Fire Alarm Testing
Fire alarm test certificate from £99
For commercial property, it is important to have fire alarm testing for safety purposes. The fire alarm testing is carried out in accordance with BS5839. BS5839 is a fire detection and fire alarm system regulation. It covers the design commissioning and maintenance of the building.
Below is an overview to fire alarm inspections, Trade Facilities Services in London have broken them down to the two types of fire alarm system grade.
A Grade Fire Alarm type system
Grade A fire alarm systems have the following requirements;
- Smoke/Fire Detectors.
- Heat/Fire Detectors.
- Manual Call Points, to sound the alarm.
- Central Control Panel for maintenance.
- Fire Alarm Sounders.
A Grade fire alarm systems are usually found in commercial settings, but are also seen in homes. Mainly HMO’s or house of multiple occupancy.
D Grade Fire Alarm Type System
D Grade fire alarms are the most common in domestic type properties and is always installed in new buildings. To install them, smoke and heat alarms are interlinked together via the mains. It is backed up by battery power for constant power supply.
Fire Alarm Testing Prices:
Fire Alarm Report.
On completion of your fire alarm testing, you will receive a fire alarm certificate. The fire alarm report is generally provided by quality companies that employ actual fire alarm engineers or the required electricians. The fire alarm report is similar to the electrical installation condition report.
It is recommended to keep all fire alarm certificates in a safe place and that can readily be accessed as proof of compliance.
Fire alarm testing should comply with BS5839, which is a legal requirement. It is advised to get the systems tested by skilled electricians and fire alarm engineers. It is recommended you undertake your own daily and weekly tests in conjunction with any other maintenance program you may have.
On your fire alarm certificate; it will identify the following:
- Type of system.
- Type Of Supply.
- How Many Sounders.
- How many Call Points.
- How Many Smoke Detectors.
- How Many Heat Detectors.
- Type of Control System.
- Damage
- Deterioration.
- Defects
- Dangerous Conditions.
- Non Compliances.
Non compliance’s on your fire alarm certificate does not mean you fail. These are more to do with regulations from BS5839-Part 1
Need more than just an immediate fix? From full emergency rewiring to periodic inspection, let us partner with you as your trusted local electrical contractors for all your electrical jobs
With ever greater legislation coming into place, it’s not just landlords and companies that need reliable ongoing maintenance and certification. Homeowners too now require much more checking of their compliance so having a great company you cal rely on for electrical work is a must. As experienced electricians, we offer a wide range of electrical testing and compliance services for electrical installations in domestic properties as well as commercial premises.
We can help with ensuring your electrics including wiring, lights, sockets and heating are fully compliant along with the accompanying paperwork to prove it. So we can help with portable appliance testing for your business, fulfilling an electrical installation condition report prior to selling your house, needing landlord safety certificates or replacing a consumer unit for one of your rented properties.
Fire Alarm Testing Daily Check List
- Alarm panel is in normal operation.
- Any fault warnings to be rectified.
- Provide us a estimate of the height for the control panel & consumer unit. This way we can bring the correct ladders to ensure access is adequate.
Anyone can carry out daily checks, if there is a major problem then contact the maintenance fire alarm company or electrician
Fire Alarm Testing Weekly Check List:
- Same check as the daily check list.
- Sound an alarm each week, this ensures over time you check the whole fire alarm system
Any problems that are detected then your fire alarm maintenance team must be contacted to investigate.
Any defects are to be recorded and the correct people to be contacted.
Fire Alarm Testing Checks 6 Monthly
A full test of the fire alarm system should be carried out every 6 months. The test should be carried out by a competent person (Electrician or fire alarm engineer). The fire alarm test should be carried out in accordance with BS5839 part 1 section 6. Once the test is completed your fire alarm engineer should put it in your log book and provide a fire alarm report.
Fire Alarm Testing and HMO Landlords
It is now a duty for HMO Landlords to undertake a fire risk assessment for each property. This is under the regulatory reform (Fire Safety) order 2005.
All Fire must be installed and maintained in accordance with BS5839. The regulations (BS5839) also highlight when your fire test is required in order to ensure your maintenance program is up to date. The system will differ in regards to the depth of fire alarm testing. It changes depending on the type of system. A grade D system will differ from and Grade A system.
General Systems Fire Alarm Testing:
It is recommended that all detectors should be tested at least once a year to ensure that they respond to smoke, the fire alarm check carried out must be done so with equipment that will not contaminate the smoke detector. It is recommended that the test is carried out by a specialist fire alarm engineer and the fire alarm test should be recorded in the log book and a fire alarm certificate supplied on completion of the test.
Fixed Wire Testing on Fire Alarm Equipment:
It is very important to ensure your fire alarm system is installed correctly from an electrical point of view. The best practice for this is to ensure that an EICR report is carried out on the electrical system.
By having an electrical inspection condition report carried out on your fire alarm installation you can rest assured that your wiring will be in a satisfactory condition. The fire alarm wiring is also an important part of your fire alarm report and this will not pass if the wiring is in a poor condition.
Fire Alarm Certificate Check List
Below is a list of things required for your Fire Alarm inspection. We request you follow this before an electrician arrives. This ensures you are ready for your Fire Alarm Certificate.
- Ensure your electrician has access to the control panel. Any items blocking this will prevent the fire alarm inspection.
- Make sure your electrician can access the consumer unit. Any items blocking the consumer unit could prevent the emergency light inspection.
- Provide us a estimate of height for the control panel and consumer unit. This way we can bring appropriate ladders. This is to ensure access is adequate.
- Ensure the Fire alarms are live upon arrival. If there is no electricity we can't carry out the test.
- Provide any previous electrical certificates or periodic inspection reports so we have an idea of the history of the electrical installation
- Report to us any known faults of the fire alarm panel. Also provide the make and model.
- Count the amount of fire alarm detectors; call points; Sounders and Panels we are testing; let us know the amount of items and locations. This is to ensure we do not miss any.
- Full fire alarm tests may not be carried out in these circumstances; Early signs of dangers/recommendations present; Locations not available. If this happens you will still be charged.
- Provide any previous reports or drawing you have on the Fire Alarm Installation.
If you require any further information, or would like to book your Fire Alarm inspection with Trade Facilities Services Please call 02036371446.
Fire Alarm Certificate Prices:
Electrical installation Checks From £79 Inc VAT
Here at Trade Facilities Services you can save up to £60, This is based on current prices for Domestic electrical certificates; follow the external link to What Price website for more info
Domestic Electrical installation certificate Costs
STUDIO and 1 BED PROPERTY
AND PAT – STUDIO and 1 BED
Prices include up to 12 circuits per property, and 10 appliances
Prices are inclusive of VAT (rate of 20%)
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With ever-greater legislation coming into place, many more individuals and organisations are becoming aware of their responsibilities to prove their property’s energy compliance. Speak to use about the full range of certifications that we can provide including energy performance and electrical and gas safety certificates. Don’t delay, call 02036 371 446 today.