Last Updated on April 2, 2024
What is a fire certificate?
A fire alarm certificate is provided after what has become a mandatory fire alarm inspection, your fire alarm certificate should be in accordance with BS5839. The regulations BS5839 are the regulations for fire detection and fire alarm systems. They cover the design commissioning and maintenance of all fire fire alarm works.
What is Fire alarm Testing?
Fire Alarm testing is is the testing associated with providing fire alarm certificates, all fire alarm testing should be done in accordance with BS5839 which is the regulations for fire detection and fire alarm systems. It covers design, installation, maintenance and commissioning for all fire alarm systems. This includes Domestic, commercial and industrial installation.
Why do landlords requires fire alarm certificates?
The January Update for 2020
In the (UK) united kingdom, there are about 145 laws, within these laws there are about 400 regulations. These all need to be followed to legally let a property in England and Wales. As a landlord, when it comes to your responsibilities your tenant must be you upmost priority.Â
Types of fire alarms systems
We have provided a short guide below of the various types of fire alarm systems and what. There are various grades to these systems.
Grade A Fire Alarm systems
A grade A fire alarm system should have the following items installed within it. It should also ahere to regulations BS5839.
- Smoke Detectors.
- Heat Detectors.
- Manual Call Points.
- Central Control Panel.
- Sounders.
These types of systems are usually found in commercial or domestic properties. This said there has been a big push from a lot of local authorities to have these added into HMO properties.Â
Grade A Fire Alarm systems
Grade D smoke alarmsÂ
The Grade D smoke alarm is the typical type of smoke alarm that will be installed in a domestic property. The grade D smoke alarm will usually be installed in the actual electrical circuit (Sometimes the lighting circuit) and will carry a battery back up in case of a black out. This fire alarm will be what is called inter linked, this means that when one alarm sounds, all alarms sound. This can be done with either hard wiring or wireless electrical bases.
How often should I have a Fire test carried out?
It is recommended that a full test is carried out every 6 months although the regulations do state it has to be done once a year. The testing should be carried out by a skilled and competent person and in accordance with the regulations BS5839. Regulations BS5839 cover all fire alarm testing and commissioning and can be referred to if required. On completion of the fire alarm test a note of the time, date, engineer and type of test should be logged in the onsite log book. If you do not have a log book on site then you get one as you can fail your test for this reason. On completion you will also receive a fire alarm certificate or fire alarm report. This will explain if there is anything that should be done and whether it is satisfactory or unsatisfactory.
Test carried out
Smoke and heat detectors will be tested for functionality, some alarms will also carry a smoke test to ensure they sound. Sounders and bells will be put into operation to ensure that they work. Fire alarm panels will be checked, this will include LED functionality, battery cells and basic functions are all in working order.
Test Report / Certificates on completion
Test reports and / or certificates will be provided on completion of the fire alarm testing and inspection. The fire alarm report will provide all the information required and include a summery if anything requires changing. If you require further information or would like a better understanding then just ask your fire alarm engineer.Â