Sources checked · Applies to Great Britain; England and Wales for fire safety
| What | Basis | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed installation | Law: Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 | Periodic inspection and testing (EICR) at intervals set by the inspector |
| Portable equipment | Law: maintenance duty; guidance: HSE INDG236 | Risk-based user checks, inspection and testing |
| Emergency lighting | Law: Fire Safety Order 2005 (England and Wales); standard: BS 5266-1:2025 | Monthly function tests and annual duration tests, logged |
| Fire alarm | Law: Fire Safety Order 2005; standard: BS 5839-1:2025 | Weekly user test and servicing by a competent person |
| Records | Good practice; often required by insurers | Keep reports, certificates and logbooks together, with due dates |
Fixed installation
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 don't set an interval. The inspector recommends the next date on the EICR based on the premises, its use and condition. Industry guidance gives typical maximum intervals by type of premises, and your lease or insurer may set one.
Fire alarm servicing
BS 5839-1, revised in 2025, has long recommended a weekly user test and servicing by a competent person at least every six months.
Interval wording for the 2025 editions of BS 5839-1 and BS 5266-1 is awaiting professional review.
Keep the records together
Auditors, insurers and fire risk assessors will ask for current reports, certificates, logbooks and proof that remedial work was done. One dashboard with due dates makes renewals far easier.