Who is responsible
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the "responsible person" for a non-domestic premises, usually the employer, owner or managing agent, must keep fire safety equipment maintained in efficient working order and good repair. The British Standards below are how insurers, fire officers and auditors judge whether that has been done.
The schedule at a glance
| System | Check | Who | How often | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire alarm | User test from a different call point, recorded in the logbook | Responsible person | Weekly | BS 5839-1 |
| Fire alarm | Inspection and service | Competent engineer | At least every 6 months | BS 5839-1 |
| Emergency lighting | Short functional (flick) test | Responsible person | Monthly | BS 5266-1 |
| Emergency lighting | Full rated duration test, usually 3 hours | Competent engineer | Annually | BS 5266-1 |
| Extinguishers | Visual check: in place, undamaged, gauge in range | Responsible person | Monthly | BS 5306-3 |
| Extinguishers | Basic service | Competent engineer | Annually | BS 5306-3 |
| Extinguishers | Extended service (water, foam, powder) or overhaul (CO2) | Competent engineer | Every 5 years (CO2 every 10) | BS 5306-3 |
| Fire risk assessment | Review and update | Responsible person or assessor | Regularly, and after any significant change | FSO 2005 |
Fire alarms (BS 5839-1)
A weekly test of the system from a manual call point, using a different call point each week, confirms the panel receives the signal and the sounders operate. It should be recorded in the logbook.
BS 5839-1 recommends that a competent person inspects and services the system at intervals of no more than six months. The engineer checks detectors, call points, sounders, the panel, batteries and the logbook, and issues a certificate recording anything that needs attention.
Emergency lighting (BS 5266-1)
Every month, each emergency light should be switched to battery briefly to confirm it lights. Once a year, every fitting needs a full rated duration test, commonly three hours, to prove the battery lasts. Tests and any failures must be recorded. The full test is best done when the building is quiet, because batteries need time to recharge afterwards.
Fire extinguishers (BS 5306-3)
A competent person should carry out a basic service every year. Water, foam and powder extinguishers also need an extended service every five years, which includes a discharge test. CO2 extinguishers need an overhaul and pressure test every ten years. Between services, a monthly visual check by the responsible person is good practice.
Blocks of flats
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 add duties for buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises. All such buildings need fire safety instructions and fire door information given to residents. In buildings over 11 metres, responsible persons must check communal fire doors every three months and use best endeavours to check flat entrance doors every year. Buildings over 18 metres carry further duties.
How we help
Praetor Fire & Security puts fire alarms, emergency lighting, extinguishers, fire risk assessment, CCTV and access control on one contract with one renewal date, and sends a certificate pack after every visit. Managing several sites? Start with our free compliance review.
Questions
How often should a fire alarm be serviced?
BS 5839-1 recommends inspection and servicing by a competent person at intervals of no more than six months, with a weekly user test from a different call point recorded in the logbook.
How often does emergency lighting need testing?
A short functional test every month and a full rated duration test, usually three hours, once a year, with results recorded, under BS 5266-1.
How often do fire extinguishers need servicing?
A basic service every year under BS 5306-3, plus an extended service every five years for water, foam and powder extinguishers, and an overhaul every ten years for CO2.
Who is responsible for fire alarm maintenance?
The responsible person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, usually the employer, owner or managing agent of the premises.
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