What are the duties of the Responsible Person for a fire alarm system?
The Responsible Person's duties for a fire alarm system under BS 5839-1 and UK fire safety law: provide and maintain the system, test, log, and use competent people.
Direct answer
For most non-domestic premises in England and Wales, the Responsible Person (often the employer, owner or occupier) has legal duties under fire safety law to ensure a suitable fire detection and alarm system is provided, maintained in working order, and supported by a fire risk assessment. In practice this means arranging routine testing and periodic servicing, keeping a fire log book, acting on faults, and using competent people for design, installation and maintenance to a recognised standard such as BS 5839-1. Confirm your exact legal duties against current fire safety legislation and the recommendations of BS 5839-1 for your premises.
Applies to
- Products / Models: General guidance (any fire detection and alarm system)
- Firmware / Version: Not applicable
- Region: UK (England & Wales; equivalent duties apply in Scotland / NI under their own legislation)
- Standards: BS 5839-1; relevant fire safety legislation
Who is the Responsible Person
- Typically the employer, building owner, occupier or managing agent who has control of the premises.
- For some premises there may be more than one Responsible Person who must cooperate.
Key duties (general)
- Ensure a fire risk assessment is carried out and kept up to date.
- Provide and maintain an appropriate fire detection and alarm system.
- Arrange routine testing (for example weekly user testing) and periodic servicing by a competent person.
- Keep a fire log book recording tests, servicing, faults and false alarms.
- Act on faults and false alarms promptly.
- Use competent people for design, installation, commissioning and maintenance.
When to contact technical support
- For advice on maintaining or servicing a Hochiki system installed at your premises.
- For help understanding fault indications shown on your panel.
Safety note
This article is general guidance for Hochiki Europe products. Installation, commissioning, maintenance and modification of fire detection and alarm systems must be carried out by a competent person in accordance with the applicable standards (for example BS 5839-1 in the UK) and the requirements of the relevant authority having jurisdiction. Always refer to the current product manual and data sheet for the exact model before carrying out any work. This article is not legal advice; confirm your duties against current legislation.
References
- BS 5839-1 (current edition)
- Relevant national fire safety legislation
Last reviewed: 2026-06-16 — Reviewed by: Takashi Ishikawa