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BS 5839-1:2025 – what it means for testing

BS 5839-1:2025 – what it means for testing

Posted in: Testing Training News
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Tuesday, 29 April 2025, marks the publication of the new BS 5839-1:2025 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings – Part 1: Design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of systems in non-domestic premises. Importantly, this new Code of Practice becomes effective immediately and officially replaces the 2017 version.

BS 5839-1 is important because it provides essential current practice to ensure fire alarm systems are reliable, compliant with regulations, and effective in real-world emergencies. Keeping up to date with BS5839-1 is crucial for anyone involved in fire safety, as it helps maintain high safety standards and supports legal compliance across the industry.

 

Recently, there has been a lot of talk in the fire industry about competency and raising competency levels across the industry. Consequently, it is very encouraging to see continuing professional development (CPD) being included for the first time in clause 3.13:

“3.13 competent person

Person, suitably trained and qualified by knowledge and practical experience, and provided with the necessary instructions, to enable the required task(s) to be carried out correctly.

NOTE: Maintenance of competence is likely to require continuing professional development (CPD)”

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As manufacturers and suppliers to the fire industry, Detectortesters, along with other industry manufacturers, have a key role to play here, and this has shaped our approach to product training and how we make it relevant and accessible to those that need it. Fire safety and promoting competency is a priority for our industry and for a long time, many of our international customers have looked to Detectortesters as the global industry leader for help with CPD-certified training. Since 2020, we have partnered with the Fire Industry Association (FIA) in the UK who review and certify many of our webinar-based training courses, which are available to book online on our website.

 

Anyone familiar with previous BS 5839-1:2017 clause numbering will need to get used to a new clause numbering in BS 5839-1. In many cases the content has stayed the same, but it will be in a different place. For example, you can now find the need for a visual inspection and the examination of automatic fire detectors covered in clauses 43.2.3 and 43.3.3 respectively.

“43.2.3 A visual inspection should be made to check whether structural or occupancy changes have affected the conformity of the system to this part of BS5839-1 for the sitting of manual call points, automatic fire detectors and fire alarm devices …”

“43.3.3 All automatic fire detectors (including those which are concealed or relatively inaccessible) should be examined, as far as possible, to verify that they have not been damaged, painted, or otherwise adversely affected.”

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The functional testing of detectors is now covered in clause 43.3.5 and with for the different types in 43.3.6 to 43.3.15. There have been some subtle changes to in some of the clauses but effectively, they have stayed the same and you are in safe hands with our Solo, Testifire and Scorpion test solutions.

 

When it comes to the testing of detectors, people sometimes simply focus on the functional testing aspect. It is easy to forget that the visual inspection and the examination of detectors on-site are part of the testing protocol and play an important role. Also, part of this testing protocol for detectors is the LED check by the fire service engineer when physically on location and this is now covered in clause 43.3.4

“43.3.4 The correct operation of all readily visible integral and/or remote visual fire indicators should be checked. It should be verified that visual fire indicators are not obstructed from view by changes in their environment or contaminates such as paint …”

With BS 5839-1:2025 now published and effective as of today, everyone in the industry will need some time to familiarise themselves with the updates and of course, also the new clause numbering. At Detectortesters, we plan to dwell into more detail in specific sections of BS 5839-1 that with relevance to the testing & maintenance of detectors and required record keeping, and to share this with you in future blogs.

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