The Regulatory Reform Order, or RRO, is the UK's legislative document about fire alarms operation and installation. This document is broken down into several sections and subsections can be difficult to digest if you're not a fire safety professional. So, in this blog, we aim to give you a bite-sized version of the UK's fire alarm regulations.
The UK government advises that all fire alarms and smoke detection systems should comply with the British Standard BS 5839. Let's take a look at some of the most common questions we get about fire alarm regulations:
- Do I need to have a fire alarm installed?
- Who can install a fire alarm system?
- How often should I service my fire alarms?
Do I need to have a fire alarm installed?
The current regulations require all businesses to have a suitable fire detection system in place. This means that in the event of a fire, all employees would be warned and would have time to evacuate safely!
If you don't have a fire alarm installed in your home, you aren't technically breaking the law, but it could affect your home insurance! We talk more about this in our blog - Are Fire Alarms Required By Law?
To assess whether or not you need a fire alarm system, we recommend considering the following:
- Are your premises large & multi-storeyed?
- Do you have high-risk flammable substances around?
- Do you partake in any activities that involve heat/fire such as cooking?
If the answer to the above questions is yes, it's recommended that you have a fire alarm system installed to keep you safe whether that's in your home or at work.
Enquire about our fire alarm systems now!
How often should I service my fire alarm?
The government doesn't require you to test your fire alarms after a set amount of time, but they do recommend maintaining your fire alarm periodically so that it functions correctly at all times.
To do a fire alarm assessment, a competent person needs to inspect and test the fire alarm system roughly once every 6 months. For larger establishments, testing your system once every 3 months will help prevent unexpected faults.
Speak to our team if you need help with your fire alarm assessment.
Who can install a fire alarm system?
As it stands, the government requirements state that a person installing a fire alarm system has to be 'competent'. This means they should have:
- An excellent understanding of your chosen fire alarm system and how it works.
- Be capable of advising you if the grade or category of your chosen fire alarm system.
- Have a good understanding of the relevant British Standard BS 5839
- Have sound electrical knowledge
The IDS technicians are all fully trained and qualified to install fire alarm security systems quickly, efficiently and safely.
We highly recommend that you get in touch with us before trying to install your fire alarm security system yourself.
