A fire alarm certificate confirms that an alarm system has been inspected and tested and is working as designed. Non-domestic systems follow BS 5839-1:2025, which expects servicing every 6 months; domestic and HMO systems follow BS 5839-6. Many London HMO licences require a certificate every year. BritCertify certifies systems from £129 inc. VAT, or £179 with servicing.
What is a fire alarm certificate?
It is written confirmation from the engineer that a fire alarm system was inspected and tested on a given date, what was tested, and what faults remain. It applies to systems, meaning panel-based alarms or interlinked mains alarms protecting a building, rather than individual smoke alarms in a single-let flat, which our fire safety certificate covers.
HMO licensing teams, freeholders, insurers and London Fire Brigade inspectors ask for it, and your fire risk assessor will want to see the latest one. It is different from the design, installation and commissioning certificates issued when a system is first fitted. Those prove the system was installed correctly; the inspection and servicing certificate proves it is still working.
Which standard applies to my fire alarm?
BS 5839-1:2025 applies to non-domestic premises such as shops, offices and the communal systems in some blocks. BS 5839-6 applies to alarm systems in homes, including most HMOs.
| Standard | Covers | How systems are described |
|---|---|---|
| BS 5839-1:2025 | Non-domestic premises | Categories L1–L5 (life protection), M (manual call points only) and P1–P2 (property protection) |
| BS 5839-6 | Dwellings, including HMOs and flats | Grades (such as A, D1 and D2) for the type of equipment, and Categories (LD1, LD2, LD3) for coverage |
BS 5839-1:2025 replaced the 2017 edition on 30 April 2025. A revised standard does not by itself make an existing system unsafe. We inspect against the current edition and record any departures for you and your fire risk assessor to consider.
How often does a fire alarm need servicing?
Under BS 5839-1:2025, a non-domestic system should be serviced every 6 months, with a permitted window of 5 to 7 months between visits. The responsible person also has routine duties in between.
| Task | Who does it | How often |
|---|---|---|
| User test from a different manual call point each time | Responsible person or staff | Weekly |
| Periodic inspection and service | Competent engineer | Every 6 months (5–7 month window) |
| Logbook entries for tests, faults, false alarms and work done | Responsible person | Every time |
| Test of Grade D alarms in an HMO | Landlord or manager | Regularly, at the start of each tenancy and as your licence requires |
The Fire Safety Order requires fire safety equipment to be maintained in efficient working order. BS 5839 is the recognised benchmark for judging whether that has happened.
What does an inspection and test include?
On the smaller systems covered by our fixed prices, we test every device on every visit rather than a sample.
- Control panel: indications, fault and disablement status, zone labels and the standby batteries.
- Detectors: a functional test of each smoke and heat detector using approved test smoke or a heat source.
- Manual call points: each one operated with a test key.
- Sounders: checked for operation and for whether they can be heard in bedrooms and back rooms.
- Interlinks and outputs: that every alarm sounds together, and that linked equipment such as door hold-open devices releases.
- Records: the logbook reviewed for false alarms and repeat faults, then updated.
Certificate-only visits suit systems that need inspection and test evidence, such as an HMO licence renewal. The servicing option is the routine maintenance visit that BS 5839-1:2025 expects every 6 months, recorded in the logbook, and is the right choice for commercial and panel systems.
For Grade D systems in HMOs, which have no panel, the certificate records each alarm’s location, its interlink result and the replace-by date printed on it. That is the detail licensing officers look for, and it tells you in advance when alarms are due for replacement rather than leaving you to find out at the next inspection.
How do I prepare for the visit?
A little preparation means the engineer can test everything in one visit and you avoid a return trip.
- Warn occupants. The alarm will sound during testing. Tell tenants, staff and neighbouring businesses in advance, and put a notice at the entrance.
- Monitored systems. If the panel is connected to an alarm receiving centre, arrange for it to be put on test for the duration so the fire service is not called.
- Access. Have panel keys, call point test keys if you hold them, and access to every room, including locked bedrooms, plant rooms and roof spaces with detectors.
- Records. Keep the logbook, zone chart and the previous certificate to hand, together with any installation or commissioning paperwork.
What does the certificate tell me?
Read the certificate as a short report rather than a pass mark. It records the type of system and its Grade or Category, the date and the engineer, the devices tested and the result for each, any faults found and whether they were fixed on the day, and any departures from the current standard. It ends with recommendations and the date the next visit is due.
File it with your fire risk assessment. If the certificate lists outstanding faults, keep it alongside the invoice or report showing when they were repaired, so the record is complete when a licensing officer, insurer or inspector asks.
What faults do we commonly find?
Most are maintenance issues that build up quietly between visits.
- A fault light on the panel that staff or tenants have stopped noticing.
- Zones disabled after a false alarm and never re-enabled.
- Standby batteries past their service life.
- Detectors covered with bags or caps during decorating, or removed by tenants.
- Smoke detectors in kitchens causing repeated false alarms, where a heat detector is the right choice.
- No logbook, or a zone chart that no longer matches the building after a refit.
We explain which faults affect safety now and which can be planned, and quote before any repair. If the system no longer suits the building, our fire alarm installation team can design a replacement.
Do HMOs and blocks need a fire alarm certificate?
Often, yes. Many London HMO licences require an annual alarm certificate, and an HMO fire risk assessment will check the latest one. In blocks of flats, a communal system, where the evacuation strategy calls for one, needs servicing records just like a commercial system.
Prices start at £129 inc. VAT for up to 6 detectors, or £179 with servicing; get a quote for larger systems. Certificates are typically emailed the same day, and we hold £5 million public liability insurance.
Fire alarm certificate prices in London (inc. VAT)
| Option | Price (inc. VAT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate, up to 6 detectors | £129 | Inspection, test and certificate |
| Certificate, up to 12 detectors | £179 | Inspection, test and certificate |
| With servicing, up to 6 detectors | £179 | Adds the routine service visit and logbook entry |
| With servicing, up to 12 detectors | £229 | Adds the routine service visit and logbook entry |
All prices include VAT. Systems with more than 12 detectors are quoted individually. Central London parking or Congestion Charge may be added; we always confirm before booking.
Book this serviceWhat's included
- Panel, standby battery and fault status check
- Functional test of detectors, call points and sounders
- Interlink and sounder audibility check
- Logbook review and update
- Certificate listing devices tested and faults found
- Repair recommendations, quoted before any work
- Certificate typically emailed the same day
How it works
Tell us about the system
Share the panel make if known, the number of detectors and any recent faults or false alarms, and we confirm whether certificate only or servicing suits.
Inspect and test
Our engineer checks the panel, batteries and logbook, then tests detectors, call points, sounders and interlinks across the building.
Certificate and logbook
You receive a certificate listing what was tested and any faults, with the logbook updated, typically emailed the same day.
Repairs and next visit
We quote for any repairs before starting and, for BS 5839-1:2025 systems, help you plan the next service within the 5–7 month window.
Fire Alarm Certificate: frequently asked questions
How long is a fire alarm certificate valid for?
A certificate has no fixed expiry; it records the system's condition on the day of the visit. For non-domestic systems, BS 5839-1:2025 expects servicing every 6 months within a 5–7 month window, so the certificate is effectively current until the next service is due. Many London HMO licences require an annual certificate, so check your licence conditions.
What is the difference between a fire alarm certificate and a smoke alarm certificate?
A fire alarm certificate covers a system: a control panel with detectors, call points and sounders, or a network of interlinked mains alarms protecting a whole building such as an HMO. A smoke alarm certificate records individual smoke, heat and CO alarms in a single rented home against the 2022 alarm regulations. If you are unsure which you need, tell us what is fitted and we will advise.
Do I need to test my fire alarm every week?
For a non-domestic system, yes. BS 5839-1 expects the user to test the alarm weekly, using a different manual call point each time, and to record the test in the logbook. It confirms that the panel and sounders work and that staff recognise the sound. For Grade D systems in HMOs, press each alarm's test button regularly and record the result.
What happens if my fire alarm fails the inspection?
We record each fault on the certificate, explain how it affects the building's safety, and quote for repairs before doing any work. Simple issues, such as a failed battery or a faulty detector, can often be fixed quickly. While serious faults are outstanding, tell occupants, consider extra checks or temporary measures, and update your fire risk assessment if the fault changes the risk.
Can you certify a fire alarm someone else installed?
Yes. We inspect and test existing systems whoever installed them. If the original design, installation or commissioning paperwork is missing, we note it on the certificate, because your fire risk assessor or licensing officer may ask about it. Our certificate confirms the system's condition and performance on the day of the visit; it does not certify someone else's original design.
Is six-monthly fire alarm servicing a legal requirement?
The Fire Safety Order 2005 requires fire safety equipment to be maintained in efficient working order, but it does not name an interval. BS 5839-1:2025 sets six-monthly servicing as recommended practice for non-domestic systems, and enforcing authorities and insurers treat it as the benchmark. Missing services without good reason makes it harder to show the system has been properly maintained.
Sources and official guidance
Written and checked by the BritCertify technical team. Last reviewed 6 October 2026.