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Fire alarm test log

A fire alarm log book for the weekly test, service visits and false alarms. The weekly test records the call point used and warns if it is the same as last week, then checks the panel, sounders, linked systems and reset. A service visit records each device tested and warns when the last service was more than six months ago. Every question is listed below, and you can fill the live form in on this page.

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How often should a fire alarm be tested?

Home Office guidance is that all types of fire warning system should be tested once a week. For an electrical system, operate a manual call point with the test key, using a different call point for each successive test. The same guide says six-monthly servicing and preventive maintenance should be carried out by a competent person, and that it is good practice to record all tests, false alarms and maintenance.

Last updated 17 October 2026. Facts checked by the SiteSurvey team on 17 October 2026 against the Home Office guide Fire safety risk assessment: offices and shops and article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

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Every question in the fire alarm test template

A fire alarm test record: the weekly call point test with the call point used, sounders and reset, and the service visit with each device tested, faults, photos and the date of the last service. 5 sections and 75 questions. Follow-up questions and guidance appear only when an answer calls for them, so the person on site never sees the ones that do not apply.

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Client: the project's customer
Site: the site, when the form is opened for a space or a product
Site address: the site address, from the space or the project

Test details

ProjectShort answer
Fills in from the project name
ClientShort answer
Fills in from the project's customer
Site*Short answer
Fills in from the site, when the form is opened for a space or a product
Site addressShort answer
Fills in from the site address, from the space or the project
Date*Date
TimeTime
Tested by, name and role*Short answer
Responsible person for the premisesShort answer
What is being recorded?*Choose one
- Weekly test
- Service visit by a competent person
- Fault or false alarm
CheckSources. BS 5839-1 (fire detection and alarm systems for non-domestic premises) recommends a weekly test by the user, operating a different manual call point each week, and inspection and servicing by a competent person at intervals of no more than 6 months. BS 5839-6 covers systems in dwellings. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, article 17, requires the responsible person to keep fire detection and warning systems maintained in efficient working order and good repair.

Weekly test

GuidanceHome Office guide Fire safety risk assessment: offices and shops. All types of fire warning system should be tested once a week. For electrical systems, activate a manual call point, usually with a test key, using a different call point for each successive test. It is good practice to record all tests, false alarms and any maintenance.
Is the alarm connected to an alarm receiving centre?Yes or No
Was the centre told before the test?Yes or No
Shown when “Is the alarm connected to an alarm receiving centre?” is Yes
CheckWhere a system is connected to a monitoring centre, arrange the test with them first to avoid an unwanted false alarm. Call the centre now and check no call was passed to the fire service.
Shown when “Is the alarm connected to an alarm receiving centre?” is Yes and “Was the centre told before the test?” is No
Call point used today (number and location)*Short answer
Scan the call point labelScan a label: device number
Optional. Scan the label or tag to capture its numbers.
Call point used at the last weekly testShort answer
CheckThis is the same call point as last time. Use a different call point for each test so every one is tested in turn.
Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
Date of the last weekly testDate
Days since the last weekly testWorked out by the form
Shown when “Date of the last weekly test” is answered and “Date” is answered
CheckMore than a week since the last weekly test. The Home Office guide says all fire warning systems should be tested once a week. Record why it was missed.
Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
Call point rotation
Repeat for each entry. Each one asks:
- Call point number and location*Short answer
- Last used for the weekly testDate
- Days sinceWorked out by the form
  Shown when “Last used for the weekly test” is answered and “Date” is answered
- RotationWorked out by the form
  Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
Call points in the rotationWorked out by the form
Shown when “Call point rotation” is answered
Weeks to use every call point onceWorked out by the form
Shown when “Call point rotation” is answered
Call points overdue in the rotationWorked out by the form
Shown when “Call point rotation” is answered
CheckSome call points have waited longer than one full rotation. Use those first at the next weekly tests, and check none are being skipped because they are hard to reach.
Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
Did the panel show the call point you operated?Yes or No
Did the sounders operate?Yes or No
Could the alarm be heard throughout the building?Yes or No
Did linked systems operate, such as door holders releasing?Choose one
- Yes
- No
- None linked
Was the panel back to normal after it was reset?Yes or No
WarningAlarm fault. Record it in the log book, tell the responsible person now and arrange for a competent person to attend.
Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
What was wrong, and where?Notes
Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
Photos of the faultPhotos
Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
Has the responsible person been told about the fault?Yes or No
Shown only when the answers above make it relevant

Service visit

Engineer and companyShort answer
Third-party certification, if any (for example BAFE SP203-1)Short answer
Date of the last serviceDate
Days since the last serviceWorked out by the form
Shown when “Date of the last service” is answered and “Date” is answered
CheckMore than six months since the last service. The Home Office guide says six-monthly servicing and preventive maintenance should be carried out by a competent person.
Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
False alarms since the last serviceNumber
Was the log book reviewed for faults and false alarms?Yes or No
Standby batteries and charger tested and within their service life?Yes or No
Is a zone plan displayed next to the panel?Yes or No
Devices by zone or area
Repeat for each entry. Each one asks:
- Zone, floor or area*Short answer
  For example Zone 3, first floor east
- Devices tested here
  Repeat for each entry. Each one asks:
  - Device number or address*Short answer
  - Scan the device labelScan a label: device number
    Optional. Scan the label or tag to capture its numbers.
  - TypeChoose one
    - Manual call point
    - Smoke detector
    - Heat detector
    - Multi-sensor
    - Beam detector
    - Sounder
    - Beacon
    - Interface or relay
  - Position in this areaShort answer
  - Result*Choose one
    - Pass
    - Fail
  - Fault found and actionNotes
    Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
  - PhotosPhotos
    Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- This zone or area: devices testedWorked out by the form
- This zone or area: devices passedWorked out by the form
- This zone or area: devices failedWorked out by the form
- This zone or area: call points testedWorked out by the form
Devices testedWorked out by the form
Devices passedWorked out by the form
Devices failedWorked out by the form
Devices passed (%)Worked out by the form
Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
Call points testedWorked out by the form
System leftChoose one
- Fully working
- Working with faults recorded
- Not working: responsible person told
WarningThe system is not working. The Home Office guide says that if a system fails, people in the premises must still be warned and able to escape safely: a temporary arrangement with suitable training may be acceptable for a short period while it is repaired.
Shown when “System left” is “Not working: responsible person told”

Fault or false alarm

TimeTime
Device or zone that activatedShort answer
CauseChoose one
- Cooking fumes
- Steam or dust
- Contractor works
- Malicious
- Equipment fault
- Real fire
- Not known
Did the fire service attend?Yes or No
What was done to stop it happening again?Notes

Actions and sign-off

Are further actions needed?Yes or No
Further actions
Repeat for each action. Each one asks:
Shown when “Are further actions needed?” is Yes
- What needs doing?*Notes
- PriorityChoose one
  - Urgent
  - High
  - Medium
  - Low
- Who will do it?Short answer
- Due dateDate
- StatusChoose one
  - Open
  - In progress
  - Completed
Next weekly test dueDate
BS 5839-1: every week.
Days until the weekly testWorked out by the form
Shown when “Date” is answered and “Next weekly test due” is answered
Next service dueDate
BS 5839-1: at intervals of no more than 6 months.
Days until the serviceWorked out by the form
Shown when “Date” is answered and “Next service due” is answered
CheckCheck the dates. A next due date is before the date of this record.
Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
Inspector name*Short answer
Position or companyShort answer
Inspector signatureSignature
CheckSigning records what was found on the day. It does not make unsafe equipment safe or replace a thorough examination, design check or service by a competent person.

See it filled in

A completed fire alarm test report, made by SiteSurvey from a fictional site visit: every answer, the photos, the guidance that applied and the sign-off, ready to send as a PDF.

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Fire alarm test FAQs

Why use a different call point each week?

So every call point is tested in turn. The Home Office guide says to use a different call point for each successive test. The form records the call point used today and last week, and warns you if they are the same.

What if the alarm goes to a monitoring centre?

Tell the alarm receiving centre before the test, so the test is not passed to the fire service as a real alarm. The form asks whether the system is monitored and whether the centre was told, and if not, prompts you to call them straight away.

What does the weekly test check?

That the panel showed the call point you operated, the sounders worked, the alarm could be heard throughout the building, linked systems such as door holders released, and the panel returned to normal after reset. Any No asks what was wrong and where, and whether the responsible person has been told.

How often does a fire alarm need servicing?

The Home Office guide says six-monthly servicing and preventive maintenance should be carried out by a competent person with specialist knowledge of fire warning and detection systems, usually under a service contract. The service visit section records the engineer, the date of the last service, false alarms since then, batteries, the zone plan and each device tested, and warns when the last service was more than six months ago.

Can I record false alarms?

Yes. Choose fault or false alarm to record the time, the device or zone, the cause, whether the fire service attended and what was done to stop it happening again. The Home Office guide says it is good practice to record all tests, false alarms and any maintenance.

Who is responsible for fire alarm testing?

In England and Wales, the responsible person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 must keep fire safety equipment, including the fire alarm, maintained in efficient working order. The weekly test is usually done by someone on site; servicing is done by a competent fire alarm engineer.

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