Weekly Fire Alarm Test

Many of us who have worked in commercial premises for a long time will know that a weekly fire alarm test is standard practice. It is an essential part of maintaining your fire safety system and ensuring that everything is working properly.

Robinsons Facilities Services can help with every aspect of your fire safety, providing fire protection services including risk assessments and the setup and management of fire detection systems.

You don’t necessarily need the professionals to carry out the weekly fire alarm tests, as long as they are carried out by a competent person.

Why We Test Weekly

A weekly test is deemed necessary in order to check everything is working and that you can enjoy peace of mind.

The weekly fire alarm test is a legal requirement in the UK, as stipulated by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This states that:

“Fire alarm systems in premises must be subject to a regular system of maintenance and testing.”

There is also a relevant British Standard, BS 5839-6: 2019 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Within, it is clearly outlined that there should be weekly tests to “ensure that there has not been any major failure, and that the fire alarm system is in working order.”

How to Test Your Fire Alarm System

Weekly fire alarm tests are not as onerous a task as you might think. It varies depending on what system you have in place. If you work with Robinsons Facilities Services, our accredited staff will show you how to test the system upon installation.

You simply need to:

• Check that all the devices are powered and operational.
• Check that the system will activate when a device is triggered. Many systems have a “signal test switch” that will allow you to start the test.
• Test the system’s sounders.
• Test the system’s visual indicators.

The checks should be recorded in a logbook. You should also rotate which alarms you are testing as this will ensure you are gradually checking all of the relevant fire alarms.

By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your weekly fire alarm test is carried out correctly and efficiently, and stay safe and compliant.

Reporting Any Issues

Of course, if you do encounter any issues with your fire alarm system, it is important to report this immediately, and to get the system properly inspected. Issues also must be recorded in the logbook.

It is vital that you get your fire system regularly checked by professionals. For instance, fire extinguishers and emergency lighting systems must be checked at least once a year. Water, foam and powder extinguishers can be checked less frequently, but must be serviced once every five years.

Other Fire Safety Services

Fire safety services and maintenance involves far more than just a weekly test of your system.

Our services include sprinkler system maintenance, fire extinguisher maintenance, fire shutter installation, and fire risk assessments. In these risk assessments, we can outline the requirements of weekly testing and how to check that your fire alarm is in good working order.

At Robinsons Facilities Services, we pride ourselves on our comprehensive and reliable fire safety services. We can provide you with fire safety services including annual maintenance, and even emergency repairs as required, anywhere in the Yorkshire region.

Our team is on hand 24/7 to deal with any breakdowns or problems you might have.

Working across Yorkshire, we cover North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, East Yorkshire and South Yorkshire and offer a fast, efficient response time to all breakdowns and repairs. Contact us today for all planned, reactive maintenance or emergency call out. Call 01423 226578 or get in touch to see how Robinsons Facilities Services can help.