Smoke Alarms Servicing

[Georgiou]

Hi,

I live in a 3-storey leasehold property with five flats (two on ground floor, two on first floor and one on second). The only fire detection system in place is a couple of linked Fireangel WST630 smoke detectors in the communal corridors.

We've recently had fire risk assessment that says the responsible person needs to test the fire alarm system once a month but must have it serviced once every six months by a "competent professional".

As far as I'm aware there's no other duties that need to be done for fire compliance in this property every 6 months, and as the smoke alarms are battery operated as opposed to wired (10 year battery on its 3rd year), so do we really need to get a fire safety company to come out and perform a 5 minute 'service' on it?

What would that even involve, opening it up and testing the wires inside the smoke detector? If it's tested regularly and clean of dust and dirt, and the battery still has power is there a need to service every 6 months? I've tried looking but can't see anything in regs anywhere saying that for domestic premises under 11m in height you have to do this. Can anyone help? Thanks

 

 

 

[AnthonyB]

Get a new fire risk assessor that has access to and reads current standards. Grade D & Grade F smoke & heat alarms require no formal maintenance beyond user monthly checks unless linked to a telecare system (e.g. warden call or Tunstall) as there is actually nothing to service and the test smoke poles used on commercial detection are actually cautioned against by several manufacturers of domestic detection as they can damage them. The current edition of the standard BS 5839-6:2019+A1:2020
"Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings - Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises" details this