Fire safety matters because it protects the two things people value most: their lives and the places they depend on such as home or work. Fires move fast, create toxic smoke, and can turn a small mistake into a life‑changing disaster in minutes. Staying on top of fire safety is one of the simplest ways to prevent that chain reaction and is one of the reasons that fire checks are so important.
It is important to ensure that fire alarms installed within the premises are tested on a regular basis to ensure that they will operate correctly in the event of a fire. If your system is monitored by an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) or an automatic 999 dialling system, it is important to disconnect the system or notify the ARC prior to testing so that the emergency services are not notified. It is important to ensure that the fire alarm system is reconnected immediately after the testing procedure has been undertaken.
These checks should be undertaken by a responsible person. The panel should be checked to ensure it is not displaying a fault condition. If a fault is identified, then it should be recorded in the logbook and the service engineer notified. Any faults recorded the previous day should be checked to make sure that they have been rectified.
These checks should be undertaken by a competent person. Operate a different manual call point during normal working hours each week to test that the system is working correctly and that it can be heard throughout the premises. For example, if you have 10 call points, each one should be tested once every 10 weeks. Each test should be carried out at roughly the same time each week to avoid any confusion. If your alarm system is a staged alarm, both signals should be tested in sequence. In premises where employees work outside normal hours, the fire alarm should be tested during these hours at least once a month so that all employees are familiar with the fire alarm sound.
To comply with British Standard 5839-1 the fire detection and fire alarm system should be serviced at a recommended frequency of every 6-months by a competent engineer. The level of frequency may be more frequent for larger and high-risk properties.
These checks should be undertaken by a competent engineer. All call points should be tested by using the test key or by operating as if there was a fire. All automatic smoke/heat detectors should be checked for damage, paint, or other adverse effects. Test each detector to ensure that they are functioning correctly and are connected to the system. Test all smoke detectors to ensure smoke can enter the detector chamber and activate the alarm. If you have any installed, test optical beams by introducing signal attenuation between the transmitter and the receiver with an optical filter or smoke or simulated smoke.
To help aid the safe evacuation of occupants from a premises, emergency lighting should be provided. The emergency lighting should be positioned so that it also covers the illumination of firefighting equipment, fire alarm call points, and portable fire extinguishers, on all escape routes. All emergency lighting should be maintained and regularly tested.
On a monthly basis, a functional check should be carried out of the emergency lighting which ensures that the emergency lighting switches on and illuminates correctly. This test should be done using the secure device key, commonly referred to as a fish key. The key should be used rather than switching off the mains power.
On an annual basis, a full discharge test of the emergency lighting should be undertaken. This test should be undertaken by a competent engineer.
Your premise should have a provision of suitable and sufficient fire extinguishers relevant to the fire hazards present. Fire extinguishers should be sited throughout the premises with a maximum travel distance of 30m to reach an extinguisher. This drops to 10m in the case of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) extinguishers.
It is also recommended that monthly checks are undertaken to ensure that the appliances are correctly sited, have not been discharged, checking the tamper seal and pin are in place, the contents gauge is green and that there is no visible damage to the extinguisher. This should be recorded in the fire logbook. This can be reduced to weekly checks where the potential for misuse and damage is greater such as within hotels where occupants may find it amusing to ‘play’ with the extinguishers.
Extinguishers also need to undergo an annual inspection by a competent person. This is recorded on a label on the side of the extinguisher. All extinguishers are required to undergo a discharge test every 5 years, with the exception of CO2 extinguishers which require a 10-yearly hydraulic pressure test. After 20 years of service, all extinguishers are required to be replaced.
The P50 style of fire extinguishers does not require an annual service by a 3rd party contractor, nor do they require a 5 yearly discharge test.
Fire doors are an essential barrier that will help delay the spread of fire and smoke. Fire doors form part of a buildings passive fire protection system.
Check all fire doors at least monthly to ensure that they close on their own when released and that they form a tight seal against the door frame. There should be no holes in the doors or any gaps exceeding 3mm around the doors. The gap at the base of the door can be between 8mm-10mm if the door is not fitted with smoke protection.
Check and ensure that all intumescent strips and cold smoke seals are not damaged along the edges of the fire doors. During the inspections, check that all necessary fire exit and fire door signs are in place.
A nominated competent person should check all fire escape routes at the start of each day or last thing at night if there are people sleeping within the premises.
All escape routes must be clear of obstructions inside and outside of the premises. It is essential to ensure there is a clear route to the nominated assembly point. All final exit doors must be unlocked and capable of being opened easily and fully at all times. It is recommended that a single action push device (such as a panic bar, push level or pad is used. Thumb-turn locks can pose a problem for those persons who have dexterity issues.
Fire directional signage must be clearly visible, in prominent locations and illuminated where necessary. Security chains must be removed from all exit doors prior to admission to the public. Written procedures must be in place to guarantee that this action is undertaken, i.e. chains displayed on a chain board.
When any maintenance operations/building work is being undertaken within/on the premises, it is important to ensure that continual monitoring is undertaken to guarantee that there are no obstructions left in any escape routes.
External escape routes are just as important as internal ones. As these escape routes are exposed to the elements it is important to maintain them so that they are fully operational at all times. In order to ensure that external staircases remain structurally sound it is important to ensure that they are inspected by a competent engineer at no less than five-year intervals. If the engineer recommends any actions that need to be undertaken, then they should be actioned without delay and details of the inspection/test documented for future reference.
It is the responsibility of the employer, premises owner, or responsible person to carry out fire evacuation drills on a regular basis. The purpose of the drill is to rehearse and train in order that staff can act in a calm and orderly manner and those who are allocated duties know what they need to do so that the building can be evacuated quickly.
Practice drills should be undertaken at least twice a year and where there are more than one means of escape the drill should assume one or more escape routes cannot be used during an emergency. The fire alarm should be activated by a member of staff and the fire drill rehearsed as fully as circumstances will permit. If your building has members of the public present, it may pose some initial difficulties. Choose a time when there are relatively few people present and give them advance notice of the drill and any difficulties will be easily overcome. It is important to limit the number of people who know about the drill to the bare minimum, so the drill is as realistic as possible.
For premises that regularly employ night shift workers, it is important that these employees are also subject to a fire alarm evacuation drill at least annually. Where this is not reasonably practicable (for example in a care home, whereby an alarm activation would cause unnecessary disruption and distress to residents) a table-top exercise or scenario is permitted, and a written record of this kept on file.
All employees must evacuate the premises regardless of seniority or commitments.
In summary, fire checks are essential because they ensure that all fire‑safety measures will actually work in a real emergency, limiting smoke spread, protecting escape routes, and giving people time to get out safely. Records should be kept demonstrating to any interested party that these checks are being completed.