Commercial Service
Fire Alarm Systems
BS 5839 compliant fire detection and alarm systems — L-category system design, addressable panel installation, zone layout, commissioning and ongoing maintenance for commercial and industrial premises.
What a fire alarm installation actually has to deliver
01
A system that can't be evidenced as compliant
Many older systems have no design certificate, no cause-and-effect matrix and out-of-date zone drawings. We survey and document the current installation and produce a formal gap analysis against BS 5839 Part 1 before any work commences.
02
False alarms disrupting operations
Nuisance alarms are frequently caused by inappropriate detector types, poor zone design or lack of maintenance. We review detector selection and zone layout as part of any upgrade, applying BS 5839 guidance on environment and occupancy.
03
Integration with other building systems
Modern commercial buildings require fire alarm interfaces with access control, door-hold-open devices, smoke ventilation and BMS. We design and commission all interface circuits as part of the system, with full cause-and-effect documentation.
04
Maintenance that doesn't meet the standard
BS 5839 requires at least two service visits per year. We provide structured maintenance agreements with call-out cover, digital service records and compliance certificates that satisfy your insurer and Fire Risk Assessment.
Technical detail
Standards & design
- BS 5839 Part 1 — fire detection and fire alarm systems
- L1–L5 protection category design
- Cause-and-effect matrix and zone schedule production
- Fire Risk Assessment coordination
- Building Regulations Approved Document B interface
System types
- Conventional zone panel systems
- Analogue addressable detection and alarm
- Wireless addressable systems for heritage buildings
- Voice alarm (VA) systems to BS 5839 Part 8
- Aspirating smoke detection (ASD/VESDA)
Integration & outputs
- Door-hold-open and door-release interfaces
- Smoke ventilation and AOV activation
- Access control and lift recall interfaces
- BMS alarm monitoring integration
- Alarm receiving centre (ARC) connection
Maintenance & compliance
- Semi-annual service visits to BS 5839
- Weekly and monthly test record provision
- Log book maintenance and digital record system
- Panel upgrade and battery replacement programmes
- Post-incident inspection and reporting
The Numbers
L1
L1 category provides automatic detection throughout all areas of a building — the highest level of property protection defined in BS 5839.
2×
BS 5839 requires a minimum of two service visits per year — we schedule and document both as part of our maintenance agreements.
30s
System design accounts for detection and alarm response times, with the goal of clearing the occupancy zone within any evacuation time specified in the Fire Risk Assessment.
Why specify Con-Tec
Designed for the Building, Maintained for the Record
Our Fire Alarm Approach
01
Survey & Risk Review
Site survey, occupancy review and coordination with the current Fire Risk Assessment to establish the correct protection category and detector selection.
02
Design & Specification
Zone layout, cause-and-effect matrix, panel specification and interface schedules produced and submitted for approval before any installation commences.
03
Installation & Commissioning
NICEIC-approved installation phased around occupancy, with the building certificated at each zone completion milestone.
04
Handover & Maintenance
Commissioning certificate, zone schedules, cause-and-effect matrix and O&M manual provided at handover, followed by a structured maintenance programme.
Related Case Studies
NHS Foundation Trust
Critical care distribution upgrade
North West Local Authority
Multi-site EICR programme across 47 public buildings
Eric Wright Group
Mixed-use commercial fit-out
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What our clients say
“Con-Tec consistently meets the rigour our estates teams expect. Their compliance documentation, site discipline and turnaround on remedial works are exactly what large-scale healthcare contracts require.”
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Ready to Start a Project?
We respond to every commercial and industrial enquiry within one working day. Share your scope and programme and we'll come back with lead engineers, approach and a clear cost envelope.