Fire Alarm Commissioning Explained

Commissioning is often misunderstood. It is not the same as installation, and it is not the same as a routine test. It is the one-off process that turns a collection of installed equipment into a system you can rely on.

What commissioning covers

Programming the control panel, including device and zone descriptions
Testing each detector, manual call point and sounder
Checking the cause-and-effect programming: what happens when each device operates
Checking that the alarm is audible where it needs to be
Checking fault indications and standby power
Testing any links to other systems, such as door release or ventilation
Recording results and preparing handover documents

When it happens

Commissioning follows installation and comes before handover. It is also needed when an existing system is significantly altered, for example after a control panel replacement or an extension to the system. For non-domestic premises, BS 5839-1 recommends that systems are commissioned before they are handed over.

Systems installed by others

Sometimes a system has been installed by one company and a different company is asked to commission it. This can work, but the commissioning provider needs to review the design, installation, available documentation and equipment compatibility, and must be competent to undertake the work. Acceptance is assessed individually. Deficiencies must be recorded and appropriately resolved before satisfactory commissioning documentation is issued. Wireless and hybrid systems are outside our service, and we do not commission them.

What you should receive

A commissioning certificate in the form recommended by BS 5839-1, where the system is commissioned under that standard
Test records and a record of the final programming
Updated drawings or a zone chart
A log book for routine checks
A list of any defects or variations

What happens after commissioning

Once the system is in use, someone at the premises carries out routine checks, and the system is serviced at agreed intervals. See weekly checks versus professional servicing.

Learn about our fire alarm commissioning service.

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 Commissioning

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should commission a fire alarm system?

A competent person with the right knowledge of the system and the standard being followed. The party who installed the system often commissions it, but this is not the only arrangement. If you have questions about who is appropriate, ask your designer or the responsible person for the premises.

Can commissioning be done on a system installed by another company?

Possibly. A commissioning provider needs to review the design, installation, available documentation and equipment compatibility, and be competent to do the work. Acceptance is assessed individually, and deficiencies must be recorded and appropriately resolved before satisfactory commissioning documentation is issued.

What is the difference between commissioning and a service visit?

Commissioning is a one-off verification of a new or significantly altered system. A service visit is a periodic inspection of an existing system.

What if a device fails during commissioning?

It is recorded, investigated and put right, then retested. The system should not be signed off until it works as designed.