Know your Legal requirements

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 Commencing 1st October 2006
requires any business with 5 or more employees to carry out a written Risk Assessment and have an Emergency plan.

Failure to undertake and hold a written Risk assessment is a Criminal Offence.

Additionally to workplaces, other premises may also be subject to other Regulations that place further special requirements particularly if the general Public may be at Risk. Examples of these are Hotels, places used for the purpose of Public Entertainment’s, licensed premises & restaurants.

Should I carry out a Risk assessment?

Whether a Fire Alarm System has been previously installed or your premises does not have a Fire Alarm or any procedure, it is a requirement by law that the Risk assessment is undertaken.

Fire Alarm System Standard

In most instances the precautions implemented following a Risk Assessment will see the installation of (or Upgrade of) a Fire Alarm system and fire extinguishing equipment.

Regular reviews of your Risk assessment will be required to ensure any changes within your business or building layout are still compliant with the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations.

BS5839 Regulations for the design, installation and Maintenance of Fire Detection & Fire Alarms, details the specific requirements for detection & alarm equipment to satisfy the Fire Precautions Regulations.

Continued compliance

Fire Alarm Regulations BS5839 require the duty holder to undertake Periodic checks to ensure the functionality of the system.

Failure to keep the Fire Alarm System in working order could lead the local Fire
Brigade to serve enforcement notices requiring compliance, they also have the authority to close any building which does not meet this act
Check Frequencies required by BS5839 are:

Daily
Weekly
Quarterly
Annually

All check frequencies have specific requirements. Checks should be recorded where necessary in the Fire Safety Log Book.

Do Regulations Change?

Regulations have undergone a number of changes since their introduction, keeping up to date with regulations is important and failure to do so may mean that your installation does not comply.

How can Electrotest Services help you comply with your legal requirements?

As a Fire Alarm testing Specialist, Electrotest Services have considerable expertise in the Periodic Inspection and Test of Fire Alarms.

After careful evaluation of your premises*, its uses and occupancy, we will carry out a Formal Inspection & test that fully complies with the requirements as set out in BS5839

All inspections will check that the Fire Alarm is installed in the required locations* as well as testing the functionality of existing lighting.

Periodic Inspection Report & Fire Safety Log Book

Following a Periodic Inspection of your Fire Alarm Installation, Electrotest Services will provide a Certificate that will detail the specific nature of the inspection along with any departures from BS5839 that may exist.

All certificates supplied by Electrotest Services will clearly display our accreditation with the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contractors (NICEIC) along with our enrolment number.

BS5839 requires an up to date log book to be kept that details the type of Fire Alarm System Installed along with all events and checks to be logged. Where no log book is present, Electrotest Services can supply a comprehensive log book that fully details the type of Fire Alarm system installed, responsible persons, contractors and even Manufacturers should spare parts be sought. All further inspections will then be recorded within the “Events” section of the book.

*Viewing your risk assessment would be required to fully identify your Fire Alarm requirements.