Fire Alarm Servicing Quote for Business Premises, Flats and HMOs
Fire alarm servicing covers the inspection, testing and maintenance of an existing fire alarm system in a business, a block of flats or an HMO. To get fire alarm servicing near you, fill in the quote form with the building's postcode and type. ChecksSorted sends the enquiry to participating independent professionals covering that area, and one of them contacts you.
This page is for people responsible for:
- business premises such as offices and shops, where it is often called commercial fire alarm servicing
- the shared areas of a block of flats
- a house in multiple occupation (HMO)
It is not for smoke alarms in a single home, and it does not cover installing a new system. ChecksSorted does not service alarms itself.
Request a quoteWhat is fire alarm servicing?
Fire alarm servicing, often called fire alarm maintenance, is the periodic inspection and testing of a fire alarm system by a competent person, together with any repairs it needs. According to the Fire Industry Association, BS 5839-1 gives recommendations for the periodic inspection and test of the system, and tests for detectors should be carried out by a competent person.
Servicing sits alongside the regular checks you carry out yourself. GOV.UK says you must carry out regular checks to make sure all fire alarm systems are working, and record any faults.
What does a fire alarm servicing visit include?
A servicing visit is a periodic fire alarm inspection and test of the system by a competent person, according to the Fire Industry Association. Its summary of BS 5839-1 points to two things:
- tests for detectors should show that products of combustion can pass into the sensing chamber of each detector
- the maintenance company should give you an inspection and service certificate after each visit
Our guide What does fire alarm servicing include? has more.
Is fire alarm servicing a legal requirement?
Yes, fire alarm maintenance is a legal duty. Article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 says that, where necessary to safeguard the safety of relevant persons, the responsible person must ensure that the premises and any facilities, equipment and devices provided under the Order are subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair. GOV.UK adds that you must have a fire detection and warning system.
The fire alarm servicing requirements in the Order do not set a number of months between visits. The six-month interval you will see quoted comes from the British Standard, which is a recommendation, not from the Order. Our guide BS 5839-1: what it says about servicing has more.
How often should a fire alarm be serviced?
The recommended frequency of fire alarm servicing is no more than six months between visits, according to the Fire Industry Association, which reports that BS 5839-1 bases the period on a risk assessment of the system and where it operates.
For blocks of flats, the GOV.UK-hosted guide to fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats says periodic servicing should be at least once every six months, with a simple functional test once a week. The guide was written in 2011 and says it is no longer comprehensive. Our guide How often should fire alarms be tested and serviced? has more.
What is the difference between testing and servicing a fire alarm?
A test is a quick check that the system works, while servicing is a periodic inspection and test by a competent person. The table shows how they differ.
| Regular test | Servicing visit | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Someone on site, such as a housing officer or an in-house maintenance team | A competent person |
| How often | Once a week, in the guide for blocks of flats | Recommended no more than six months apart |
| What it involves | Operating a manual call point to check the system is functional | Periodic inspection and test of the system, including its detectors |
Sources: the GOV.UK-hosted guide for blocks of flats (weekly test) and the Fire Industry Association (servicing). Our guide Fire alarm testing vs servicing has more.
Who is responsible for fire alarm servicing?
The responsible person is whoever controls the premises, according to GOV.UK. That can be:
- an employer
- the owner
- the landlord
- an occupier
- anyone else with control of the premises, for example a facilities manager, building manager or managing agent
For the shared areas of a block of flats it is the landlord, freeholder or managing agent. Where the premises are part of a building, the responsible person may make arrangements with the occupier of other premises in the same building to make sure the maintenance requirements are met (article 17). Our guide Fire alarm responsibilities for businesses has more.
Does a block of flats need fire alarm servicing?
Only where a communal fire alarm is fitted, because a block of flats does not always have one. GOV.UK's guide for small blocks of flats says fire alarm systems are not appropriate in the common parts of blocks that have adequate compartmentation to support a "stay put" strategy. Where a system is provided, the 2011 guide for purpose-built blocks says it should have both:
- regular testing, with a simple functional test once a week
- periodic servicing, at least once every six months
For the rest of the building, see our fire risk assessment page.
Do HMOs need fire alarm servicing?
Yes, HMO fire alarms must be maintained in good working order. Under regulation 4 of the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006, the manager of an HMO in England must make sure of it.
HMO fire alarm requirements can go further at council level. Oxford City Council, for example, says Grade A fire alarm systems:
- must be serviced every six months by a suitably qualified and competent professional
- need an Inspection and Servicing Certificate, with a copy provided to the council
Check your own council's HMO standards. Our guide Fire alarm requirements for HMOs has more.
Who can service a fire alarm?
A competent person can service a fire alarm. The Fire Safety Order does not name a qualification for servicing, but it uses the term "competent person" for people with sufficient training, experience or knowledge to assist with fire safety measures (article 18), and the Fire Industry Association says detector tests should be carried out by a competent person.
If a fire alarm engineer or company contacts you through us, ask what competence certificate they hold and whether they give an inspection and service certificate after each visit. The Fire Industry Association suggests asking both. Our guide Who can service a fire alarm? has more.
What can happen if you do not follow the fire safety rules?
You could be fined or go to prison if you do not follow fire safety regulations, according to GOV.UK:
- minor penalties can be up to £5,000
- major penalties can mean unlimited fines and up to 2 years in prison
- you can appeal to the magistrates' court within 21 days of receiving a notice
How much does fire alarm servicing cost?
There is no set price: what you pay is agreed with the professional who contacts you. ChecksSorted does not set prices, so this page quotes no figure. These details help the professional price the work:
- whether the building is business premises, a block of flats or an HMO
- the type of system if you know it, such as conventional, wireless or addressable, which are the three main types the London Fire Brigade lists
- roughly how many detectors, call points and control panels there are
- whether you want a one-off visit or a fire alarm maintenance contract
Ask whether the quote includes an inspection and service certificate after each visit. Related guide: Fire alarm servicing cost: what affects it
Which other checks does a landlord need besides fire alarm servicing?
A landlord may also need a fire risk assessment, a gas safety check, an electrical inspection and an EPC, each on its own timing. This table sets them side by side:
| Check | How often |
|---|---|
| Fire alarm servicing | Recommended no more than six months apart |
| Fire risk assessment (business premises) | Reviewed regularly, with no fixed interval |
| Gas safety check (gas appliances the landlord provides) | Every year |
| Electrical inspection (EICR) for each rented home in England | At least every 5 years |
| EPC (homes sold or let) | Valid for 10 years |
Sources: the Fire Industry Association (servicing), GOV.UK on fire risk assessments (reviewed regularly), HSE on gas safety checks (an annual check), GOV.UK on electrical safety (at least every 5 years) and GOV.UK on EPCs (valid for 10 years).
Send a separate enquiry for each check and mention that the building is the same. Our property safety services page lists them all.
How to get a fire alarm servicing quote
You get a fire alarm servicing quote by sending one enquiry through ChecksSorted, in four steps:
- Tell us what you need Choose the property safety service required.
- Tell us where Enter the property postcode and relevant details.
- We match your enquiry ChecksSorted identifies an appropriate participating professional covering the service and location.
- Discuss the job The professional contacts you about availability, price and the work required.
Fire alarm servicing near me: where we are launching
Fire alarm servicing enquiries open in five towns first. More areas will follow as more participating professionals join, and whether we can match your enquiry depends on where the building is and who is available. This page is written for England.
- Fire alarm servicing in Slough
- Fire alarm servicing in Maidenhead
- Fire alarm servicing in Reading
- Fire alarm servicing in Uxbridge
- Fire alarm servicing in High Wycombe
Not sure we cover your area? Add the postcode to the quote form and we will match your enquiry where we can.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get fire alarm servicing near me?
Fill in the quote form with the building postcode and say whether it is business premises, a block of flats or an HMO. ChecksSorted passes the enquiry to participating independent professionals covering the area, and one contacts you about availability, price and the work required.
How often does a fire alarm need servicing?
No more than six months apart is the recommendation of BS 5839-1, according to the Fire Industry Association. The Fire Safety Order sets no fixed interval: it requires the system to be maintained in efficient working order.
How much does it cost to service a fire alarm?
There is no figure on this page, because ChecksSorted does not set prices. The professional who contacts you sets the quote, and the cost section above lists what to have ready.
Can an electrician service a fire alarm?
Only if they are competent to do it. No official page says an electrician can or cannot, but the Fire Industry Association says detector tests should be carried out by a competent person. Ask what competence certificate they hold and whether they give an inspection and service certificate after each visit.
Can I test my own fire alarm?
Yes, for the weekly functional test in a block of flats. TheGOV.UK-hosted guide for blocks of flats says operating a manual call point once a week can be done by non-specialists such as housing officers or an in-house maintenance team. Servicing is different and should be done by a competent person.
Should I get a certificate after a fire alarm service?
Ask for a fire alarm servicing certificate. The Fire Industry Association says to check that the maintenance company provides an inspection and service certificate after each service visit, as set out in BS 5839-1. ChecksSorted does not issue certificates or reports itself. Our guide Fire alarm certificates: what to ask for has more.
Do I need a fire alarm system in my business premises?
Yes, if you are responsible for the premises. GOV.UK says you must have a fire detection and warning system, and you must carry out regular checks to make sure all fire alarm systems are working.
Send your enquiry
Tell us what you need and where the building is.
Request a quote