Fire alarm inspection log.

NFPA 72 (US) ITM frequency

The schedule below is from NFPA 72 2025 Chapter 14 (Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance). Not every device type is listed at every frequency; refer to Chapter 14 Table 14.4.2.2 for the full device-by-device schedule.

BS 5839-1 (UK) ITM frequency

The schedule below is from BS 5839-1:2017+A2:2023 Clauses 44 and 45. Weekly and monthly tasks are user-executable; 6-monthly and annual require a competent servicing organisation, typically BAFE SP203-1 or LPCB certified.

10 fields the log entry must record

Every log entry, whether weekly in-house or annual by a servicing organisation, needs the same 10 fields. Missing fields are what the AHJ auditor finds first.

Frequently asked

What's the difference between NFPA 72 and BS 5839-1?

NFPA 72 is the US National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, published by NFPA and adopted in most US states. BS 5839-1 is the UK code of practice for fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings other than dwellings. Both cover the same subject matter (design, install, commission, inspect, test, maintain) but with different frequency tables and different terminology. NFPA 72 is prescriptive on frequency; BS 5839-1 combines a fixed frequency schedule with more risk-based judgement by the servicing organisation.

Can the weekly test be done by any staff member?

Yes. Both NFPA 72 and BS 5839-1 allow the weekly test (typically a rotating manual call point activation) to be done by the responsible person or a delegate. The formal 6-monthly and annual service must be done by a competent servicing organisation, which in the UK usually means BAFE SP203-1 or LPCB certified, and in the US usually NICET Level II or higher for the technician and a licensed alarm contractor for the company.

How long must the log be kept?

NFPA 72 Chapter 14 requires records for the current inspection cycle plus 1 year, or as required by the AHJ (often 3 years). BS 5839-1 requires the log book to be kept for the life of the system. In practice most UK insurers ask for the previous 5 years on request, and post-Grenfell FSER 2022 duties for higher-rise residential effectively mean records are kept indefinitely as part of the building safety case.

What are the biggest NFPA 72 2025 changes for inspection?

Three changes stand out. First, the impairment notification window dropped from 24 hours to 8 hours; the AHJ, owner, and any monitoring station must be told within 8 hours of any impairment. Second, waterflow and supervisory device testing moved from quarterly to semi-annual (still annual functional test in most cases). Third, magnet testing of smoke detectors is now prohibited; sensitivity must be measured by listed test equipment. Existing systems are required to comply per Chapter 14.

What's the difference between a functional test and a sensitivity test?

A functional test proves the device activates the alarm signal when its trigger condition is met (smoke, heat, manual actuation, waterflow). A sensitivity test measures whether the device activates within its listed sensitivity range (typically expressed as %/foot obscuration for smoke detectors). NFPA 72 requires both: functional testing runs quarterly to annually depending on device type, sensitivity testing is annual for smoke detectors, and both must be recorded separately.

Do I need a separate log for voice evacuation and mass notification?

The log can be combined but the tests must be recorded distinctly. NFPA 72 Chapter 24 sets separate performance requirements for voice evacuation (intelligibility measured per STI or CIS methodology) and mass notification (message clarity, priority, and area coverage). BS 5839-8 covers voice alarm system testing in the UK. Both require an annual functional test with intelligibility measurement at designated listening positions.