Weekly fire alarm testing in Reigate: checks and logs

A fire alarm system sits idle for most of its life. Dust settles on detectors, batteries lose charge, and wiring degrades without anyone noticing. The weekly test exists to catch these faults before a real fire happens.

British Standard BS 5839 sets out what needs checking. For most buildings in Reigate, that means activating at least one manual call point each week and confirming the sounders operate throughout the premises. The test rotates through different call points so every device gets checked over time.

The person doing the work does not need to be an external contractor. A member of staff or the responsible person can carry it out, provided they know which call point to use and how to reset the panel afterwards. Guidance on who holds that duty is set out in the rules around the [responsible person](/who-needs-what/responsible-person-duties).

If the sounders fail to activate, or the panel shows a fault light, the problem needs attention straight away. Leaving a broken system running until the next scheduled service leaves the building unprotected.

The test starts at the control panel. The person running it notes any existing fault indicators before touching anything. Then they take a test key to the chosen call point for that week and trigger it.

Once activated, the sounders should start immediately. The tester walks the building to confirm the alarm is audible in every occupied room, including toilets, store cupboards and plant rooms where people might work alone. If a zone is too quiet, that is a defect to record.

After the walk, the tester returns to the panel and silences the alarm. They reset the system and confirm the call point has returned to its normal state. The panel should show no lingering fault lights.

This routine takes only a few minutes. It is separate from the full inspection a specialist firm carries out periodically, and it does not replace the need for a [fire risk assessment](/checks-and-training/fire-risk-assessment-reigate) to determine whether the alarm system itself is suitable for the building.

Every test must go into the fire alarm logbook. This is usually a physical book kept near the control panel, though some organisations use a digital equivalent.

The entry records the date, the time, the specific call point tested, and whether the sounders operated correctly. If anything failed, the log states what went wrong and what action followed. A blank space where an entry should be tells a fire officer the test did not happen.

Inspectors from the local fire authority look at this book during audits. They want to see a continuous sequence of weekly entries with no long gaps. Missing weeks suggest the system might have been faulty without anyone knowing.

Keeping the log accurate is part of the wider duty to maintain fire safety measures. Buildings that also require regular [fire door inspection](/checks-and-training/fire-door-inspection-reigate) will keep those records in a similar way, giving a complete picture of maintenance when asked.

The law places the duty on the responsible person. In a workplace, that is typically the employer or whoever controls the premises. In a block of flats, it falls to the landlord or managing agent.

That person does not have to press the button themselves. They can assign the task to a receptionist, caretaker or office manager. The important part is that the assigned individual knows the procedure and understands what a fault looks like.

Larger sites often appoint someone formally. A [nominated fire safety person](/checks-and-training/nominated-person-service-reigate) takes ownership of these routines and ensures the log stays up to date even when staff are on leave.

If nobody is confident enough to run the test, staff training resolves it. A short session on [fire safety awareness](/checks-and-training/fire-safety-awareness-training-reigate) covers the alarm panel, the location of call points, and the steps to follow when something goes wrong.

A failed test is not a minor administrative issue. It means the alarm might not warn people during a real fire. The responsible person needs to act on it immediately.

The first step is to note the exact fault in the log. Then contact the firm that maintains the system. Most maintenance contracts include provisions for emergency callouts when a weekly test reveals a problem.

While waiting for the repair, temporary measures might be necessary. Staff may need to patrol the building more frequently, or occupants might need to be told about the reduced protection. The specific steps depend on the building and the nature of the fault.

Repeated failures point to a deeper issue. The alarm design might no longer suit the layout, especially if internal walls have moved since installation. A specialist firm can review the [fire strategy](/checks-and-training/fire-strategy-reigate) to determine whether the current system still meets the requirements.

Testing the alarm each week is one task among many. Extinguishers need periodic checks, and advice on [fire equipment testing](/checks-and-training/fire-equipment-testing-advice) explains what to look for between professional services.

Escape routes must stay clear. Boxes stacked in corridors or chairs blocking doors defeat the purpose of an alarm that works perfectly. The guidance on [evacuation plans](/checks-and-training/fire-evacuation-plans-reigate) covers how to keep routes usable and ensure people know where to go.

For shared housing, the obligations extend further. Landlords managing student accommodation or houses in multiple occupation face additional scrutiny, and an [HMO fire risk assessment](/checks-and-training/hmo-fire-risk-assessment-reigate) will examine whether the alarm system matches the higher risk profile of those buildings.

Each of these tasks generates its own record. Together, they form the evidence that a building is being managed safely. The weekly alarm test is simply the most frequent entry in that file.