Fire alarm system tests

[user87382294757]

Hi, wondered if anyone has any experience of this.

We live in a large Georgian townhouse which is split into 5 apartments. It is a mix of owner occupied, (3, including us) 1 holiday let (weekly) and one long term let.

We do the management committee, and therefore are responsible for arranging yearly meetings with the owners, where any major works and renovations / issues re agreed etc.

A year ago we had a new fire alarm system installed, linking all the apartments together and into a central control panel in the hall. The alarm company came out to check it last week and said we should be doing weekly fire alarm tests and 'as we are the responsible person we would be facing a charge of manslaughter if we haven't done so".

As they are servicing it and installed it it should work, we thought, and unsure if it will be practical to go into each flat in a weekly bases to check different alarms, as seems to be recommended.

We asked if they (alarm company) could some and do these weekly checks but it seems not. We will be having another meeting soon but I wondered if anyone else had the same situation and how they tackle this problem. Thanks

Some body needs to test it weekly , usually test one callpoint a week , checking it works ok. This should be recorded . The responsible person , of which there maybe more than one ,needs to ensure this and other tests are done eg fire risk assessment.

Testing is important, it's installed and working on day 1 but at some point in future it will fail, whether in 6 months or in 20 years.
The testing means the k longest time with an undetected failure will be 1 week which is a lot less time than the average time between fire. So small chance to have a fire between the failure and the test.
If you only get it tested once a year then it has almost a year to fail so you will definitely have a long period one day without protection. Then it won't help in case of a fire.

We have the exactly the same where I work - a company maintains and services the system for us, but we test it weekly. Presumably every flat has a cooker and heating appliances therefore the risk is such that weekly testing is required. It's not difficult - just have a procedure typed out and the same person tests it on a set day at a set time. That person then ensures there is cover when they are on holiday, etc.

You should check that insurance in place for directors and officers of the management company if it is required.

Thanks for the replies. Testing one call point each week- so each flat that means? Would it not be easier to check all the call points every month...Oh well I will have to speak wot him and get it arranged, as the guy was just here. Maybe we can start and then at the next meeting get others on board.

I do sometimes wonder about maybe if it would be better to have an external management committee for all of us. It is quite stressful, and feel we do it 1. To be involved / has a say in decisions 2 to save money. It can be such a hassle though. For example we also pay a cleaner for the Hall and then have to chase up the other flats for payment etc. Some of the flats have elderly residents who don't use emails and now with the holiday let that is even more of a hassle.

wowfudge yes these systems are more common in workplaces and I keep reading 'the business' - but this is not a workplace. If we test weekly each point / flat there is a good likelihood the occupant may not be in - especially with the holiday let or the retired ones as they are often away / have second homes. We too are sometimes away. The whole thing would like a nightmare to manage and wondering if testing the whole lot every month may be a better idea. Not sure.

You may have misunderstood - you test a different point every week, not all of them. It takes seconds to test the system and you just get everyone to take a turn of getting their break glass point tested.

None of this is onerous or difficult, it's sensible and ensures your system is fit for purpose.

Well, I spoke to the engineer who agreed that testing all the point monthly would be a reasonable alternative, as with testing each one weekly would be similar. The other residents seem happier with this also, so I guess we will do this for now and discuss it again at the next committee meeting.