Understanding BS 5839-1:2025 – Fire Alarm Compliance Made Easy
What is BS 5839-1:2025?
UK fire alarm regulations require businesses and building owners to have appropriate fire detection and alarm systems based on risk assessments. BS 5839-1:2025 is the latest fire safety British Standard that provides detailed guidance and requirements for the design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in non-domestic premises.
The new standard directly impacts workplace fire safety. Whether you oversee fire safety in a care home, school, office block, or hotel, it is essential that you understand the implications of the revised standard.
What are the changes?
On the 30th of April 2025, the British Standards Institution officially withdrew the 2017 edition and replaced it with the updated BS 5839‑1:2025.
Heat detectors are out; smoke detectors are in. These detectors are now a must in bedrooms in places like care homes and student lodgings for quicker detection. Monitoring and fault signalling must also be faster, and fire alarm panels now send alerts to monitoring centres within 90 seconds to detect faults within 3 minutes.
Corridors and other areas that aren’t populated by people unless they’re moving from one place to another, are no longer acceptable points of call. These must now be allocated in occupied areas.
Enhanced visibility is an important change; obstructions like beams or ductwork must now be factored into detector layouts to avoid blind spots, and fire alarm cables cannot be any other colour but red for greater visibility and safety.
While some updates are more stringent than the previous standard, there is more flexibility around maintenance. The standard six-month intervals can now stretch from five to seven months.
Other changes affect lockdown alarms, which can be integrated but must be distinguishable from fire alerts. False alarm notices are now mandatory if the system auto-calls the Fire and Rescue Service.
Without a doubt, the most significant changes to come from BS 5839-1:2025 concern fire alarm control panels. They must now have a proper zone plan display on-site, real-time integration with lift return, door release, and smoke vent systems that have accurate clock settings for event log traceability. New criteria concerning control panels also call for the display of fault and false alarm notices, and battery sizing calculations.
What impact do the new British Standard fire alarm regulations have on industries?
BS 5839-1:2025 is not just a technical update; it’s a shift in accountability, raising expectations of how fire detection and alarm systems are designed, installed, and maintained in non-domestic buildings.
Industries affected include everything from education, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail and hospitality to transport (airports, train stations, and logistics hubs), and places of worship. Essentially, any industry operating in buildings that aren’t private residences.
While the technical standard is the same across industries, the application, risks, and enforcement expectations differ based on how the building is used, who’s inside, and what systems are already in place.
Actions to take now
Safety standards are updated to reflect new risks, technologies, legal expectations, and lessons learned from real incidents. These updates ensure that buildings remain safe and that systems are effective today, not just when they were originally installed.
If your fire system doesn’t comply, especially after changes or upgrades, you risk legal penalties, invalid insurance, safety failures, and reputational damage.
Take these actions today to prevent the above:
- Audit your current BS fire alarm system.
- Engage a competent fire safety consultant or engineer.
- Upgrade systems where needed to meet BS 5839‑1:2025 standards.
- Keep documentation updated for inspections and insurance purposes.
- Inform and train staff on changes and procedures related to new equipment.
If you’re not sure how the new standard will affect your building or if you need assistance interpreting its impact on your system design or maintenance programme, our experienced team of fire safety consultants and engineers can help.
We’ll make sure that your business is compliant with all of the fire safety legislation and apply any necessary changes for you.
Act now, contact us today.