Certification · BS 5839-1 and BS 5266-1
Which certificate does each fire alarm or emergency lighting job need?
Design, installation, commissioning, acceptance, servicing and modification: which fire alarm or emergency lighting certificate goes with each job.
Fire alarm certificates (BS 5839-1)
Annex G of BS 5839-1 holds the model certificates. Each one goes with a different job and a different person:
| The job | Certificate | Signed by |
|---|---|---|
| Designed a new system | Design certificate | The designer of the system |
| Installed a system | Installation certificate | The installer |
| Commissioned a system | Commissioning certificate | The person who commissioned it |
| The client is accepting a system | Acceptance certificate | The purchaser or user, often the Responsible Person |
| Verified a new system, or one never certified | Verification certificate | The person who carried out the check |
| Serviced a system | Inspection and servicing certificate | The servicing organisation, for each visit |
| Extended or altered a system | Extension or modification certificate | The person who carried out the work |
A firmware update to the control panel counts as a modification under the 2025 edition, so it needs a certificate too.
Emergency lighting certificates (BS 5266-1)
| The job | Certificate | Signed by |
|---|---|---|
| Installed a new system | Completion certificate, made up of design, installation and verification declarations | The designer, installer and person who verified it, each signing their own part |
| Installed a small system, up to 25 self-contained luminaires | Small installations completion certificate | The person who installed and verified it |
| Inspected and tested a system | Periodic inspection and testing certificate | The person who did the inspection and test |
| Assessed an existing system with no certificate | Site compliance certificate (verification of an existing installation) | The person who carried out the assessment |
The form name for an existing installation can vary by scheme.
Two things people get wrong
- Acceptance is the client's certificate. It is issued on a form from the organisation with contractual responsibility, and the purchaser or user signs it.
- Servicing gets a certificate every visit. Each inspection and servicing visit records what was tested, and any defects or variations.
Not sure? Ask the finder
The free certificate finder lets you choose what you did and tells you which certificate applies, who signs it and what it says.
Common questions
What certificate do I need after installing a fire alarm?
An installation certificate, signed by the installer, stating that the installation matches the design and the standard. Commissioning is recorded on its own commissioning certificate.
What is a commissioning certificate for a fire alarm?
It records that the installed system was tested and works at handover. It is signed by the person who commissioned it.
Does a firmware update need a certificate?
Yes. Under BS 5839-1:2025 a firmware update to the control panel counts as a modification and needs a certificate.
What certificate does emergency lighting need?
A completion certificate for a new system, made up of design, installation and verification declarations. Small systems up to 25 self-contained luminaires have a shorter one. Existing systems get a periodic inspection and testing certificate.
This guide is general information for UK fire & security companies, not legal or engineering advice. Always work to the current edition of the relevant standard and your own competent-person judgement.
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