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What Do You Need to Know About BS 5839-1:2025?
Written 6th May 2025.
The newly revised code of practice for fire detection and fire alarm systems in non-domestic premises has now been released and is in effect. The changes are intended to improve the performance of fire detection and alarm systems, in turn, improving fire safety. Let’s look at what has changed and how these changes affect the provision and maintenance of fire alarm zone plans.
What is BS 5839-1:2025?
BS 5839-1:2025 is the British Standard that sets out the recommendations for the design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of fire detection and alarm systems in non-domestic premises. Widely used by fire safety professionals, engineers, and building managers, it plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of buildings and their occupants.
Why is it so important?
Since becoming a mandatory part of BS 5839-1 in 2013, the importance of fire alarm zone plans continues to be emphasised. Under section 22, the reason zone plans are so important is stated as follows:
“In certain fatal fires, including one involving 14 deaths, it has been determined that some or all of the deaths could have been avoided if a diagrammatic representation of the premises (commonly described as a zone plan) had been provided in close proximity to the CIE. Accordingly, it is important that a suitable zone plan is provided adjacent to all CIE (including any repeat control and/or indicating equipment), unless the CIE incorporates a suitable display (e.g. an illuminated mimic diagram). The objective is to enable people responding to a fire alarm signal (including staff on the premises and firefighters) to be given unambiguous information as to the location of a fire.”
Can the absence of a zone plan be regarded as a variation?
BS 5839-1:2025 6.6 (a) now provides more clarity on this common question. The absence of a zone plan in premises in which there is more than one zone on any storey, particularly premises in which people sleep, should not be regarded as an acceptable variation.
What if there is no zone plan in place?
During the takeover of a fire alarm systems maintenance or during the inspection and test of the system over a 12‑month period, a missing zone plan should be recorded as a major non-compliance. This guidance was already in place and remains the same in BS 5839-1:2025.
The zone plan is in place, does it need to be checked?
Yes. BS 5839-1:2025 has included further guidance to ensure that the fire alarm zone plan fitted is correct and can be relied upon during an activation. Within the inspection and test of the system over a 12‑month period it is now a recommendation under section 43.3.25 that it should be verified that the zone identification reported on the CIE matches the zone identification on the zone plan.
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