Fire, Security & Life Safety Systems

Emergency Lighting, Fire Detection and Alarm Systems form an integral part of a buliding's fire strategy - designed to provide an early warning and safe evacuation in the event of an emergency.

A well designed security system offers an effective solution in protecting against a number of scenarios. Many of these systems serve a single purpose but often interface with combined elements such as CCTV, access control, intruder alarms, holdup alarm, social alarms and other building services.

This page provides information relating to installations and practices for life safety systems and security systems, including topics such as such as emergency lighting and fire alarms

You can find everything you need in a variety of formats that suit your needs whether you prefer long form content or video resources. ECA are continually working to deliver different outputs to improve our Members' experience.

Applying the right standards

Standards set the benchmarks for good practice, professionalism and help provide assurance to clients and ensure their expectations are met. They also promote a culture that encourages the delivery of high quality services.

Applying the right standards is crucial when carrying out different areas of work; importantly they fulfil obligations under contract but ultimately obligations under Health and Safety and the Electricity at Work Regulations.

When designing, installing, commissioning, testing, inspecting or maintaining emergency lighting, fire detection and alarm systems, depending on the scope of work, a combination of the most recent edition of the following standards and guidance would apply:

Emergency Lighting:

BS 5266-1 Emergency lighting. Code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises
BS EN 50172 Emergency escape lighting systems
BS 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations. IET Wiring Regulations
HSR 25 Guidance on The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

Fire detection and alarm systems:

BS 5839-1 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of systems in non-domestic premises
BS 5839-6 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises
BS 5839-8 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of voice alarm systems
BS 5839-9 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of emergency voice communication systems
BS 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations. IET Wiring Regulations
HSR 25 Guidance on The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

When designing, installing, commissioning, testing, inspecting or maintaining security systems, depending on the scope of work, a combination of the most recent edition of the following standards would apply:

Intruder Alarm:

PD 6662 Scheme for the application of European standards for intrusion and hold-up alarm systems *Plus IA 1501 industry agreement on interim update to PD6662:2010
BS 8243 Installation and configuration of intruder and hold-up alarm systems designed to generate confirmed alarm conditions. Code of practice
DD CLC/TS 50131-7 Alarm systems. Intrusion and hold-up systems. Application guidelines
BS EN 50131-1 Alarm systems. Intrusion and hold-up systems. System requirements
DD 263 Intruder and hold-up alarm systems. Commissioning, maintenance and remote support. Code of practice .

CCTV:

BS EN 62676-1-1Video surveillance systems for use in security applications. System requirements. General
BS EN 62676-4 Video surveillance systems for use in security applications. Application guidelines
BS 8418 Installation and remote monitoring of detector-activated CCTV systems. Code of practice

Access Control:

BS EN 60839-11-1 Alarm and electronic security systems. Electronic access control systems. System and components requirements
BS EN 60839-11-2 Alarm and electronic security systems. Electronic access control systems. Application guidelines.
BS 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations. IET Wiring Regulations – to reference the correct installation of cables for the above systems.
HSR 25 Guidance on The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

Download our written resources

Developed by our Technical experts and offering concise advice on specific areas of interest on Fire Alarms, Emergency Lighting Systems and Security Systems.

Top changes to BS 5839-1:2025	Jun-25
Emergency Lighting Handover Requirements	Feb-24
BS 5839-6:2019 for Protection of Domestic Premises	Mar-21
Containment Methods for Fire Alarm Cabling	Aug-20
Police Operational Advice and Security Industry Requirements for Response to Security Systems	Apr-20
Emergency Lighting - New	Apr-19
Emergency Lighting - Takeover	Apr-19
Fire Warning Systems - New	Apr-19
Fire Warning Systems - Takeover	Apr-19
BS 5939-6: 2019	Apr-19

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FSA BS 5839-1 2025

FSA BS 5839-1 2025 Fire Detection and Alarm Continuation Sheet

FSA BS 5839-1 2025 Fire Detection and Alarm Acceptance Certificate

FSA BS 5839-1 2025 Fire Alarm Commissioning for BS 5839-1 Systems Certificate

FSA BS 5839-1 2025 Fire Alarm Design Certificate for BS 5839-1 Systems

FSA BS 5839-1 2025 Fire Alarm Installation Certificate for BS 5839-1 Systems

FSA BS 5839-1 2025 Fire Alarm Modification Certificate for BS 5839-1 Systems

FSA BS 5839-1 2025 Fire Alarm Inspection and Servicing Certificate for BS 5839-1 Systems

FSA BS 5839-1 2025 Fire Alarm Verification Certificate for BS 5839-1 Systems

FSA BS 5839-1 2025 Logbook

BS 5839-9:2021

BS 5839-9:2021 Certificate Of Commissioning For Emergency Voice Communication System

BS 5839-6:2019

BS 5839-6:2019+A1:2020 - Model design certificate for Grade A systems

BS 5839-6:2019+A1:2020 - Model installation certificate for Grade A systems

BS 5839-6:2019+A1:2020 - Model commissioning certificate for Grade A systems

BS 5839-6:2019+A1:2020 - Model acceptance certificate for Grade A systems

BS 5839-6:2019+A1:2020 - Model modification certificate for Grade A systems

BS 5839-6:2019+A1:2020 - Model design, installation & commissioning certificate for Grade C, Grade D & Grade F systems

BS 5839-6:2019+A1:2020 - Model inspection and servicing certificate for all systems

BS 5839-1:2017

BS 5839-1:2017 Design Certificate

BS 5839-1:2017 Fire Alarm System Design Process - Checklist

BS 5839-1:2017 Installation Certificate

BS 5839-1:2017 Commissioning Certificate

BS 5839-1:2017 Verification Certificate

BS 5839-1:2017 Acceptance Certificate

BS 5839-1:2017 Modification Certificate

BS 5839-1:2017 Inspection and Servicing Certificate

BS 5266-1:2016

BS 5266-1:2016 H.1 New Installations

BS 5266-1:2016 H.2 Design – Declaration of conformity

BS 5266-1:2016 H.3 Installation – Declaration of conformity.

BS 5266-1:2016 H.4 Verification – Declaration of conformity.

BS 5266-1:2016 I.1 Small New Installations

BS 5266-1:2016 I.2 Small New Installations Certificate

BS 5266-1:2016 K.1 Emergency Lighting Verification of Existing Installation

BS 5266-1:2016 K.2 Checklist & report

BS 5266-1:2016 M.1 Emergency Lighting Periodic Inspection and Test Certificate

BS 5266-1:2016 M.2 Emergency Lighting Periodic inspection and test record

BS 5266-1:2016 M.3 Emergency Lighting Fault action record

Watch Technical Manager Chris Edwards explain BSI PAS 63100:2024 - Electrical Installations: Protection against fire of battery energy storage systems for use in dwellings. A PAS (Publicly Available Specification) is a fast track standardization document aiming to define good practice standards.

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FSA

FSA operates as a specialist group within ECA for the fire, emergency and security systems, and monitoring centres industry. In partnership with SELECT (The Scottish Electrical Contractors Association) we offer national representation and the highest level of expertise for those who design, install, commission, maintain and monitor fire, emergency and security systems .

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