Fire Alarm Zone Charts for Commercial Premises
Under BS 5839-1:2025, every commercial fire alarm system must have an up-to-date zone chart displayed adjacent to the fire alarm control panel and any repeater panels. This is no longer a recommendation that can be treated as a permissible variation. It is a mandatory requirement of the current standard.
A zone chart is a diagrammatic plan of the building showing how the fire alarm system is divided into detection zones. Its purpose is to enable anyone responding to an alarm - whether building staff or the fire and rescue service - to quickly identify where in the building the alarm has been triggered. Without a clear, accurate zone chart, valuable time is lost in locating the source of the alarm.
Electrifire designs, produces and installs fire alarm zone charts for commercial premises across London, Kent and the M25 corridor. We also update existing zone charts following building alterations, fire alarm system modifications, or changes identified during routine maintenance inspections.
Need a zone chart produced or updated?
What a Compliant Zone Chart Must Include
BS 5839-1:2025 sets out the information that must be included on every fire alarm zone chart. The chart must be clear, simple and easy to read under pressure - it is not an architectural drawing, and excessive detail can be counterproductive in an emergency.
- Zone boundaries and labels - each detection zone clearly numbered to match the indicators on the fire alarm control panel
- A 'You Are Here' marker - positioned to help the reader orient themselves in relation to the zone where the alarm has been triggered
- Building layout - showing rooms, corridors, stairwells, lifts and floor levels
- Escape routes and final exits - clearly marked
- Legend - explaining all symbols used on the chart
The zone chart must be framed or mounted in a way that prevents removal, damage or wear. It must be positioned adjacent to the fire alarm control panel and adjacent to any repeater panels elsewhere in the building.
Zone charts are not a one-off installation. They must be verified at every maintenance visit to ensure they accurately reflect the current building layout and fire alarm configuration. Under Clause 43.3.25 of BS 5839-1:2025, the zone chart check is a required part of the maintenance inspection. See our fire alarms page for information on our maintenance contracts.
Zone charts should be updated whenever the building layout changes (partitions moved, rooms reconfigured, extensions added), whenever the fire alarm system is modified (zones added, devices relocated, panels changed), whenever tenancy changes result in different building use, or whenever a fire risk assessment identifies that the existing chart is inaccurate.
For FM and property management companies managing multiple buildings, outdated zone charts are one of the most common non-compliance findings in fire risk assessments. If you are responsible for a portfolio of sites and are unsure whether your zone charts are current, we can carry out a review across your properties and produce updated charts where required.
Frequently Asked Questions
BS 5839-1:2025 makes it mandatory for every commercial fire alarm system to have an up-to-date zone chart displayed adjacent to the fire alarm control panel and any repeater panels. The absence of a zone chart is no longer considered a permissible variation under the current standard. Fire risk assessors and enforcing authorities will expect to see a compliant zone chart in place.
Zone charts must be verified at every routine maintenance visit to confirm they accurately reflect the current building layout and fire alarm configuration. This is a specific requirement of Clause 43.3.25 of BS 5839-1:2025. If your fire alarm maintenance provider is not checking the zone chart at each service visit, this is a gap in your maintenance regime.
An outdated zone chart is a compliance issue and a safety risk. If the building layout has changed, zones have been added or modified, or the fire alarm system has been reconfigured, the zone chart must be updated to reflect the current state. Electrifire can survey your premises, design an updated zone chart, and install it in accordance with BS 5839-1:2025.
Yes. We produce zone charts for any commercial fire alarm system regardless of who installed it. We survey the building, map the fire alarm zones against the control panel configuration, and produce a compliant chart. This is often requested by FM companies who have taken over management of a building and found the zone chart is missing or incorrect.
Zone charts are produced as clear, professionally printed diagrams, typically mounted in a frame or protective case for display adjacent to the fire alarm control panel. We can also provide digital copies for your records. For larger or more complex buildings, we produce separate charts for each floor level.
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