UK Fire Safety legislation requires that the responsible person must ensure that the premises and protective measures are subject to a suitable system of maintenance.
Maintenance is essential for any equipment, but particularly for safety critical uses such as fire safety equipment.
Maintenance system should cover all fire safety equipment
The maintenance system should cover all fire safety equipment, systems and facilities
The maintenance system should cover all fire safety equipment, systems and facilities, such as fire detection and alarm systems; means of escape; emergency lighting; signs; notices and firefighting equipment.
The appropriate checks and procedures can be found in the relevant codes of practice such as BS 5306 for portable extinguishers and BS 5839 for fire detection and alarm systems. The systems must be maintained by a competent person and company.
Definition of a competent person
The definition of a competent person will depend on what is being maintained. Generally a competent person will have undergone a program of training followed by 'on the job' experience.
For those who are in any doubt as to what servicing requirements their building and systems require, please contact ComLink Fire & Security anytime for advice on what parts of the British Standards would apply to them and their workplace to ensure they are compliant.