UK fire alarm regulations only state that your fire alarm system must be ‘adequately maintained’, however we recommend that a fire alarm system should be inspected by a competent person at least every 6 months and the government recommends following this standard.
Some businesses take this to mean inspections once every year. BS 5839-1:2017, however, suggests that your fire alarm system should be inspected at least every 6 months.
5 Most Common Causes of Fire in the Workplace
• Faulty equipment. Defective electrics such as loose wires, or faulty equipment that can overheat and cause sparks, are common causes of fires in the workplace
• Clutter
• Combustibles on site
• Human Error
• Arson
Much of the maintenance needs to be done by an experienced professional: all alarm sensors must be calibrated and tested, as must annunciators. Batteries should be checked for corrosion and the connection to the fire service checked.
In order to fulfil your legal obligations, and in accordance with all fire safety regulations, fire drills should be recorded and kept as part of your fire safety and evacuation plan.
Take care of your smoke alarms. Replace the batteries at least once a year and the entire detector every 10 years.
