Fire alarm testing instructions

It’s relatively easy for your own staff to carry out a weekly fire alarm test, but you need to make sure they’ve been instructed in the correct procedure. Use our fire alarm testing instructions to train them.

Using the document

Our document can be used as it stands or you can use the contents to develop your own site-specific procedure. The instructions describe the frequency of testing required, how to make sure that staff in the building are aware of the test and the practical step-by-step sequence of actions to take. It also includes details of the type of checks to carry out during and after the test, such as the audibility of the alarm throughout the building, whether the panel has correctly received the signal and the operation of other devices as appropriate, e.g. self-closing doors and shutters, security locks, automatic doors, deaf pagers etc.

In preparation

Staff who carry out the testing will need to be familiar with the basic operation of the alarm system. If in doubt, ask the fire alarm servicing engineer to give them a run through during their routine visit. Note. The weekly test should be supplemented by inspection and testing by the specialist engineer at least on a six-monthly basis.