Nova Security Systems
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Fire alarm servicing and maintenance in Kent

We service fire alarm systems across Kent to BS 5839-1:2025: an inspection and service about every six months, a certificate and logbook entry each visit, and a 24/7 support line for contracted customers. We take over systems other companies installed, too.

Book a free survey Call 01303 720282

Written by Ricky Shaw, Technical Director. Last reviewed 30 September 2026.

Illustration: a single-storey floor plan with a detector and a sounder in every room, a manual call point at each of the three final exits, the control panel by the main entrance, and the fire alarm operating: first the kitchen heat detector, then the corridor smoke detector EXITEXITEXIT OfficeOfficeKitchenStore ReceptionMeetingPlantCorridor CIE 1 2 1Fire: kitchen heat detector 2Spreading: corridor Smoke detector HHeat detector Call point Sounder EXITFinal exit CIE = control panel
BAFE SP203-1
Registered No. 303674
Modules held
All four: design to maintenance
Certification body
NSI (Fire Silver)
Designed to
BS 5839-1:2025
Google reviews
120+ five-star

How often should a fire alarm be serviced?

The short answer

About every six months. BS 5839-1:2025 recommends inspection and servicing at intervals of approximately six months, and a visit between five and seven months after the previous one is acceptable. Your fire risk assessment may ask for more.

The legal duty, under article 17 of the Fire Safety Order, is to keep the system maintained in efficient working order. Six-monthly servicing to the British Standard is how you show you’ve done it.

What a service visit covers

  • The logbook reviewed, including false alarms and faults since the last visit
  • Control panel functions and indicators checked, and its clock set correctly
  • Batteries and charger tested, with batteries replaced when they’re due (our free battery size calculator shows the size a panel needs)
  • Detectors and call points tested in rotation, so every device is tested over the year
  • Sounders and visual alarms checked
  • Signals to your alarm receiving centre checked, at every visit under the 2025 edition
  • Interfaces checked: door releases, plant shutdown and anything else the system controls
  • Once a year, zone indications checked against the zone plan
  • A servicing certificate, logbook entry and a written list of any defects
Testing a ceiling detector during a service visit
Testing a detector on a service visit.

Your part between visits

BS 5839-1 expects the people who run the building to do a few simple things:

  • Test a different manual call point each week, in rotation, and write it in the logbook
  • If your alarm is monitored, tell the alarm receiving centre before you test
  • Record every false alarm and fault in the logbook
  • Tell us about building changes, such as new walls, a change of use or new occupants

We show your team how to do the weekly test at handover, or at our first visit if we’ve taken over your system.

Taking over an existing system

Unhappy with your current maintainer, or inherited a system with no paperwork? We take over most makes that are still serviceable.

  • A full inspection and a written report of what we find
  • A clear quote for anything that needs fixing, with nothing done without your approval
  • Missing paperwork rebuilt: zone plan, drawings and logbook
  • Your monitoring contract transferred cleanly

Some panels need manufacturer software or access codes to service fully. If yours does, we’ll tell you what that means before you commit.

Faults and call-outs

We’re based at Shearway Business Park in Folkestone, close to junction 13 of the M20, so most of East Kent is within an hour’s drive, and much of it within 30 minutes. Contracted customers have a 24/7 support line: call 01303 720282 and choose option 1.

Service contracts

Single sites and multi-site estates, on one fixed annual price. We can combine fire alarm, emergency lighting, intruder alarm and CCTV servicing into the same visits, so there’s less disruption and one point of contact.

Not sure where you stand?

Site surveys and advice are free. We’ll look at your fire alarm, emergency lighting and paperwork and tell you honestly what your building needs. No obligation.

Book a free survey

Fire alarm servicing questions

Is six-monthly servicing a legal requirement?

The law, article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, requires fire alarms to be maintained in efficient working order. BS 5839-1:2025 is the recognised way to do that, and it recommends inspection and servicing about every six months. Insurers and fire officers will expect to see it in your logbook.

We’ve missed a service. What should we do?

Book one as soon as you can. We’ll inspect the whole system, fix what’s needed and bring the logbook and certificates up to date.

Can you take over a system another company installed?

Yes. We take over most makes of system that are still serviceable. We start with a full inspection and a written list of anything that needs attention, then rebuild missing records such as the zone plan, drawings and logbook.

Do you service wireless fire alarms?

Yes, including Ajax EN54 systems. Servicing includes checking radio signal quality and planning battery replacement.

What happens if you find a fault?

You get a written list of defects in order of priority. Simple faults can often be fixed on the day with your approval; anything bigger gets a clear quote.

How much does fire alarm servicing cost?

It depends on the size of the system and the number of devices. After a first visit we give you a fixed annual price, and we can combine fire alarm, emergency lighting and security servicing into the same visits.

Get a servicing quote

Tell us about your system and we’ll call you back within one working day. Or call 01303 720282.

We use these details to reply to you. See our privacy notice.

Or talk to us

Call the office and you’ll speak to someone who knows fire alarms. We’re at Shearway Business Park in Folkestone.