Fire Alarm Testing: The Weekly Test, the Record and What to Do If It Fails
By Sebastian Grabowski, DC Fire & Security, Luton. Updated October 2026.
How do you test a fire alarm?
Once a week, at the same time, operate one manual call point with its test key and check the alarm sounds. Use a different call point each week. Warn everyone in the building first, then reset the panel and write the result in the fire alarm logbook. A competent engineer should also service the system about every 6 months. This page covers commercial and communal alarms under BS 5839-1.
The weekly test, step by step
It takes about five minutes. The person doing it needs to know the panel and the building.
- 1Tell people. Warn everyone in the building that a test is about to happen, so no one starts to evacuate. Tell the alarm receiving centre first if the system is monitored (see below).
- 2Check the panel. Before you test, look at the panel. Note any faults or disablements already showing.
- 3Pick this week's call point. Use a different one each week, working round the building so that every call point is tested in turn. Keep a rota.
- 4Operate it. Use the test key or the method the call point is designed for.
- 5Check the response. The panel should show the right zone. The sounders should work, and you should be able to hear them from the areas where people work or sleep.
- 6Silence and reset. Silence the alarm, reset the panel and check it returns to normal with no new faults.
- 7Record it. Date, time, which call point, result and who tested. Sign the entry.
- 8Close off with the monitoring centre. If you gave notice earlier, tell them the test is over.
If you want the short version, see how to do a weekly fire alarm test. For testing frequency across the whole system, see how often should a fire alarm be tested. This page goes further on the record, faults and monitoring.
A weekly test record you can copy
Print this, put it in the logbook or pin it by the panel.
| Week / date | Time | Call point tested (number and place) | Zone shown on panel | Sounders heard (Y/N) | Fault or action | Tested by (sign) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 / ____ | ____ | CP01 Reception | ____ | Y / N | ____ | ____ |
| 2 / ____ | ____ | CP02 Ground floor corridor | ____ | Y / N | ____ | ____ |
| 3 / ____ | ____ | CP03 Kitchen exit | ____ | Y / N | ____ | ____ |
| 4 / ____ | ____ | CP04 First floor stair | ____ | Y / N | ____ | ____ |
Carry on down the list until every call point has been tested, then start again. Keep the same time slot each week. Log false alarms, faults, disablements and engineer visits in the same book. The call point names above are examples, so list your own.
What to do when the test fails
A failed test is a finding, not a disaster. Write it down and act the same day.
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| Panel does not react to the call point | Record it. Test a second call point. If that also fails, call your alarm engineer and agree interim measures, such as a fire watch, until it is fixed |
| Panel shows the alarm but sounders do not work | Record which sounders. This is a serious defect. Call your engineer and put interim measures in place |
| Panel shows a fault before or after the test | Note the fault text and zone from the panel. Call your engineer. Do not leave it for the next service |
| A zone or device is disabled | Record who disabled it and why. A disablement should be temporary and approved. Make sure it is re-enabled |
| Sounders are too quiet in one area | Record the location. It may need a sound level check or an extra device |
If part of the system is out of action, the responsible person decides what interim measures are needed. That can mean extra patrols, a fire watch or limiting use of the area until it is fixed. Your engineer can advise. If the alarm is going off when it should not, see fire alarm keeps going off.
Who is responsible for fire alarm testing?
The responsible person, who may delegate the task.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 the responsible person has to keep fire safety measures, including the alarm, maintained and in good working order (article 17). That is usually the employer, landlord, managing agent or owner. In practice, someone on site is named to run the weekly test. They need training on the panel and a deputy for holidays. The duty stays with the responsible person. See who is the responsible person.
What the logbook should hold
If an inspector, insurer or managing agent asks, this is what they look for.
- Weekly test entries, with the call point, date, time and signature
- Every false alarm, with date, cause and action taken
- Faults, disablements and the date they were cleared
- Engineer service visits and the certificate or report from each
- Any changes to the building that affect the alarm, such as new partitions or a change of use
- Who the named responsible person is, and who the deputy is
The logbook is also where the engineer records recommendations. A gap in the weekly tests is the first thing an insurer or auditor will notice. For the standard behind all this, see what is BS 5839.
Your weekly test versus the engineer's service visit
They are different jobs. One does not replace the other.
| Weekly test | Engineer service | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | A trained person on site | A competent fire alarm engineer |
| How often | Every week | About every 6 months |
| What it checks | One call point, the panel response and the sounders | Detectors, call points, sounders, panel, batteries, cause and effect and cabling, with a share of devices tested each visit |
| Output | A logbook entry | A service report and certificate, with any defects listed |
A fire alarm service visit starts from about £400 + VAT for a small system. For what a visit covers, see fire alarm servicing and maintenance. If you are designing or replacing a system, see commercial fire alarm installation.
If your alarm is monitored by an alarm receiving centre
Tell them before you test, every time.
If your system is connected to an alarm receiving centre (ARC), a call point test can send a real signal that results in a call to the fire service. Phone the ARC before you start, give your site name and expected test time, and ask them to put the system on test. When you finish, phone them back to take it off test. Note both calls in the logbook. If you are not sure how your system is monitored, ask your provider. See fire alarm monitoring explained.
Emergency lighting is a separate test
Do not log it in the fire alarm book.
Emergency lighting has its own monthly flick test and annual full duration test under BS 5266-1, with its own record. Details are on emergency lighting testing requirements.
Sources
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Fire safety in the workplace: your responsibilities (GOV.UK)
Updated October 2026 by Sebastian Grabowski, DC Fire & Security, 2 Winsdon Court, Luton LU1 5LZ.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should a fire alarm be tested?
What time of day should I do the weekly test?
Do I have to test every call point every week?
Can I test the alarm without telling staff?
What if we never kept a weekly test record?
Does this apply to home smoke alarms?
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