Changing Fire Alarm Maintenance Provider

You may want to change fire alarm maintenance provider because of cost, service quality or a change in ownership. It goes best when done in the right order.

What to gather first

The log book and recent service reports
Certificates (design, installation, commissioning and servicing, where they exist)
Drawings or a zone chart
The control panel make and model, if known
Your current contract, including notice period and scope
Details of any open defects or known false alarm problems

If you do not have some of these, say so. A survey can fill gaps.

What a new provider will check

A responsible provider will not take on a system blind. They will want to review the system, the documentation available, equipment compatibility and the condition of the installation. They will check whether they can access and maintain the control panel, whether the devices are still supported and whether the system appears to match the building as it now is.

Possible outcomes

Straightforward takeover. The system is in good order and can be maintained as it is.
Takeover after remedial work. Defects need to be put right first.
Upgrade or replacement recommended. The system is obsolete or no longer suits the building.
Not accepted. The provider cannot maintain the system, for example because of proprietary equipment or because it is a type they do not support. Omni3 does not maintain wireless or hybrid fire alarm systems.

Avoiding a gap in cover

Do not assume the handover will be seamless. Agree the initial remedials, exclusions, servicing arrangements and commencement date with the new provider, keep your existing arrangement in place until those are confirmed, and confirm who is responsible if a fault occurs in between. Keep the log book up to date through the changeover.

See fire alarm servicing and maintenance to request a quotation.

This article is general information, not advice for a particular building. What a building needs depends on its use, fire strategy, risk assessment and the requirements that apply to it. Standards are revised from time to time, so check that you are working from the current edition.

Related service: Fire Alarm Servicing & Maintenance

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a new provider accept my existing system?

Not automatically. They will review the system, the available documentation, equipment compatibility and the condition of the installation first. Some systems need manufacturer-specific tools or access codes that the new provider may not have.

Do I need to end my current contract first?

Check the notice period and terms in your current contract. A good time to switch is shortly after a service visit, and do not end your current arrangements until the new provider has confirmed the commencement date, because an uninterrupted handover cannot be assumed.

What if the survey finds faults?

The provider should tell you what they found and what is needed. Remedial work may be quoted separately before maintenance starts.

Do I need to share the log book?

Yes, if you can. The log book and recent service reports show the history of the system and help the new provider plan.

Changing Fire Alarm Maintenance Provider: What a Takeover Involves