UK fire alarm regulations may seem unclear if you are not a fire safety professional. Here is a simple guide to the latest UK fire alarm legislation.
The fire alarm regulations are part of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, known as the ‘RRO’.
In addition, the UK Government advises that all fire detection and alarm systems are installed and maintained in compliance with the current British Standard, BS 5839 (our guide below is based on BS 5839).
Current UK fire alarm regulations mandate that all business premises must be equipped with a “suitable fire detection system”.
This essentially means that a fire outbreak can be easily identified and the occupants can be quickly warned.
This does not imply that all business premises require a fire alarm system.
It is unlikely that you will need a fire alarm system if all of the following conditions are met:
If one or more of these conditions is not met by your business, you are probably in need of a fire alarm system.
If you have any doubts, your Fire Risk Assessment report should indicate whether or not you need to install automatic fire detection.
If you do not already have a Fire Risk Assessment, we strongly recommend that you have one completed, as it is the centerpiece of your business’s fire safety plan.
The 3 main types of fire alarm systems are conventional, addressable and wireless:
This means that the person or company installing your fire alarm must
If something is found to be wrong, action can be taken which may range from providing information and advice to prosecuting those responsible in court. For more serious safety violations, you can be fined and/or sentenced to imprisonment.
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