Fire alarms can save lives and protect workplaces from the devastating impacts of fire. The benefits are clear, but what are the legal obligations for businesses surrounding workplace fire alarms? If you’re wondering what are the minimum requirements for workplace fire alarms, keep reading. From a set of British Standards to the Fire Safety Order, there is a lot of information to take in, so we’ve cut through it all and identified what you need to know to stay compliant.
A workplace fire alarm system can look different for every company and every site. Each site may have different needs and the type and size of a workplace will influence the type of fire alarm needed. However, a workplace fire alarm system will always consist of the following components:
Modern advancements have also introduced more sophisticated elements like wireless components and IoT integration. Choosing between wired vs wireless fire alarm systems is a critical decision that impacts installation time and site aesthetics. Furthermore, the future of fire detection is rapidly evolving toward real-time analytics, allowing for faster response times and fewer false alarms.
The main reason why it is important for workplace fire alarms to be regulated is so that they remain working effectively and protect people, sites and workplaces. If a workplace’s fire alarm system stops working or suffers a fault, then if a fire did break out, it may not notify those on-site that a fire has broken out, increasing the risk of mortality or injury as well as damage to any buildings or other assets.
Recent data highlights the financial and human stakes involved. In the year ending March 2024, Fire and Rescue Services in England attended over 185,000 fires, a reminder that the threat remains constant for commercial and industrial properties. Beyond safety, compliance is vital for financial protection; how fire safety impacts your commercial insurance premiums is often overlooked, with non-compliance potentially leading to voided policies or significantly higher costs. Effective regulation through passive fire protection and active detection ensures that small incidents do not escalate into total losses.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is the main fire safety law in the UK. If you own or manage a business in England or Wales, then you will need to comply with its contents. The UK government also inputs on workplace fire alarms and states that a fire alarm system should be installed and maintained in line with the British Standard, BS 5839. This standard is particularly rigorous for complex environments like healthcare facilities, where patient mobility must be factored into the detection strategy.
The Fire Safety Reform (2005) ensures that a workplace premise has reached the required standards in terms of fire safety and that all employees are provided with adequate fire safety training.
Adequate fire safety training will vary with every workplace and the nature of the business. For instance, a restaurant will have varying fire safety training for their staff compared to those working in an office environment. However, training will likely cover:
The Fire Safety Reform (2005) also states that all businesses must carry out a fire risk assessment, to determine whether a fire alarm system is needed and what type. Business owners must also be aware of evolving legislation; for example, what landlords must know about fire safety compliance in 2025 includes stricter requirements for multi-occupancy buildings and better documentation.
The BS 5839 is a set of standards and a code of practice for designing, installing, commissioning and servicing fire alarm systems for commercial buildings. They are not legal requirements but do contain recommendations for where the systems should be placed based on the type of business and site. With 8 different categories of fire alarms, a fire risk assessment will determine which systems your workplace requires. For larger sites, such as logistics hubs or warehouses, these standards ensure the system is audible across expansive areas.
The BS 5839 also states that within each workplace, a single ‘responsible person’ should be entrusted with all matters of the fire alarm system, ensuring it is properly maintained and tested in line with the British Standards.
UK fire alarm regulations state that all workplaces must have an ‘appropriate fire detection system in place’. This means that if a fire were to break out, it can be easily detected and employees and others on site can be easily notified. According to recent reports on fire incidents, false alarms still account for a massive portion of fire service call-outs, highlighting why choosing the right “appropriate” system is vital to avoid unnecessary disruption.
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that every workplace legally needs a fire alarm system. If any of the following statements are true about your workplace, it is unlikely that you require one:
If none of the above statements applies to your workplace, then you will likely need to install a fire alarm system. This is especially true for sectors with high footfall like retail environments. If you are still unsure, we recommend you carry out a professional fire risk assessment.
Your fire risk assessment will indicate which type of fire alarm systems your workplace legally needs. There are various types and different categories, so we recommend getting a professional fire risk assessment carried out to make sure you have the right system for your business. For businesses looking for the latest in safety, exploring fire safety trends can reveal how smart sensors are making compliance easier and more reliable.
We’ve already established that not every site needs a fire alarm system, however, what are the absolute minimum requirements for workplaces when it comes to workplace fire alarms?
Although a fire alarm system isn’t a legal requirement, having an ‘appropriate fire detection system’ in place is. This means that there must be some type of system or procedure in place to detect that a fire has broken out. As we have already covered, if you are in a small, open-plan space with no high-risk substances, no vulnerable people and no high-risk activities being carried out, it’s likely to be obvious if a fire breaks out. Therefore your detection system can be the visual eye.
However, if you do have any of the above at your workplace, you will need a fire detection system, such as a fire alarm.
If you do have a fire alarm system installed at your workplace, then it must be checked and tested regularly to ensure it is working correctly in the event of a fire. Regulations state that a business should:
Fire alarm servicing is important as it ensures the system is maintained correctly and that there are no faults. Another benefit of regular servicing is that it will improve the lifespan of the system too. Workplaces should:
For those looking to streamline their processes, what is predictive maintenance in fire safety is a growing field that uses data to fix issues before they even cause a system fault.
If it is found that your workplace isn’t compliant, it not only puts your employees, visitors, site and business at risk, but it also may have critical legal complications. Depending on the severity, those responsible may be prosecuted in court, fined or even imprisoned. Many managers ask are you liable for fire incidents? The answer is often yes, as the “Responsible Person” carries the weight of legal accountability for fire safety failures. In factory settings, where fire risks are naturally higher due to machinery, the penalties for negligence can be particularly severe.
A professional security and fire safety company can install a workplace fire alarm system. Make sure that the company you choose are working to the BS 5839 and is also NSI approved, to guarantee that your fire alarm system is being designed and installed to the highest and most stringent industry standards.
At BusinessWatch, we have been awarded an NSI Gold accreditation and have over 30 years of experience installing workplace fire alarm systems. As well as installation, we also offer full servicing and maintenance, as well as remote monitoring options.
If you’re interested in finding out more, get in touch with the team on 0330 094 7404.
