June 2026
All businesses must have a fire alarm system installed, as it is a legal requirement under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. In England and Wales, every business must have an appropriate means of detecting fire and warning occupants, but the type of system required is determined by the fire risk assessment rather than the size of the business.
But it is also important to understand how fire alarm installations work to truly understand your system, plan for routine fire drills, and avoid false alarms. This blog will break down the key stages of a fire alarm installation.
How Long Does It Take to Install a Fire Alarm?
It is difficult to decipher how long a fire alarm installation may take without seeing the property beforehand. Different factors may impact the time taken:
- Smaller or less complex systems may take minutes to hours to a day or two.
- Larger buildings or buildings with complex requirements can take anywhere from multiple days to weeks to complete
You should discuss this with your installation company for more reliable timeframes.
The Fire Alarm Installation Process
Stage 1 - Assessing Fire Risk
Before a system can be designed, it’s essential to conduct a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) — this aids in establishing the level of coverage required for the property. This will:
- Identify fire hazards
- Assess the building’s infrastructure
- Map escape routes
- Determine the ideal system Category (M, P1, P2, L1 - L5) for legal and insurance compliance
Read our article: Commercial Fire Alarms: Categories Explained
Stage 2 - Pre-installation Planning
Before the installation process can begin, a qualified technician Surveyor (System Designer) should conduct a detailed site survey. During this assessment, they will:
- Reference your FRA
- Establish fire zones
- Design a system based on the properties FRA and insurance requirements
- Provide a quotation detailing the proposed system
Stage 3 - Fixing the System
This stage is split into two parts, the first-fix and the second-fix.
First-Fix
This is often the most disruptive stage. Here, engineers will begin the cabling process, running heat-resistant cables throughout the property.
They will drill holes for the device bases, and install the central Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP). This may be able to be conducted outside of business hours.
Second-Fix
Now that the wiring is in place, the engineers will install the system hardware, including:
- Control equipment (CPU)
- Smoke, heat and carbon monoxide detectors
- Manual call points (break glass units)
- Sounders, bells, and visual flashing strobes
- Emergency lighting
Stage 4 - Programming
Now that the system is installed, it needs to be programmed to ensure it works effectively. The technicians will energise power up the system and program the control panel.
This stage will define how specific triggers interact with the equipment to produce specific emergency responses. E.g. so that smoke detected in one area of a building leads to the fire alarm sounding across the entire building.
Stage 5 - Test and Handover
Testing the system is critical before the system can be handed over. During this, the engineer will undertake a comprehensive test of every single detector, call point, and sounder to verify compliance with BS 5839-1 standards.
After this is complete, designated staff members will be shown how to silence, reset, and perform tests on the system and accurately document system faults and tests.
Once handover is complete, weekly fire alarm tests become the responsibility of a designated person (or persons) on site going forward, but routine preventative maintenance (each 6 months) by a professional company is vital to ensure that the system remains functional.
Finding a Reliable Engineer
If you’re looking to update your fire alarm system, who better to trust than Lynx? We operate across the Midlands, providing BAFE-accredited installations and fire alarm services to help ensure compliance with industry regulations.
A Lynx commercial fire alarm system can be customised to existing fire documentation, meaning we can create a completely bespoke system to meet your requirements. Arrange your survey today by emailing [email protected] or call our office on 0800 998 1303.
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