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Fire Alarm Servicing and Maintenance
A fire alarm system that has not been properly maintained is not a fire alarm system you can rely on.
ESI: Fire Safety provides professional fire alarm servicing and maintenance for commercial premises, residential buildings, and managed properties across the South East.
Fire Alarm Servicing & Maintenance
Why Fire Alarm Maintenance Matters
Your fire alarm system is the first line of defence against fire in your building.
It detects fire at the earliest possible stage, alerts occupants in time to evacuate safely, and in many systems alerts a remote monitoring centre or the fire and rescue service automatically.
But a fire alarm system that is not properly maintained will not perform when it matters most.
Detectors become contaminated with dust and debris, reducing their sensitivity and increasing the risk of both false alarms and missed detections.
Batteries fail, control panels develop faults, and wiring deteriorates over time.
Without regular professional servicing and maintenance, these issues accumulate undetected, and the system that you are relying on to protect your building and its occupants may be operating at a fraction of its intended effectiveness.
Regular, professional maintenance is not just good practice.
It is a legal requirement.
What the Law Requires
Under Article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (SI 2005/1541), the Responsible Person is required to ensure that all fire safety equipment and devices, including fire detection and alarm systems, are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order, and in good repair.
The primary technical standard governing the maintenance of fire detection and alarm systems in non-domestic premises is BS 5839-1:2017, Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems for Buildings, Part 1, which sets out the requirements for the design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of systems in commercial and non-domestic premises.
BS 5839-1 requires that fire alarm systems in non-domestic premises are subject to a minimum of two service visits per year by a competent engineer, with the visits timed to cover the full system across the year.
For more complex or higher-risk systems, more frequent servicing may be required.
For residential buildings, including blocks of flats, HMOs, and other multi-occupied residential premises, the relevant standard is BS 5839-6:2019, Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems for Buildings, Part 6, which governs fire detection and alarm systems in domestic premises.
BS 5839-6 requires that Grade D systems, the mains-powered interlinked detector systems most commonly found in residential buildings, are tested by occupants regularly and serviced by a competent engineer at the intervals recommended by the manufacturer, typically annually.
For more sophisticated Grade A, B, or C systems installed in larger or higher-risk residential buildings, the maintenance requirements of BS 5839-1 apply, requiring a minimum of two service visits per year.
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 (SI 2022/547) impose additional obligations on responsible persons in multi-occupied residential buildings, including requirements to ensure that fire detection systems are maintained and that residents are provided with information about the fire safety measures in their building.
For higher-risk buildings within the scope of the Building Safety Act 2022 (c.30), the ongoing assessment and management of building safety risks, including fire detection and alarm systems, is a core duty of the Principal Accountable Person under Section 88 of the Act.
Failure to maintain a fire alarm system in accordance with the relevant standards and legislative requirements can result in enforcement action by the fire and rescue service under the RRO, invalidation of building insurance, and in the event of a fire, serious legal consequences for the Responsible Person.
What Our Service Includes
Our fire alarm servicing and maintenance covers all types of fire detection and alarm systems in commercial and residential managed premises.
Each service visit is carried out by a qualified and experienced fire alarm engineer and includes a full inspection and functional test of all system components, including detectors, manual call points, sounders, control and indicating equipment, power supplies and battery backup, remote signalling equipment where fitted, and all associated wiring and connections.
We test every detector on the system to confirm that it is operating within the specified sensitivity range, identifying any detectors that have become contaminated, degraded, or faulty and need replacement.
We inspect and test all manual call points to confirm that they activate the alarm correctly and that the break glass elements are intact.
We test all sounders and visual alarm devices to confirm that they operate at the correct output level and are audible throughout the building.
We inspect the control and indicating panel, checking for any fault conditions, testing the panel functions, and confirming that all zone and device information is correctly displayed.
We test the battery backup to confirm that it provides the required standby capacity, and replace batteries where necessary.
We provide a full written service record following each visit, documenting the condition of the system, any faults or deficiencies identified, and any remedial actions required.
Where faults are identified during the service visit that can be rectified immediately, we will do so wherever practicable.
Where remedial works are required that cannot be completed during the service visit, we will provide a clear written recommendation and quotation for the works needed.
Don't Wait for a Fire
to Discover Your Compartmentation
Has Failed
Every unsealed penetration, every compromised fire-resisting wall, every degraded cavity barrier is a pathway for fire and smoke to travel through your building unchecked.
A compartmentation survey from ESI: Fire Safety gives you a detailed, evidenced picture of your building’s passive fire protection, the confidence that your legal obligations are being met, and a clear action plan for addressing any deficiencies before they become a tragedy.
Serving building owners, managing agents, freeholders, and responsible persons across the South East and London.
Need help with Fire Alarm Servicing? Get in Touch Today
Fill out the form below, and one of our electrical and fire safety specialists will get back to you as soon as possible.
📞 Prefer to speak to us directly? Call us at 01276 300 351
📧 Or email us at office@esifiresafety.co.uk
We aim to respond to all inquiries within 24 hours.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not sure what to expect from a fire alarm service visit?
Here are the answers to the questions we hear most often from building owners, managing agents, and responsible persons.
