Under BS 5839 there is a need for weekly testing of fire alarm panels, with the use of addressable systems which have self testing and self diagnostics is this requirement really necessary.Or can mechanical siezure of a break glass or indeed tamper of a sounder require weekly testing albeit an addressable system?.

Under BS 5839 there is a need for weekly testing of fire alarm panels, with the use of addressable systems which have self testing and self diagnostics is this requirement really necessary.Or can mechanical siezure of a break glass or indeed tamper of a sounder require weekly testing albeit an addressable system?.

Panel type does not matter, an analogue panel I used to service would "lock" it's software and give no indication of the failure what so ever.

Daily check of the system for power led and system faults.

Weekly check a MCP in rotation.

Quarter service by trained persons/company. (Does not have to be 100% test, 25% ok,)

Yearly test complete system specialist company recomended.

Panel type does not matter, an analogue panel I used to service would "lock" it's software and give no indication of the failure what so ever.

Daily check of the system for power led and system faults.

Weekly check a MCP in rotation.

Quarter service by trained persons/company. (Does not have to be 100% test, 25% ok,)

Yearly test complete system specialist company recomended.

Under BS 5839 there is a need for weekly testing of fire alarm panels, with the use of addressable systems which have self testing and self diagnostics is this requirement really necessary.Or can mechanical siezure of a break glass or indeed tamper of a sounder require weekly testing albeit an addressable system?.

never take the self testing as gospell. Detectors and sounders fail and testing is the most reliable way of finding any faults.

some sounders will sit on a loop quite happily with a correct analogue count but not work when panel is in fire condition.

Under BS 5839 there is a need for weekly testing of fire alarm panels, with the use of addressable systems which have self testing and self diagnostics is this requirement really necessary.Or can mechanical siezure of a break glass or indeed tamper of a sounder require weekly testing albeit an addressable system?.

In answer to your question there is a need for weekly testing even on addressable systems we are at the moment doing weekly testing on a couple of large sites where 90% of the systems are addressable Added a file to help

Copy_of_BS5839___2002_Maintenance___User.doc

You should test the system weekly and reposible people i.e department managers should phone the switchboard (larger places obviously) to say they have heard the fire alarm, plus it familiarises staff with the sound of the fire alarm. My understanding of the weekly testing in relation to BS5839 is that you should have tested every device you can reasonably test within a 12 month period or 25% per quarter

You should test the system weekly and reposible people i.e department managers should phone the switchboard (larger places obviously) to say they have heard the fire alarm, plus it familiarises staff with the sound of the fire alarm. My understanding of the weekly testing in relation to BS5839 is that you should have tested every device you can reasonably test within a 12 month period or 25% per quarter

The customer/client has a responsibility to test one different BGU weekly. It doesn't matter if they have say 99 BGU's - it takes them 99 weeks to do it.

If the premises operates on a shift system 24/7 then they also have to do activations for the nightshift workers (not weekly though).

Edited May 26, 200718 yr by Cerberus NI

In the Fire engineer world

The customer tests the system weekly,fills in log book and can work the system correctly.

yet to see all three together