{"id":14116,"date":"2022-12-14T14:01:11","date_gmt":"2022-12-14T14:01:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/?p=14116"},"modified":"2025-01-27T09:54:16","modified_gmt":"2025-01-27T09:54:16","slug":"how-often-should-commercial-fire-alarms-be-tested","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/news\/how-often-should-commercial-fire-alarms-be-tested\/","title":{"rendered":"How often should commercial fire alarms be tested?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Employers, businesses, and commercial property owners have several legal obligations related to fire safety, many of which were introduced as part of The Fire Safety Act 2005<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How often should commercial fire alarms<\/a> be tested? Fire alarms in any commercial building should be tested weekly.<\/p>\n

The regulations say that a company should appoint somebody as the responsible person.<\/strong> The designated individual is usually a manager but can be a colleague or senior person who is on-site most of the time and can oversee fire alarm testing procedures.<\/p>\n

This appointed individual is also responsible for ensuring the property has the correct fire alarms and detectors and organising regular checks to ensure the system is in good working order.<\/p>\n\n\"fire\n

Legal Requirements for Commercial Fire Alarms<\/h2>\n

The law is vague because no specific legislation says every commercial building must have a fire alarm. However, fire alarm regulations applicable across the UK detail the need for an \u2018appropriate fire detection system\u2019.<\/p>\n

If there were a fire on a commercial premise, the business must have some method of detecting smoke<\/a> or fire, warning employees or service users, and allowing them to evacuate.<\/p>\n

There are also requirements for employers responsible for fire safety in any place where staff work. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974<\/a> covers further obligations for employers relating to fire safety and servicing alarms regularly.<\/p>\n

Failure to install a working, tested and inspected fire alarm or fire system <\/a>could mean exposure to liability claims, fines, penalties and health and safety-related prosecution through any of these regulations.<\/p>\n

Testing Rules for Fire Alarms in Commercial Buildings<\/h2>\n

Fire alarms must be tested regularly \u2013 there are multiple possible issues or errors that could mean an alarm doesn\u2019t sound, isn\u2019t triggered at all, or is ineffective in an emergency. Regular tests mitigate these risks by checking that the alarms are working in all operational areas of the building.<\/p>\n

Anybody can be designated the responsible person, provided they have the authority, competence and training to conduct checks correctly and complete an ongoing log.<\/p>\n

Businesses and commercial property owners can also delegate responsibility to a third party, such as a fire alarm company, which is ideal if they are not on-site every week or oversee the health and safety provisions of the building remotely.<\/p>\n

British Standard BS 5839<\/a> says that all fire alarms should be tested once per week, using the test to identify any possible faults and ensure compliance. Weekly alarm tests apply to every business or site, so if you have a property with several separate buildings, each must have an independent alarm, which is tested on a weekly basis.<\/p>\n

How often should fire detection and warning systems be checked?<\/h2>\n

1. Weekly Commercial Fire Alarm Test Requirements<\/h3>\n

During the test, the responsible person should activate at least one, but possibly more, call-points. They need to check that the alarm is activated and audible and that the control panel recognises the fire alarm.<\/p>\n

Other requirements include the following:<\/p>\n