BS 5839-6 domestic smoke alarms can have either a standard battery, rechargeable battery or built in capacitor based upon make and model.
For the domestic user Weekly or at least monthly user tests via the built in test function are usually recommended, with annual battery changes and sometimes six monthly vaccuming of the detection chamber.
BS 5839-6 sets the following regieme:
Routine testing
25.1 Commentary
All Grades of system need to be tested periodically to ensure that there has not been any major failure. This does not require any specialist knowledge, and can normally be carried out, quite easily, by the occupier of the dwelling, who will, however, need simple instructions in how to do so.
25.2 Recommendations
The following recommendations are applicable.
a) Instructions to users should stress the importance of routine testing of the system (see Clause 24).
b) Grade A systems should be tested every week in accordance with the recommendations of 44.2
of BS 5839-1:2002.
c) All systems, other than Grade A systems, should be tested at least every week by operating all fire
alarm devices in the dwelling. In the case of smoke alarms and any heat alarms, the weekly test may be
carried out by use of a test button on each of the smoke alarms and heat alarms installed in the dwelling.
NOTE In some Grade D and E systems, a manual test switch (which can take the form of a manual call point) can be added to the system to permit routine testing without the need to access test controls on the smoke or heat alarms themselves.
d) If the dwelling has been unoccupied for a period during which the normal and standby supply (if
provided) could have failed, the occupier should check immediately on reoccupying the dwelling that the
system has not suffered total power failure.
Maintenance
26.1 Commentary
It is essential that the system is subject to periodic inspection, so that unrevealed faults are identified, and, in the case of more complex systems, so that preventive measures can be taken to ensure the continued reliability of the system.
In dwellings in which a Grade A system is provided, periodic inspection and servicing needs to be carried
out by a competent person with specialist knowledge of fire detection and fire alarm systems, including
knowledge of the causes of false alarms, sufficient information regarding the system, and adequate access to spares. This will normally be an outside fire alarm servicing organization. Competence of a fire alarm servicing organization can be assured by use of organizations that are third-party certificated, by
a UKAS-certificated certification body, to carry out inspection and servicing of fire alarm systems (e.g.
certificated under the British Approvals for Fire Equipment (BAFE) SP 203 scheme or the BRE Certification
LPS 1014 scheme).
26.2 Recommendations
The following recommendations are applicable.
a) Grade A systems should be inspected and serviced at periods not exceeding six months in accordance
with the recommendations of Clause 45 of BS 5839-1:2002. An inspection and servicing certificate of the
type contained in G.6 of BS 5839-1:2002 should be issued. In houses in multiple occupation, batteries in
any radio-linked devices (such as manual call points, automatic detectors and fire alarm devices) should
be changed by the servicing organization before the low battery warning condition recommended by
27.2b)3) of BS 5839-1 is likely to be given.
b) Grade B and Grade C systems should be serviced every six months in accordance with the supplier’s
instructions.
c) Smoke alarms in Grade D, Grade E and Grade F systems should be cleaned periodically in accordance
with the manufacturer’s instructions.
d) Where experience shows that undue deposits of dust or dirt are likely to accumulate, so affecting the
performance of the system before detectors are cleaned or changed at the intervals necessary for
compliance with the recommendations of 26.2a), 26.2b), or 26.2c), more frequent cleaning or changing of
detectors should be carried out.
