In educational settings, fire safety isn’t just a compliance requirement - it’s a fundamental duty of care. Schools, colleges, and universities are responsible for protecting hundreds, sometimes thousands, of students and staff each day. While emergency procedures and regular drills are essential, one crucial area that’s often overlooked is the condition and performance of the fire alarm system.
Is Your Current Fire Alarm System Still Fit for Purpose?
British Standard BS 5839-1:2025 recommends regular reviews of fire alarm systems to ensure they remain compliant, functional, and capable of responding effectively to emergencies. If your fire alarm system is over 10 years old, it may be outdated, less reliable, and harder to maintain due to discontinued parts or obsolete technology.
- Obsolete Components – Older systems may face reliability issues and increased maintenance costs due to unavailable or discontinued parts, making it difficult to keep the system fully functional.
- Changes in Building Layout or Use – Any modifications to your building’s structure or occupancy (e.g., converting classrooms into offices or laboratories) could result in inadequate coverage, necessitating an update to your fire alarm system to ensure it meets current safety requirements.
- Frequent False Alarms – These are disruptive and can lead to complacency, which increases the risk of inadequate responses during a real emergency.
- Degraded Detectors – Over time, smoke and heat detectors can lose sensitivity due to dust, dirt, or general wear. BS5839-1:2025 recommends replacing detectors every 10 years to ensure they perform optimally
- Outdated Technology – Modern fire alarm systems incorporate features like intelligent detection, remote monitoring, and greater scalability, which enhance both safety and functionality.
Why Act Now?
The summer break presents a unique opportunity to complete upgrade or installation work without interrupting lessons or compromising student safety. With schools temporarily unoccupied, our engineers can work more efficiently and with fewer access restrictions.
By acting now, you’ll also avoid the autumn rush, when many education providers seek last-minute improvements ahead of the new academic year. Churches Fire & Security has limited availability for Summer 2025 – so early planning is essential.
The Benefits of Upgrading
- Enhanced performance – Faster detection and fewer false alarms
- Regulatory compliance – Stay aligned with BS 5839-1 and local authority requirements
- Cost savings – Reduced maintenance and repair bills in the long term
- Futureproofing – Easily integrate with emergency lighting, suppression systems, and site-wide monitoring
Expert Support You Can Trust
Whether we installed your existing system or not, our experienced engineers can assess your current setup and recommend the most efficient, cost-effective solution. We also offer tailored maintenance packages to ensure your system continues to perform year-round.
At Churches Fire & Security, we work closely with schools and education providers across the UK to deliver safe, compliant and future-ready fire protection solutions.
Book Now to Secure Your Summer Slot – Don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact us today to arrange a system review or discuss your summer project plans.
Rest assured, if the holidays are not the best time for our team to complete work, our technicians are DBS-checked to the highest standard, ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff. This also allows our team to attend schools during operating hours for emergency call-outs.