Every business understands the importance of protecting staff, customers, and property from the risk of fire. Installing a fire alarm system is a vital first step, but ensuring it remains reliable requires more than an occasional test. Scheduled fire alarm servicing is essential to keep your system compliant, functional, and ready to respond in an emergency.

At Morgan Fire, we offer professional servicing packages tailored to different types of premises, ensuring that your fire alarm system not only complies with British Standards but also delivers long-term reliability. In this guide, we’ll explore why regular servicing is necessary, what it involves, and how it helps safeguard your business.

The Difference Between Maintenance and Servicing

The terms “maintenance” and “servicing” are sometimes used interchangeably, but in fire safety they mean slightly different things:

  • Maintenance usually refers to the overall care of the system, including checks, cleaning, and repairs.

  • Servicing refers specifically to scheduled, professional inspections and tests carried out at fixed intervals by a competent engineer.

While you can carry out basic weekly checks in-house, servicing must be performed by trained professionals to ensure compliance and technical accuracy.

Why Scheduled Servicing Is Essential

There are several key reasons why planned servicing is so important for your fire alarm system:

  1. Reliability – Fires are unpredictable. A regularly serviced alarm ensures your system is always ready to respond.

  2. Compliance with BS 5839-1 – This British Standard recommends that fire alarms are serviced at least every six months.

  3. Legal responsibility – Under the Fire Safety Order 2005, the responsible person must ensure systems are properly maintained.

  4. Prevention of false alarms – Servicing helps reduce nuisance alarms, which can disrupt business and damage your reputation.

  5. Cost savings – Identifying small faults early prevents costly repairs or replacements later.

What Happens During a Fire Alarm Service?

At Morgan Fire, our engineers follow a thorough servicing process to ensure nothing is overlooked. This typically includes:

  1. Inspection of control equipment – checking indicators, power supplies, and system logs.

  2. Testing call points – ensuring manual break-glass units activate correctly.

  3. Detector testing – smoke, heat, or multi-sensor detectors are checked for responsiveness.

  4. Sounders and alarms – confirming audible and visual warnings are effective throughout the premises.

  5. Battery checks – ensuring backup power sources are reliable in case of mains failure.

  6. Cleaning and calibration – detectors are kept free of dust and debris that can trigger false alarms.

  7. Fault simulation – ensuring the system responds appropriately in different scenarios.

  8. Record keeping – providing a detailed log of findings for compliance and insurance records.

Common Issues Found During Servicing

Scheduled servicing often identifies problems that would otherwise go unnoticed, such as:

  • Detectors blocked by dust or paint.

  • Faulty wiring or loose connections.

  • Batteries nearing end of life.

  • Outdated components no longer compliant with current standards.

Catching these issues early ensures your system remains reliable and prevents future disruption.

Legal Responsibilities for Businesses

UK law is clear: every non-domestic building must have appropriate fire detection and alarm systems in place, and these must be properly maintained.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 makes the “responsible person” accountable for ensuring fire alarms are regularly tested and serviced. Failure to do so can result in:

  • Enforcement notices from the fire service.

  • Heavy fines for non-compliance.

  • Potential imprisonment in severe cases.

  • Insurance policies being invalidated after a fire.

Regular servicing helps demonstrate compliance, protecting you legally and financially.

The Risks of Neglecting Servicing

Some businesses delay or skip fire alarm servicing to save money, but this often proves far more costly in the long run. The risks include:

  • System failure – alarms may not sound during an emergency.

  • Frequent false alarms – wasting time, disrupting staff, and damaging reputation.

  • Increased repair costs – small faults left unchecked can escalate.

  • Legal action – enforcement by regulators if you fail to meet your obligations.

In short, neglecting servicing is not worth the risk.

Benefits of Scheduled Servicing with Morgan Fire

When you choose Morgan Fire for scheduled servicing, you benefit from:

  • Peace of mind – knowing your system is compliant and reliable.

  • Accredited engineers – all work carried out to British Standards.

  • Tailored servicing schedules – designed around your business and risk profile.

  • Minimal disruption – we work efficiently to keep downtime to a minimum.

  • Transparent reporting – clear records provided after every visit.

We service systems from a wide range of manufacturers, making us a trusted choice across industries including healthcare, education, retail, hospitality, and manufacturing.

Conclusion

Fire alarm servicing is not an optional extra — it is a critical part of keeping your business safe, compliant, and prepared. By scheduling regular servicing with Morgan Fire, you can ensure your system remains reliable, avoid costly false alarms, and meet your legal obligations under UK fire safety law.

Protecting your staff, customers, and premises starts with a system that works when you need it most. Book your fire alarm servicing with Morgan Fire today and take the worry out of compliance.

FAQs

1. How often should fire alarms be serviced?
British Standard BS 5839-1 recommends at least every six months, though higher-risk premises may need quarterly servicing.

2. Who can carry out fire alarm servicing?
Servicing must be performed by a competent person, such as an accredited fire safety engineer.

3. Can staff carry out weekly checks instead of servicing?
Weekly tests are important, but they do not replace professional servicing. Both are required.

4. What happens if I don’t service my fire alarm?
You risk prosecution, invalidated insurance, increased false alarms, and possible system failure during a fire.

5. Does servicing take long?
Most services can be completed within a few hours, depending on the size of the building and system type.