BSI BS 5839-1:2025 Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems for Buildings
The fully revised 2025 Code of Practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in non-domestic premises.
BS 5839-1:2025 provides recommendations and guidance for fire detection and fire alarm systems in non-domestic premises, covering the key stages from design and installation through to commissioning, handover and ongoing maintenance.
Published on 30 April 2025, this latest edition supersedes BS 5839-1:2017 and represents a full revision of the document, introducing important structural and technical changes.
The standard has been prepared for use by appropriately qualified and competent people responsible for applying its recommendations to fire detection and alarm systems.
With updated guidance covering design considerations, installation, false alarm management, commissioning and maintenance, BS 5839-1:2025 provides a comprehensive reference for professionals working with fire detection and fire alarm systems in non-domestic buildings.
Why Choose BS 5839-1:2025?
- The latest fully revised edition of BS 5839-1
- Supersedes BS 5839-1:2017
- Covers design, installation, commissioning and maintenance
- Provides guidance specifically for systems in non-domestic premises
- Introduces a new section covering extensions and modifications
- Includes revised recommendations for manual call point siting
- Introduces explicit guidance regarding recommendations from which variation is considered unacceptable
- Includes updated recommendations relating to automatic fire detection in rooms where people sleep
- Provides structured guidance covering false alarms and unwanted fire alarm signals
What‘s Changed in BS 5839-1:2025?
The 2025 edition is a full revision of BS 5839-1 and introduces a number of significant changes to both the structure and recommendations of the Code of Practice.
- The document has been restructured, with the previous Clause 4 moved into a new Introduction
- The previous Clause 33 has been merged with Clause 31
- A new Section 7 covering extensions and modifications has been introduced
- Recommendations where variations are considered unacceptable are now explicitly identified in Clause 6
- Recommendations for the siting of manual call points have been simplified
- For rooms in which people sleep, preference is now recommended for forms of automatic fire detection other than heat detectors, or sprinkler heads performing the same role as heat detectors
What BS 5839-1:2025 Covers
The standard provides structured guidance across the key stages and considerations involved in fire detection and fire alarm systems for non-domestic premises.
- General requirements
- Design considerations
- Limitation of false alarms and unwanted fire alarm signals
- Installation
- Commissioning and handover
- Maintenance
- Extensions and modifications
Important Guidance on Variations
As a Code of Practice, BS 5839-1:2025 is presented as recommendations and guidance rather than a specification.
Practices providing an equivalent or better outcome may be substituted for recommendations, but anyone claiming compliance is expected to be able to justify a course of action that deviates from those recommendations.
The 2025 revision also recognises that, in light of a number of fatal fires, variation from the recommendations of certain clauses is considered unacceptable. These are now identified explicitly within Clause 6.
Updated Guidance for Rooms Where People Sleep
One of the notable changes within the 2025 edition relates to automatic fire detection in rooms where people sleep.
The revised Code recommends that preference is given to forms of automatic fire detection other than heat detectors, or sprinkler heads performing the equivalent role of heat detectors, in these rooms.
New Guidance on Extensions and Modifications
BS 5839-1:2025 introduces a dedicated Section 7 covering extensions and modifications.
This forms part of the wider restructuring of the standard and provides specific guidance within the Code for work involving existing fire detection and fire alarm systems.
Who is BS 5839-1:2025 For?
The standard has been prepared on the assumption that its provisions will be carried out by appropriately qualified and competent people.
It is relevant to professionals responsible for the design, installation, commissioning, handover and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in non-domestic premises.
The Current Code of Practice for Non-Domestic Fire Alarm Systems
BS 5839-1:2025 brings together guidance covering the full lifecycle of fire detection and fire alarm systems, from initial design decisions through installation and commissioning to ongoing maintenance.
With a substantially revised structure and important new guidance covering extensions and modifications, manual call points, variations from recommendations and automatic detection in rooms where people sleep, the 2025 edition provides professionals with the current version of this important Code of Practice.
Product Details
| Features | |
| Standard | BS 5839-1:2025 |
| Supersedes | BS 5839-1:2017 |
| Effective Date | 30 April 2025 |
| Pages | 72 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0-539-31682-7 |
| Part Number | PBS5839-125 |