Posted By Bob Matthews Can anyone please help? I believe we should be testing our fire alarm system every week, but our Facilities Manager disagrees, he says it only needs to be tested every so often. Is there any legislation on this or has anyone any views? Cheers Bob

Posted By Bob Matthews John, I would appreciate a fax, the number is 0161-682-9487 Many Thanks Bob

Posted By John Bennett If your premises is covered by a fire cirtificate then you are required under Part 3 to test the fire alarm on a weekly basis. Hope this helps, John

Posted By Frank Neville Johnson Bob There is no law as such requiring fire alarm systems to be tested weekly. However, by implication a fire certificate is a legal instrument and may make such requirements. The age of the fire certificate quite often will determine the frequency at which the fire alarm is to be tested since it will invariably reflect the code of practice or British Standard in force at the time of issue. Local Authorities will be sensitive to these differences and will often make a judgement based on a risk assessment at the time of the inspection. Reference to your fire certificate will determine the frequency of tests required by law. However, If you do not have a fire certificate then the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1999 apply, the relevant section being regulation 6, 'system of maintenance'. An adequate system of testing and maintenance will be determined by (dare I say) a 'risk assessment'. In order then to determine what might be reasonable 'today' reference should be made to British Standard BS5839: Part 1: 1988 as amended (I think there is a 1999 version). Although this standard has no force in law it is the one used most frequently by Local Authority Fire Officers to determine what is reasonable, and guess what, it recommends weekly tests. Best of Luck Frank