Weekly fire alarm test procedure
How to carry out the weekly fire alarm test correctly — notifying the ARC, selecting the call point, operating the test, and recording the result in the log book.
The weekly fire alarm test is one of the simplest but most important maintenance tasks in the BS 5839-1 maintenance regime. Done correctly and consistently, it confirms that the alarm system is working, familiarises occupants with the sound of the alarm, and provides a regular opportunity to identify any faults before they become serious. Done incorrectly — or not at all — it leaves gaps in the maintenance record and may mask developing faults.
The Purpose of the Weekly Test
BS 5839-1 recommends that at least one manual call point is tested each week, on a rotating basis, so that every call point in the building is tested at regular intervals. The test confirms that the call point operates correctly, that the panel receives and registers the alarm signal from the correct zone, and that the sounders activate throughout the building.
The weekly test is not a full system test — it does not verify every detector or every sounder circuit. Its purpose is to confirm basic system operation and to provide a regular check that the alarm sound is audible to all current occupants. It also ensures that the panel display is working and that zone indications are correct.
Step by step
How to Carry Out the Weekly Test
Notify the alarm receiving centre (ARC)
If your system is monitored by an ARC, call them before starting the test and inform them you are carrying out a weekly test. Give your site identification code and your name. This prevents the ARC from treating the alarm as a real fire and contacting the fire service or keyholder. If you do not notify the ARC first, you risk a false alarm response — potentially incurring a charge and creating a poor false alarm record for your site.
Warn occupants
Let all building occupants know the alarm is about to be tested so they are not alarmed by the sounders activating. A simple verbal announcement or email is sufficient. In larger buildings, a pre-alarm warning tone may be used if available. Make clear the test is not an evacuation and occupants should remain at their workstations.
Select the call point to be tested
Choose the next call point in the rotation — keeping a record of which call point was tested last week ensures every call point is tested over time. The call point should be a different one each week, working systematically through all call points in the building. Note the call point number or location before proceeding.
Operate the call point using the test key
Use the test key or magnet provided with the system to activate the call point without breaking the glass. Most modern call points have a key-operated test facility — inserting the key and turning it simulates a glass break without requiring the glass element to be replaced. Never break the glass to carry out the weekly test — replacement glass elements are a maintenance cost and an unnecessary complication.
Verify the panel response
Go to the control panel and confirm that the alarm has registered on the correct zone. The panel should show an alarm condition and the zone indicator for the zone containing the tested call point should be illuminated. On addressable systems, the specific device address should be displayed. If the panel shows a different zone, or no alarm at all, this is a fault that must be investigated and logged.
Confirm sounders are audible
While the alarm is sounding, briefly confirm that sounders are audible in the areas they are intended to cover. You do not need to conduct a full sound level survey — a general check that the alarm is clearly audible throughout the occupied areas of the building is sufficient for the weekly test.
Reset the system
Once the test is complete, reset the call point and then reset the panel using the reset procedure — typically by pressing the reset button after the call point has been restored to normal. Confirm that the panel returns to normal condition with no fault or alarm indications remaining. If any fault indications appear after reset, investigate and log them.
Notify the ARC that the test is complete
Call the ARC again to confirm the test is finished and the system is back to normal. This restores full monitoring to the site. If you forget this step, the ARC may continue to treat any subsequent alarms as a potential real fire activation during the test period.
Record the test in the log book
Enter the test in the fire alarm log book immediately. The record should include the date and time, the call point tested (number or location), confirmation that the panel responded correctly, confirmation that sounders were audible, and the name of the person who carried out the test. If any fault was identified, note it and the action taken.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
BS 5839-1 recommends that the weekly test is carried out during normal working hours when the building is occupied — so that occupants hear the alarm and can confirm audibility throughout the building. Testing outside working hours defeats the purpose of confirming the alarm is audible to all occupants. A consistent day and time — Tuesday morning at 9am, for example — helps occupants anticipate the test and avoids confusion with a real alarm activation.
This is a fault condition and must be investigated. Record the failure in the log book and contact your maintenance contractor immediately — do not simply move on to a different call point and continue testing. A call point that fails to trigger the alarm means either the call point itself is faulty, there is a wiring fault on that zone circuit, or a panel fault is preventing the zone from alarming. The fault must be diagnosed and rectified before the system can be considered operational.
No — the weekly call point test is a basic operational task that can be carried out by any nominated and trained member of staff. The person carrying out the test does not need to be a fire alarm engineer. They do need to know how to operate the test key, how to read the panel display, how to reset the system, and how to record the result. A brief induction from the maintenance contractor is sufficient to equip a nominated person to carry out weekly tests correctly.