Who can issue a BS 5839 fire alarm certificate?
A competent person responsible for the relevant stage of work issues the certificate, for example the designer, installer or commissioning engineer, confirming their part meets BS 5839.
BS 5839-1 / BS 5839-6
Fire Alarm Certificate (BS 5839)
BS 5839 covers fire detection and fire alarm systems, and the associated certificates document the different stages of a system's life. These typically include design, installation, commissioning and acceptance certificates, each confirming the responsible party has carried out their part of the work to the standard.
BS 5839-1 applies to non-domestic premises such as commercial and industrial buildings, while BS 5839-6 covers fire detection and alarm systems in domestic premises. The certificates also record the system category, for example L1 to L5 or M, which defines the level of protection provided.
TradePlanr lets you complete the relevant BS 5839 certificate on your phone or tablet at the property, record the system category and produce a clean PDF for the responsible person and your own records.
Issue this certificate from your phone
TradePlanr generates this and 35+ other gas, electrical, oil, plumbing and renewables certificates as proper PDFs — filled on site, signed on screen and stored against the job. Works even with no signal. Free to download.
What it covers
- The premises address and the responsible person or client details
- The certifying company and the competent person completing the certificate
- Which certificate stage applies: design, installation, commissioning or acceptance
- The applicable standard, BS 5839-1 for commercial or BS 5839-6 for domestic premises
- The system category, for example L1 to L5 or M
- Details of the system and any variations or areas not covered
- Date, declaration and signature confirming the work meets the standard
When it's required
Fire detection and alarm certificates are produced as a system is designed, installed, commissioned and accepted. Each certificate confirms that a specific stage has been completed to BS 5839, and together they provide a record for the responsible person.
For non-domestic premises the responsible person under fire safety legislation needs evidence that the fire alarm system is fit for purpose, and BS 5839-1 certification supports that. In domestic premises, BS 5839-6 certification is often required for building control, landlords or property sales.
Recording the system category is important because it defines the intended level of protection. Keeping the certificates on file makes it easier to demonstrate compliance during inspections, insurance reviews and future servicing.
How to issue it in TradePlanr
- 1
Enter premises and system details
Record the property address, responsible person, certifying company and the fire detection and alarm system being certified.
- 2
Select stage, standard and category
Choose whether this is a design, installation, commissioning or acceptance certificate, set BS 5839-1 or BS 5839-6, and record the system category such as L1 to L5 or M.
- 3
Record checks and variations
Log the results of your checks and note any variations or areas not covered so the certificate reflects exactly what was done.
- 4
Sign and store the PDF
Add your declaration and signature, then generate a branded PDF for the responsible person and keep a copy on file.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between BS 5839-1 and BS 5839-6?
BS 5839-1 applies to fire detection and alarm systems in non-domestic premises such as commercial buildings, while BS 5839-6 covers systems in domestic premises.
What do the fire alarm system categories mean?
The category defines the level of protection provided. L categories such as L1 to L5 relate to life protection with differing coverage, and M relates to manual systems. The certificate records which category applies.
Which BS 5839 certificates are there?
The standard is associated with design, installation, commissioning and acceptance certificates, each confirming a different stage of the system has been completed to BS 5839.
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