What should be recorded in the fire alarm log book?
What to record in the fire alarm log book: weekly tests, faults and rectification, false alarms, servicing, disablements and alterations, per BS 5839-1.
Direct answer
The fire alarm log book is a record of the life of the system, kept by the responsible person for the premises. As general guidance under BS 5839-1, it records routine weekly tests, any faults and how they were rectified, false alarms, servicing visits, disablements and reinstatements, and alterations to the system. A well-kept log book supports the fire risk assessment and any inspection by the authority having jurisdiction. Confirm the exact entries expected against the current BS 5839-1 recommendations and any local requirement for 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 (records / log book)
What the log book is and why it matters
- The log book is the documented history of the fire detection and alarm system for the premises.
- BS 5839-1 expects a log book to be held and maintained by the responsible person (or a person nominated by them).
- It provides evidence of ongoing testing and maintenance for the fire risk assessment and for inspection by the authority having jurisdiction.
Who maintains the log book
- The responsible person for the premises is accountable for keeping the log book up to date, or nominates a suitable person to make entries.
- Service engineers and the service organisation also add entries when they visit, but the responsible person remains accountable for the record being complete.
Typical entries
- Routine weekly tests — date, the manual call point tested, and that the panel and sounders responded — see How to carry out the weekly fire alarm test.
- Faults and rectification — faults shown by the panel, the date, and the action taken to put them right.
- False alarms / unwanted fire signals — date, suspected cause, and any action taken to prevent recurrence.
- Servicing visits — date of each periodic service by a competent person, and the outcome — see How often should a fire alarm system be serviced?.
- Disablements and reinstatements — any part of the system temporarily disabled (for example during building work), when, why, and when it was reinstated.
- Alterations — additions, removals or changes to the system and devices.
- Call-outs and incidents — actuation of the system in a real or suspected fire, and the response.
How it supports inspection and the risk assessment
- An up-to-date log book is one of the first things an inspecting authority or a competent person will ask to see.
- Gaps in the record (for example missing weekly tests) can undermine confidence that the system is being properly maintained.
When to contact technical support
- If you are unsure what your specific system requires you to record.
- If repeated faults or false alarms are being logged and you need help identifying the cause.
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.
References
- BS 5839-1 (current edition) — records and log book recommendations
- System log book
Last reviewed: 2026-06-16 — Reviewed by: Takashi Ishikawa