Considering investing in your business’ fire safety and upgrading to a monitored fire alarm system? We’re covering all the information you need to know, from how much it’s going to cost to if it’s a legal requirement.
The short answer to this question is no. However, just because it’s not a legal requirement, doesn’t mean it’s not beneficial to have a monitored fire alarm. In fact, having a third party constantly monitor your fire alarm increases your business’ overall fire safety as well as reduces the risk of injury to your employees and visitors.
Within the UK, Fire and Rescue Services attended over 600,000 incidents in the last year, of which 136,702 were fires. Tragically, there were 254 fire-related fatalities in this period, underscoring the critical need for robust fire safety and prevention in the workplace. If all of these incidents had had professional fire alarm monitoring in place, these figures would likely be significantly lower, due to the increased rate emergency services could have arrived at the scene. This is because when a system is monitored, the monitoring provider will automatically action an emergency services response if a legitimate fire alarm is triggered.
One of the most compelling reasons for businesses to invest in monitoring, especially for those in the office sector, is the drastic reduction in false alarms. In the last year, there were over 251,000 fire false alarms, which represents the largest figure since 2011. While some were malicious or due to good intent, a significant portion was attributed to apparatus faults. These unnecessary call-outs waste valuable Fire and Rescue Service resources and can lead to complacency among staff. By using advanced monitoring with alarm verification, a provider can filter out these nuisance alerts and ensure the Fire and Rescue Service is only deployed when a genuine threat is confirmed. This verification step is a crucial differentiator and highlights why reading our guide on the importance of fire alarm monitoring is essential for business continuity.
The cost to have your fire alarm systems monitored varies with each monitoring provider, as well as the size and type of fire alarm system you have in place. A more complex system with hundreds of fire alarms will of course cost more to monitor than if you had one or two. However, some contracts could cost you as little as £10 a month.
Key factors that influence the final cost include the communication path (e.g., dedicated telephone lines, IP, or dual-path signalling), the category of your system (such as an L1 or L2 system), and whether the monitoring is connected directly to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) for keyholder and emergency service response. Modern, advanced monitoring systems often leverage digital communicators, which provide a more secure and faster connection than older analogue technology. This is also why many commercial premises choose to integrate their fire monitoring with other services, such as CCTV monitoring, to streamline their safety and security management under one provider.
Most monitoring companies will carry out an on-site survey, whereby they can access your system and give you a bespoke quote. Most monitoring contracts are charged on a monthly or annual basis and will cover total monitoring of your fire alarm system 24/7 and for 365 days of the year.
A monitored fire alarm system is an investment into your business’ safety but will be extremely valuable when you need it most. Hopefully, a fire doesn’t break out, but if one does you’ll reap the benefits of a monitoring system and the immediate support the monitoring can provide in your time of need.
The cost of a monitoring contract is therefore a small price to pay, compared to the potential loss and damage to your property, stock, equipment, other assets and even life. Fires do not respect business hours; an immediate, verified response at 3 am can be the difference between minor damage and total operational loss. This fast response protects not just the building, but the financial viability of your company, as 70-80% of businesses fail within three years of a major fire incident, according to Fire Magazine.
In some cases having a monitoring contract in place for your fire alarm system can actually reduce your insurance premiums as your site is considered less at risk from fire damage! Therefore in some incidents, fire alarm monitoring can be cost-effective in the long run. In fact, major insurers like Zurich UK have found that 70% of businesses with advanced alarm systems received better insurance terms or discounts, reinforcing the idea that a proactive approach to risk management, which includes both fire and intruder alarms, is recognised and rewarded. For further details on how this affects your commercial cover, you may want to read our article on security system certification and what insurers look for. Furthermore, implementing measures like passive fire protection alongside a monitored system provides a holistic defence that safeguards the structural integrity and critical assets of your premises.
Maintenance contracts are also available to cover your fire alarm system. These consist of various system checks, tests and servicing throughout the year, to ensure all your fire safety equipment is in good working order and is set to last for years to come.
Certain maintenance checks are required and advised by the UK government and BS 5839, such as inspections every 6 months as well as weekly fire alarm testing. It is crucial for businesses to note that the latest revisions, such as amendments to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO), which came into force in October 2023, place greater responsibility on the designated ‘Responsible Person’. These new duties include the need to record the fire risk assessment in full and the identity of any person appointed to assist with it. This increased focus on documentation and competence makes a professional maintenance partner indispensable.
It’s important to adhere to the latest fire safety regulations. Using a third party, therefore, gives confidence that your fire safety system is up to date and meeting all necessary requirements, which is vital in avoiding legal penalties. Businesses must understand their potential liability in the event of a fire, as explored in our guide on understanding legal responsibility in fire incidents at work. The standard for non-domestic fire alarm systems, BS 5839-1, recommends professional inspection and servicing visits at intervals not exceeding six months by a competent person. New updates to this standard, such as the forthcoming BS 5839-1:2025, also introduce stricter requirements for alarm power supplies, clear zone plans for multi-zone buildings, and greater emphasis on managing false alarms, demonstrating the evolving landscape of fire safety technology and compliance. Consulting a specialist for your fire risk assessments ensures you comply with these complex and shifting legal requirements.
Much like a monitoring contract, the cost of fire alarm system maintenance depends on various factors, such as the size of the site, type of system and number of components with the system, such as fire alarms and extinguishers.
However, it is crucial to look beyond the immediate cost and consider the total lifecycle value. Regular maintenance by BAFE certified engineers not only ensures compliance but extends the life of your equipment and protects against costly breakdowns. In fact, modern techniques, such as those discussed in our article on what is predictive maintenance, are helping to reduce long-term costs by moving away from reactive repairs to scheduled, preventative servicing.
At BusinessWatch, we can provide a monitoring & maintenance contract that covers both the monitoring of your fire alarms and identification of false alarms, as well as the overall servicing, upkeep and repairing of your entire system. We are completely BAFE certified and provide a world-class professional service with friendly and helpful support. Before committing to any provider, we recommend reviewing our analysis of the top 7 mistakes businesses make when choosing a fire safety provider.
If you’re interested in our monitoring and maintenance contracts or are looking to switch from your current supplier, get in touch with us on 0330 094 7404.
