Domestic fire alarm certificates for UK rental properties.

What should a clear inspection record contain?

The exact information depends on the property, the system and the purpose of the inspection. For a straightforward domestic record, useful evidence commonly includes:

• the property address and inspection date;
• the client, landlord or letting agent where relevant;
• the recorded system grade, coverage and arrangement;
• the rooms or zones and alarm types inspected;
• test results, defects and inaccessible areas;
• supporting photographs where appropriate;
• the inspector’s details, declaration and signature; and
• a clear outcome and any recommended next action.

Where does BS 5839-6 fit?

BS 5839-6 is a British Standard concerning fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises. Contractors may use its classifications when recording a domestic system, but merely naming the standard does not certify compliance and does not replace a competent inspection.

AlarmCert is being designed to help an inspector record the selected grade and coverage consistently. It will not reproduce the British Standard or provide its copyrighted text. Users must obtain and apply any standard relevant to their work.

UK requirements are not identical

Housing and alarm requirements differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. They can also vary with the type of property, tenancy, licensing conditions and local authority requirements. These official starting points should be checked for the property being inspected:

How AlarmCert is being built

AlarmCert is an early-stage mobile app focused on domestic rental properties. The planned workflow starts with the property, adapts to the recorded system classification, captures alarm evidence and produces a clear PDF record. It is being designed for iPhone, iPad and Android, including offline working for properties with poor signal.

The product is still being tested. Features, wording and certificate fields may change before release as we compare real inspections and obtain professional feedback.