Rank: Forum user 
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I have always worked on the principal that for most ordinary modern small buildings and offices the following applied. The Fire Alarm should be inspected/serviced in two or more visits per year dependant on size and scope of system. The emergency lighting should be a minimum ONCE a year. We now have a fire servicng company telling us that the Alarm must be serviced over FOUR visits a year and the Emergency lighting over TWO visits a year. Basically has something changed recently or not ? Bear in mind we are just a small office on two levels and very low hazard environment Thanks in advance
Alan
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Rank: Super forum user
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Well … if someone starts insisting that something MUST happen and that they (quite by chance) will for a payment, enable you to comply with this new requirement I always ask, where does this requirement come from. Is it legislation, which of course you must comply with? Is it an established standard, or guidance which indicates best practice? You should follow this but have to be certain that the circumstances is describes actually apply to you or is it something the suppliers think is a good idea, especially since it means that they can charge you more for it. Don’t be afraid to challenge.
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Rank: Forum user 
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BS 5839-1:2016 (Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings) states that: "The period between successive inspection and servicing visits should be based upon a risk assessment, taking into account the type of system installed, the environment in which it operates and other factors that may affect the long term operation of the system. The recommended period between successive inspection and servicing visits should not exceed six months. If this recommendation is not implemented, it should be considered that the system is no longer compliant with this part of BS 5839"
BS EN 50172:2004 (Emergency escape lighting systems) requires that a monthly operational check is carried out on all light fittings, and on an annual basis all fittings are tested to the 'full rated duration' of the batteries. Edited by user 06 February 2017 11:48:37(UTC)
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks Chaps, pretty much as I surmised, I just needed to hear it from someone else what threw my out is that when i challenged the person from the servicing company they replied that the 4 times a year for the alarm and twice a year for the emergency lighting was enforced through their own particular British Standard, hence why i wasnt sure if something had changed and i didnt know.
Alan
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Originally Posted by: spud  Thanks Chaps, pretty much as I surmised, I just needed to hear it from someone else what threw my out is that when i challenged the person from the servicing company they replied that the 4 times a year for the alarm and twice a year for the emergency lighting was enforced through their own particular British Standard, hence why i wasnt sure if something had changed and i didnt know.
Alan
Sorry what do you mean by 'their own particular British Standard' do you mean they have written their own standard and are saying that it is a Bristish Standard, and are using it to frighten people into giving them more work. If it is you should report this to the british standards.
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Rank: Forum user
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No I meant their own particualr standards as in.... Fire Alarm BS 5839-1:2016 Emergency Lighting BS EN 50172 So as i asked the question of them why do they say its four visits for Alarm and two for Emergency lighting they quoted the above BS standards as the reason for their amount of visits.
Alan
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Ask them to show you the copy of the standard that requires this. Then when they can not :- Thank them, then wish them best of luck in the future and goodbye.
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Rank: Super forum user
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All sounds like a typical fire equipment company 'engineers' over reading a British Standard to suit their needs i.e. recommending excessive test and inspection of fire alarms/equipment to their financial benefit.
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Rank: Super forum user
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If you look at 9999Annex 'V' V5 3 monthly tests In addition to the checks recommended in V2 V3 and V4 (that are daily, weekly and monthly testing), the actuation of all smoke control systems should be simulatede once every 3 months. All zones should be separately tested etc. V.4.3 Emergency and escape lighting, A failure to supply to the normal lighting should be simulated once a month. I do not have the BS 5839-1 but 9999 uses it as a reference. sorry don't have time to go through each one.
Regards
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Rank: Forum user
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Originally Posted by: Invictus If you look at 9999Annex 'V' V5 3 monthly tests In addition to the checks recommended in V2 V3 and V4 (that are daily, weekly and monthly testing), the actuation of all smoke control systems should be simulatede once every 3 months. All zones should be separately tested etc. V.4.3 Emergency and escape lighting, A failure to supply to the normal lighting should be simulated once a month. I do not have the BS 5839-1 but 9999 uses it as a reference. sorry don't have time to go through each one. Regards
BS 9999-2008 'Annex V' details Routine inspection and maintenance of fire safety installations. The section (V.1) with reference to alarm systems states that "a formal agreement should be made with the installer or the installer’s representative to provide the regular inspection and testing described in the relevant British Standards for individual fire safety installations". The relevant BS is 5839-1:2016 as previously cited above. For clarity, it's also worth noting that smoke control systems are different to fire alarm systems. The OP specifically asked about fire alarm inspection requirements. If the supplier is citing a BS for fire alarm maintenance, this should be 5839-1:2016. If they are claiming this states 4 visits per annum this is completely false and alarm bells should be ringing (no pun intended).
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Rank: Super forum user
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Yes thanks John I am aware but hey ho must be great never to make a mistake and quote the wrong part of the text, must be a first on here and I suppose the last.
What are you my critical friend.
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Rank: Forum user
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Just an effort to ensure that the right information is provided to the OP, after all its an area that I have considerable experience in. Is that not what we are here for? Yes we all make mistakes; personally when somebody identifies one of mine I just thank them. I'm sorry my clarification/correction caused you offence. Kind Regards John
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Rank: Super forum user
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Originally Posted by: johnwatt Just an effort to ensure that the right information is provided to the OP, after all its an area that I have considerable experience in. Is that not what we are here for? Yes we all make mistakes; personally when somebody identifies one of mine I just thank them. I'm sorry my clarification/correction caused you offence. Kind Regards John
So do I but we all make mistakes because we are trying to answer queries and work, I think it's great that you thank people who point out your mistakes.
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