Weekly fire alarm testing in Sutton blocks of flats

A block of flats relies on its fire alarm system to wake sleeping residents and direct them away from smoke. In Sutton, where many older conversions sit alongside newer purpose-built blocks, the condition of that system varies widely. The weekly test exists because batteries fail, wiring degrades and call points get painted over or blocked by furniture.

The law requires the responsible person to keep common parts safe. That duty falls on the freeholder, the managing agent or whoever controls the shared hallways and stairs. A working alarm is one of the most basic expectations under that duty, and the weekly test is how faults surface before a real fire does.

Residents sometimes treat the weekly alarm as a nuisance. But if the sounder in a corridor fails to activate, nobody will know until they need it. Testing catches dead batteries, broken sounders and faulty panels while the building is calm. It also reminds everyone living there that the system exists and that someone is paying attention to it.

The person carrying out the test activates one manual call point each week. They rotate through the call points so every device gets checked over time. Once triggered, the panel should register the signal and the sounders throughout the communal areas should operate.

In smaller Sutton conversions with two or three storeys, there might only be a handful of call points. Larger blocks can have dozens. The tester notes which device was used, checks that the panel shows the correct zone, and listens for the sounders on every floor. They then reset the panel using the dedicated key or code.

This is not a full service. A fire alarm engineer holding a BAFE SP203 qualification or equivalent third-party certification handles the periodic inspection that tests battery capacity, measures sound levels and checks backup circuits. The weekly test is a functional check. It confirms the system responds when a call point is pressed. If the panel throws a fault light or a sounder stays silent, the responsible person must arrange for a specialist firm to investigate and repair the problem promptly.

The responsible person decides who performs the test. In some Sutton blocks, the caretaker or concierge handles it as part of their daily rounds. In others, the managing agent assigns it to a nominated individual who visits the building once a week.

The person does not need formal electrical qualifications or certification as a fire alarm engineer. They do need to know where the call points are, how to read the panel display and how to reset the system without clearing genuine fault records. Basic training covers this. Specialist firms provide fire warden training that includes practical alarm operation for exactly this kind of routine task.

If no one on site is willing or able to do it, the responsible person can appoint someone specific to take charge. What matters is consistency. A different person each week, none of whom knows the panel, leads to missed steps and incomplete records. One named individual who understands the building produces reliable results.

Every fire alarm system should have a log book kept near the control panel or held digitally by the managing agent. After each weekly test, the person who carried it out writes down the date, the time, the specific call point tested and whether the system responded correctly.

If a fault appeared, the entry must describe it. A note saying panel showed fault on zone two is far more useful than alarm broken. The log should also record when the responsible person reported the issue to a specialist firm and when the repair happened.

Enforcement officers from the council can ask to see this log at any time. Gaps in the record suggest the tests are not happening. A complete log demonstrates that the responsible person takes fire safety seriously. It also helps engineers diagnose recurring problems, such as a call point that fails every few months because of damp in the wall behind it.

The most frequent issue in Sutton flats is a sounder that has been disconnected or removed. Residents sometimes unplug devices in corridors because they find the test noise disruptive. Painters occasionally paint over call points, jamming the mechanism. Furniture left in hallways can block access entirely.

Older panels in converted houses often display cryptic fault codes. Without the manufacturer manual, the person testing might reset a warning that indicates a failing battery. This is why the responsible person should keep documentation accessible and ensure whoever tests the alarm knows what the panel lights mean.

When the weekly test reveals a problem, the responsible person must act. Leaving a known fault unresolved breaches fire safety duties. Arranging a prompt visit from a specialist firm to inspect and fix the alarm keeps the building safe and the log book honest. Regular testing turns small faults into scheduled repairs rather than emergency failures during a real incident.