Fire Alarm Test Log Book: Free Weekly Template

Fire alarm weekly test log (free UK template)

If you are the responsible person for a business premises, you need to show your fire alarm is tested and maintained. A weekly test log is the record that does that.

Print the free log book page below, or use the LogBooks Hub version, which reminds you each week and keeps every test, fault and service in one place.

How often: Once a week, using a different manual call point for each test. Check the control panel at least every 24 hours, and have the system serviced by a competent person every six months.

Printable A4, no sign-up or email needed.

What to record

Date and time of the test

Which manual call point you used (number and location)

Whether the alarm sounded and could be heard in every area

Whether the panel reset to normal afterwards

Any fault found and what was done about it

False alarms, with the cause

Six-monthly servicing visits by a competent person

Name or initials of the person who tested

A filled-in example

Sample entries only, to show the level of detail an inspector expects.

Example Fire alarm weekly test log entries
Date	Time	Call point tested	Heard in all areas?	Faults / action	Tested by
Mon 14/09	09:30	CP1 - front entrance	Yes	None	JS
Mon 21/09	09:35	CP2 - bar	Yes	None	JS
Mon 28/09	09:30	CP3 - kitchen exit	No - not heard in cellar	Engineer called. Sounder replaced 30/09, retested OK	AK
Mon 05/10	09:40	CP4 - first floor landing	Yes	None	JS

Why this log matters

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person must keep fire safety equipment in efficient working order and good repair (Article 17). The Home Office guidance says it is good practice to record all tests, false alarms and maintenance, and that a log book helps you show the fire service you have complied. This page follows the guidance for England; Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own fire safety law, with similar duties.

What the guidance recommends

Check	How often	Who
Activate a manual call point, using a different one each time	Weekly	You or a trained member of staff
Check the control and indicating panel	At least every 24 hours	You or a trained member of staff
Servicing and preventive maintenance	Every six months	A competent person

Further detail on testing and maintenance is in British Standard BS 5839-1, which your alarm engineer will work to. Test at the same time each week so staff know it is a test, and rotate through every call point so each one is proven over time.

What to do if a test fails

Write down exactly what happened: no sound, not heard in one area, or a fault on the panel.
Call your alarm engineer the same day.
Until it is fixed, put interim measures in place, such as briefing staff and checking the affected area more often. Your fire risk assessment should say what these are.
Retest once repaired and record the result.

With the digital version, a missed weekly test triggers a reminder and can be escalated to a manager, and photos of engineer reports sit next to the test entries.

The easier way: keep it on your phone

In LogBooks Hub this log reminds staff when it is due, stamps each entry with who and when, can hold a photo as evidence, and goes into your audit pack PDF in one click. It is one of 90+ ready-made logbooks, from £30 a month. Works on any device in the browser, or grab the iPhone or Android app.

Frequently asked questions

How often should a fire alarm be tested?

Home Office guidance says fire warning systems should be tested once a week by activating a manual call point, using a different call point for each test. The control panel should be checked at least every 24 hours, and a competent person should service and maintain the system every six months. British Standard BS 5839-1 gives further detail.

How long do you keep fire alarm test records?

The Fire Safety Order does not set a fixed period for keeping test records. The guidance describes recording tests as good practice, because it helps you show the fire service that the system has been maintained. Keep enough history to cover at least the last few service visits and your last fire risk assessment review. Your insurer may also ask to see them.

Can I test the fire alarm myself?

Yes. The weekly call point test and the daily panel check are usually done by the responsible person or a trained member of staff. The six-monthly servicing and preventive maintenance should be done by a competent person, normally an alarm engineer. If your alarm is monitored by a receiving centre, follow their procedure before each test.

Is a fire alarm log book a legal requirement?

The law requires the responsible person to keep fire safety equipment maintained and in good working order. Home Office guidance recommends recording tests, false alarms and maintenance, and a log book is the usual way to do it. In practice, without a record it is hard to prove to the fire service that weekly tests have been happening.