How to carry out the weekly fire alarm test

Direct answer

The weekly fire alarm test confirms that the system can detect an alarm condition and that the panel and sounders respond correctly. As general guidance, the user (or a person nominated by premises management) tests a different manual call point each week, confirms the panel registers the alarm and the sounders operate, resets the system, and records the result in the fire log book. Always verify the exact frequency and method against the current edition of BS 5839-1 and any site-specific requirement from the relevant enforcing authority — the body responsible for enforcing fire safety regulations at your premises.

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)

Purpose of the weekly test

• Confirms the system can still raise and process an alarm signal end to end (call point, panel, sounders).
• Builds a documented history of testing in the fire log book, which supports the fire risk assessment and any inspection by the relevant enforcing authority.
• Is separate from periodic servicing by a competent person — see How often should a fire alarm system be serviced?.
• Keeps occupants familiar with the alarm signal.

Who carries out the weekly test

• BS 5839-1 places the weekly test with the user of the premises, and recommends that a single named member of premises management is appointed to supervise the system. 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. Where it is necessary to safeguard the safety of relevant persons, Article 17 of that Order requires the responsible person to ensure that the system is subject to a suitable system of maintenance and is kept in efficient working order and in good repair. See What are the duties of the Responsible Person for a fire alarm system?.
• The weekly test itself does not require a specific qualification, but rather than being carried out by a service engineer it is carried out by the user, who should be familiar with the system, the logbook procedure, any alarm receiving centre arrangements, and any ancillary outputs that need to be disabled during the test.

When to test

• Carry out the test during normal working hours, at approximately the same time each week, so that occupants come to recognise it as the weekly test and can report any location where the alarm is difficult to hear.
• Where some employees only work outside the usual test time, carry out at least one additional test each month at a time when they are present, so that they are familiar with the alarm signal.

Steps

1. Contact the alarm receiving centre before you start
   • If the system transmits alarm signals to an alarm receiving centre (ARC), notify the ARC immediately before the test so that the signal is not treated as a real fire and passed to the fire and rescue service.
2. Check whether any ancillary outputs need to be disabled
   • Where the system operates ancillary equipment such as door holders, plant shutdown or lift homing, decide before you start whether those outputs need to be disabled for the test, and disable them at the panel if so. Re-enable them as soon as the test is complete and confirm the panel no longer shows a disablement. See How to disable part of a fire alarm system safely.
3. Choose a different manual call point each week
   • Rotate through the call points on the premises so that, over time, every call point is exercised.
4. Operate the test key or test facility at the chosen call point
   • Use the manufacturer's test key or resettable test glass/element as appropriate for the call point type. For Hochiki Europe call points, refer to the relevant product data sheet if you are unsure which test method applies.
5. Confirm the panel registers the alarm and, where the system is monitored, that the signal reached the ARC
   • Check that the panel displays the correct zone/device and goes into the alarm condition.
6. Confirm the sounders operate
   • Listen for the alarm sounders (and check any visual alarm devices) operating as expected. Let the alarm signal run for at least 5 seconds, and normally no longer than 60 seconds. Where the system has staged alarms, operate the "Alert" and "Evacuate" signals in that order where practicable.
7. Reset the system
   • Once the test is confirmed, reset the call point and the panel following the panel's normal reset procedure.
8. Contact the ARC again after the test
   • Contact the ARC again immediately after the test to confirm that the fire alarm signal was received correctly and that the system has been returned to normal monitoring.
9. Log the result
   • Record the date, the call point tested, and the outcome in the fire log book.
10. Report any faults
    • If the panel does not register the alarm, sounders do not operate, or any other fault is shown, report it and log it as a fault rather than a successful test.

What to record in the log book

• Date and time of the test.
• Which call point was tested.
• Confirmation that the panel and sounders responded correctly.
• Name of the person carrying out the test.
• Any faults found and the action taken (for example, reporting to the service provider).
• For everything else the log book should contain, see What should be recorded in the fire alarm log book?.

When to contact technical support

• If the panel does not register the test or sounders do not operate.
• If you are unsure how many call points your system has or how to rotate testing across them.
• If a fault is logged but has not been resolved within a reasonable timeframe by your service provider, escalate to Hochiki Europe technical support for further assistance.

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 (verify the current edition is in force at the time of use) — routine testing recommendations
• System log book

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