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Fire alarm engineer inspecting an alarm panel in a commercial building

BS 5839-1:2025 Clauses 30 and 31

False Alarms

False-alarm categories, rolling-rate checks and investigation triggers used during servicing.

Record the right category

Unwanted
The system responded to a non-fire phenomenon, influence, process or accidental damage.
Equipment
A system fault produced the fire signal.
Malicious
A deliberate operation when the person did not believe there was a fire.
Good intent
An operation by someone who genuinely believed a fire existed.

Rate checks

Preliminary trigger
More than 4 false alarms per 100 automatic detectors per year.
Systems over 40 detectors
More than 5 per 100 detectors per year prompts advice for deeper investigation.
Systems up to 40 detectors
More than 2 false alarms in 12 months prompts advice for deeper investigation.

Use a rolling 12-month period and record the cause and category in the logbook.

Source context: BS 5839-1:2025 Clauses 30 and 31. This page paraphrases the app’s quick-reference material and does not reproduce or replace the standard.