Gives recommendations for the planning, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in and around buildings, other than domestic premises.

This part of BS5839 provides recommendations for the planning, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in and around buildings, other than domestic premises. It does not recommend whether or not a fire detection and fire alarm system should be installed in any given premises. Recommendations for fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises are given in BS5839‑6.

The term fire detection and fire alarm systems, in the context of this part of BS5839, includes systems that range from those comprising only one or two manual call points and sounders to complex networked systems that incorporate a large number of automatic fire detectors, manual call points and sounders, connected to numerous inter-communicating control and indicating panels.

The term also includes systems that are capable of providing signals to initiate the operation of other fire protection systems and equipment (such as fire extinguishing systems, smoke control systems or automatic door release equipment) or safety measures (such as shutdown of air handling systems, closing of oil or gas valves or grounding of lifts). It does not apply to the other systems and equipment themselves, or the ancillary circuits to interface with them. Recommendations for the planning, installation and servicing of facilities for operation of certain fire protection systems by the systems addressed within this part of BS5839 are given in BS7273(allparts).

This part of BS5839 does not cover systems whose primary function is to extinguish or control fire, such as sprinkler or automatic extinguishing systems, even though they might have a secondary alarm function; it does, however, cover the use of a signal from an automatic extinguishing system as one initiating element of a fire alarm system (e.g. by use of a pressure or flow switch).

This part of BS5839 does not cover voice alarm systems. Recommendations for voice alarm systems and voice sounders are given in BS5839‑8.

This part of BS5839 does not cover systems combining fire alarm functions with other non-fire related functions. Recommendations for such integrated systems are given in DD CLC/TS50398.

This part of BS5839 does not cover the 999 (or 112) public emergency call system, or manually or mechanically operated sounders.

This part of BS5839 does not cover audible or visual way-guidance systems which are designed to complement fire alarm systems.

Recommendations for fire detection and fire alarm systems in electronic data processing installations and similar critical electronic equipment rooms are given in BS6266, which provides recommendations over and above those given in this part of BS5839.

Recommendations for fire detection and fire alarm systems in hospitals are given in the NHS Estates publications HTM 05-03 Part B [N1] (in England and Wales) or SHTM 82 [N2] (in Scotland).

This part of BS5839 applies to extensions and alterations to existing systems, at least in respect of the design, installation, commissioning and certification of the new work, albeit that the extended or altered system might not, overall, conform to the recommendations of this standard.