instructions on the load to be applied. Leave the fuel tank filled afterwards and check and top up the oil and coolant levels. Where vented batteries form the standby supply, inspect the batteries and their connections and rectify any defect, including low electrolyte level. BS 5839-1 notes that whoever carries out this monthly work needs to be competent to do it safely and to have the relevant technical knowledge and training.
  • Quarterly (vented batteries only). Where the standby supply uses vented batteries, the batteries and their connections should be examined and the electrolyte levels checked and topped up as necessary. BS 5839-1 recommends that this is done by someone competent in battery installation and maintenance technology; in larger premises that may be your own maintenance staff, otherwise it forms part of the servicing visit.
  • Report and log any faults shown on the panel.

Periodic servicing (competent person)

  • BS 5839-1 recommends that the period between successive inspection and servicing visits should not exceed six months, and states that if this is not done the system should be considered no longer compliant with the standard. Confirm the interval against the current edition of BS 5839-1 and the fire risk assessment for the premises.
  • Your insurer, or the outcome of your fire risk assessment, may call for more frequent attention than the standard recommends. That is a separate requirement, not a recommendation of BS 5839-1.
  • Your servicing contract should allow a technician to normally attend the premises within 8 hours of a call, on a 24-hour basis, and the name and telephone number of the servicing organisation should be displayed near the main fire alarm panel.

What a service visit typically covers

  • At every visit. Functional checks of the panel, including its controls, indicators and ancillary functions, and operation of at least one detector or manual call point on each circuit. The false alarm record is checked, and transmission of signals to any alarm receiving centre is tested.
  • Over each 12-month period. The switch mechanism of every manual call point is tested, and every automatic fire detector is examined and functionally tested using the phenomenon it is designed to detect. A test button or test magnet alone does not satisfy the standard. Every fire alarm device, radio signal strengths on radio-linked systems, the cause and effect programme, the standby power supply capacity and the zone plan are also checked. The annual work may be spread over two or more visits, which is why two visits a year is the usual arrangement.
  • Measurement of the battery charge voltage, a load test of the batteries and checks of the standby power supply.
  • Review of the fire log book, confirming that faults recorded since the last visit have been attended to.
  • A visual inspection for building or occupancy changes that could affect the siting of manual call points, detectors and alarm devices — for example new partitions, storage encroaching on ceilings, or new exits without an adjacent call point. Routine servicing verifies the functionality and serviceability of the existing system; it is not a fresh review of the system design, and it should not be relied on to identify every departure from that design.

Relationship to the log book and certificates

  • On completion of each service visit, any outstanding defects should be reported to the premises management, the system logbook should be completed, and an inspection and servicing certificate should be issued. BS 5839-1 gives a model form for this certificate in its informative annex of model certificates.
  • Service records form part of the documentation trail alongside the design, installation, commissioning and acceptance certificates — see What certificates should a fire alarm system have?.

When to contact technical support

  • If you are unsure of the servicing interval appropriate to your system or premises.
  • If a service visit identifies a fault that needs manufacturer-level support.
  • If you need help identifying a service organisation able to maintain a Hochiki system in your area.

Safety note

This article is general guidance for Hochiki Europe products. Design, installation, commissioning, maintenance and modification of fire detection and alarm systems should be carried out by, or under the responsibility of, a competent person in accordance with the applicable standards (for example BS 5839-1 in the UK). Statutory requirements imposed by the relevant enforcing authority also apply. Always refer to the current product manual and data sheet for the exact model before carrying out any work.

References

  • BS 5839-1 (current edition) — servicing and maintenance recommendations
  • System log book

Last reviewed: 2026-10-21 — Reviewed by: Hochiki Europe Technical Support