An ongoing issue in domestic fire safety. Widespread gaps in competence and BS 5839-6 compliance continue to affect smoke and heat alarm systems in UK homes.

Are we failing vulnerable residents? Six years after mandatory annual fire alarm inspections were introduced for sheltered housing, many providers still don't know about this requirement. Is your sheltered housing scheme compliant?

BS 5266-1:2025 sets a higher bar for emergency lighting systems. The expanded scope, enhanced resilience requirements, and mandatory photometric verification all contribute to more robust, reliable systems that genuinely protect people when they need it most.

Issue: Electrotechnical fire safety competence. Despite the Building Safety Act, gaps in competence and evidence of compliance continue to undermine electrotechnical fire safety systems.

Rely on Fire Check’s Invitational Golf Event at Rockliffe Hall combined industry networking with charitable giving, uniting fire safety professionals and raising £780 for the Fire Fighters Charity.

Heat detectors banned in sleeping accommodation, stricter variation rules, all-IP transmission timings, and enhanced false alarm management. Key updates every fire alarm professional needs to know.

The BAFE SP203-1 Scheme Document (Version 8.0) published 21/08/2023 following further review has been updated to Version 8.0.1 and will be in effect from 01/11/2023.

Is your emergency lighting actually compliant? BS 5266-1 demands extensive design information often unavailable at installation, requires luminaires within 2m of every point of emphasis, yet lacks routine checks for building changes. Most systems become non-compliant within months of handover - and nobody's checking.

Are mains power supplies to fire systems being installed correctly? Many electricians miss critical requirements: enhanced fire-resistant cabling, specific labelling at every protective device, proper isolation methods, and a separate fire system certificate.

BAFE Scheme DS301 Third Party Certification is launched for contractors working with Grade D fire detection and fire alarm systems for domestic premises.

New build homes routinely fail BS 5839-6 compliance: inadequate detector coverage, no design certificates, improper testing, and poor handover. Without third-party certification schemes, Building Control can't ensure safety standards are met.