Reference · Fire alarm · BS 5839-1
Fire alarm system categories
Pick a category to see what it means: what it protects, where detection goes, and whether it includes manual call points. The categories are from BS 5839-1.
Result
Choose a category.
Details
Categories are from BS 5839-1:2025. L categories protect life. P categories protect property. M is manual call points only. Adding /M to P1, P2 or L5 adds manual call points to the automatic detection.
The category is chosen by the risk assessment and agreed with the person responsible for the building. A category does not say how many detectors you need. For a planning count, use the detector spacing calculator.
For guidance only. Always check against the current edition of the standard and the manufacturer's data.
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