This guide is general information for UK premises teams and is not legal advice. Check the official guidance for your premises and use a competent fire safety professional where needed.
Before the test
Confirm who is carrying out the test, which manual call point or zone will be used, and whether any alarm receiving centre or monitoring provider needs to be notified.
Where appropriate, warn staff, residents, contractors, or visitors that a routine test is about to happen so the alarm is not mistaken for an unplanned evacuation signal.
During the test
Activate a manual call point using the correct test key or procedure. Rotate the call point used over time so different parts of the system are checked rather than testing the same location every week.
Confirm that the alarm operates as expected, that the panel receives the signal, and that any obvious fault or unusual response is recorded for follow-up.
After the test
Reset the panel, restore any temporarily isolated monitoring arrangements, and log the date, time, user, location, result, and defects.
If the alarm does not operate as expected, record the issue, assign ownership, and escalate to a competent maintainer rather than leaving the entry as a simple pass or fail.
How a digital logbook helps
Digital records make it easier to see missed tests, compare results across sites, attach photos or engineer notes, and export the testing history before an audit.
Sources reviewed
These sources were reviewed when preparing this guide.
Next step
Turn guidance into a repeatable record keeping workflow with Fire Logbook Pro.