When should a commercial fire alarm be tested?

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Commercial fire alarms are vital for safety and need to be maintained and tested regularly to comply with the law and offer optimum protection.

The Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 dictates that every commercial premises in Britain has to have warning and fire detection systems, and regular testing ensures that they provide ongoing safety and regulatory compliance. It also makes sure that any issues are identified early.

How often do you test?

All commercial fire alarms need to be checked at least once a week by someone responsible and at least once every half-year by specialists in fire alarms Northamptonshire or elsewhere, such as the engineers at companies like https://firealarmsystems.co.uk/. Professional testing on a six-monthly basis should involve a detailed inspection to discover any potential issues and prevent fines and problems caused by non-compliance with fire safety regulations.

Periodic maintenance and testing is also recommended in more complex or larger buildings to keep things safe at all times. Extra checks are also needed if changes occur within the building.

Safety risks of non-testing

Failing to test commercial fire alarms can have serious safety risks and may also lead to legal and regulatory failures. These can result in hefty fines and other punishments that can, in the worst case, lead to business closures.

Most insurers also demand that fire alarms are maintained and tested regularly, meaning that failures to do this could result in no payout should the worst happen. Again, this can have devastating effects on business performance.