Fire Alarm Testing
Fire Alarm Testing in Cheshire and North Wales
Fire alarm testing and maintenance for commercial and non domestic premises across Cheshire and North Wales. Carried out to BS 5839 by a NAPIT approved and TrustMark registered electrician, with a certificate issued after every inspection and remedial work carried out in house.
A legal requirement for commercial premises
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires all non domestic premises in England and Wales to have a suitable fire detection and alarm system that is regularly tested and properly maintained. The responsible person, usually the employer, owner or occupier, has to make sure the system works and that there is documented evidence to prove it. A fire alarm that is not tested and recorded can invalidate insurance and leave the responsible person open to enforcement action.
M Stowell Electrical carries out fire alarm testing for commercial and non domestic premises throughout Cheshire and North Wales. Testing is planned around your operating hours, certified on completion, and where faults are found the remedial work can be carried out by the same electrician.
Tested to BS 5839
BS 5839 is the British Standard for fire detection and fire alarm systems in non domestic buildings. It sets out how systems should be designed, installed, commissioned and maintained, and it defines the checks that must be carried out and how often. All fire alarm testing by M Stowell Electrical is carried out to the BS 5839 standard, so your system is measured against the recognised benchmark that insurers and fire safety officers expect to see.
- Testing carried out to the BS 5839 standard
- Planned around your operating hours to avoid disruption
- Clear, honest reporting on the condition of the system
- Certificate issued after every inspection
Testing at the right intervals
A compliant fire alarm regime is not a single annual visit. Different checks are required at different intervals through the year, and the standard expects each of them to be carried out and recorded.
Weekly
A different call point is tested each week to confirm the system raises an alarm. This is usually done on site and recorded in the fire log book.
Monthly
Monthly checks cover items such as standby power and any emergency equipment tied into the system, confirming the alarm still works if the mains supply fails.
6 monthly
A competent engineer inspects and tests the system twice a year, covering roughly half the devices at each visit so the whole system is verified across the year.
Annual
A full inspection and test of every device, panel and circuit, with a certificate confirming the system meets BS 5839.
Who needs fire alarm testing
If your building is used for work, used by the public, or used as shared living space, it will almost certainly need a fire alarm system that is tested and maintained on a regular basis.
- Offices and business premises
- Retail units and shops
- Schools, colleges and education buildings
- Warehouses and factories
- HMOs and houses in multiple occupation
- Landlords with communal areas in blocks and shared housing
Fire alarm testing for schools
Schools and education buildings need to stay on top of fire alarm compliance without disrupting lessons. Routine testing is planned around the school day, and the summer holidays give a quiet window for more in depth work, system upgrades and any larger remedial jobs. M Stowell Electrical is happy to work to your planned maintenance schedule across Cheshire and North Wales.
NAPIT approved, TrustMark registered and certified
M Stowell Electrical is NAPIT approved, registration 26562, and TrustMark registered, so you are dealing with a certified electrician for your fire alarm testing. A certificate is issued after every inspection, which is the documentation you are legally required to keep and to show to insurers and fire safety officers.
If testing finds a fault, there is no need to bring in a separate contractor. Remedial work is carried out in house and certified on completion, so your system is put right and signed off in one visit.
Fire alarm testing FAQs
How often does a fire alarm need testing?
There are weekly call point checks, monthly checks, a six monthly service and a full annual inspection. The six monthly and annual testing should be carried out by a competent engineer to the BS 5839 standard.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. A certificate is issued after every inspection. This is the documentation you are legally required to keep and to provide to insurers and fire safety officers on request.
What happens if a fault is found?
Remedial work is carried out in house by the same NAPIT approved electrician and certified on completion, so there is no need to bring in a separate contractor.
Which areas do you cover?
M Stowell Electrical is based in Kelsall and covers Cheshire and North Wales, with fire alarm testing available across England and Wales.
Book your fire alarm testing
Commercial fire alarm testing to BS 5839 from a NAPIT approved and TrustMark registered electrician. Call 07872 616 602 or email mike@mstowellelectrical.co.uk for a clear price.