Is Your Commercial Fire Alarm System Up To Date With Fire Regulations?

Every security system within your business plays an integral role in ensuring your premises is safe and secure from CCTV to intruder alarm systems. However, of all of these security systems, it is without question that your fire alarm system is the most important and therefore must be a priority for every business owner.

In terms of lawful requirements, the UK Fire Alarm Regulations form part of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, also known as the RRO. The British Government also recommends that all fire alarm and fire detection systems should be installed and correctly maintained to meet the requirements of the British Standard BS 5839 guidelines.

That being said, it can be difficult for business owners to keep up to date with these guidelines due to the confusion of what is exactly required. As such, here we will outline some of the key areas which must be maintained and what is required of you and your system.

Do I need a Fire Alarm System?

UK law states that all business premises must have an appropriate fire detection system, so in short, yes. Businesses need to have a system in which they will be alerted to a fire and are then able to easily warn and evacuate the occupants of the premises.

What Fire Alarm System do I require?

Currently, UK legislation does not specify which system is required in different premises, it is simply a case of what best suits the requirements of your business. There are a number of systems available to commercial premises; the conventional fire alarm system, wireless fire alarms and addressable fire alarms. It is recommended that you always use a reputable fire alarm installation company to design and install your system to ensure it conforms to UK fire alarm regulations.

Who Can Install My Fire Alarm System?

Again, there are no strict regulations surrounding who can install your system other than them being ‘competent’. However, once again, when it comes to installing a fire alarm system, you will undoubtedly want a reputable fire alarm installation company with engineers that are well versed in BS 5839 requirements.

Does Fire Alarms need servicing?

Regulations state that your fire alarm system must be ‘adequately maintained’ which can be interpreted in a variety of ways. However, BS 5839 specifically advises that systems should be inspected every 6 months at least. Plus, if you work in larger commercial premises it is recommended that you have a quarterly service as the system is much more complex and is, therefore, more prone to failure.

Commercial fire alarm systems not only protect your premises, your stock, but they also protect the most important asset of all; lives. Ensuring your system is up to date with fire regulation is of paramount importance which is why it is best to hire a specialist fire alarm system engineer. At Optical Fire and Security Limited, our engineers will assess your building requirements and be happy to design and install a comprehensive alarm system which will not only be in accordance with the latest regulations but will address your site’s needs.