The latest version of the British Standard for fire detection and fire alarm systems for non-domestic premises was published on April 30, 2025.

Non-domestic properties are categorised as buildings not used solely as private dwelling. This includes offices, shops, schools, factories, care homes, and mixed-use premises.

What has changed ?

• Tighter control on variations

• Simplified recommendations for manual call points

• Improved guidance on fire detection in sleeping areas

• And much more….

RES are here to help you upgrade or install your fire detection and alarm system in line with BS5839-1:2025. If you manage commercial, healthcare, residential care properties or mixed-use premises, our expert teams are on-hand to ensure compliance and best practice across all of your facilities.

Fire Safety Event 2025

RES attended the Fire Safety Event at the Birmingham NEC in April.

The event showcases the latest fire safety innovations on offer, advancing fire safety standards across all sectors.

With over 10,000 + cutting edge products and solutions on display, there was plenty on offer to see.

The RES delegation were able to meet existing suppliers and partners, as well as connect with new businesses that can help us provide the latest solutions and innovations to our customers.

In addition to the Fire Safety Event, The Security Event provided RES with an opportunity to explore further services and solutions in the security sector. Watch this space!

P50 Extinguishers - All you need to know

BENEFITS TO YOU

• Potentially save 50% on your extinguisher servicing and maintenance costs

• Reduce the number of extinguishers in use due to superior fire ratings of P50 products

• Reduce your environmental impact

• 10-Year Guarantee and 20-Year lifespan (Refurb is required after 10 years)

• CE marked and Kitemarked to BS En3 by BSI

• Ideal for sites with difficult or restricted access

RES can provide P50 Fire Extinguishers which do not require an annual service by an extinguisher technician and can potentially save you money.

They are longer-lasting and are therefore more environmentally friendly and come in a range of fire ratings and applications.

What our customer says

“RES have consistently provided a competitive, professional and expert service to the Reading School including the recent installation of a Category L1 fire alarm system which has been delivered on time in staged phases. Additionally, RES have implemented  a lockdown alert system for us and continue to service our emergency lights and fire extinguishers.”

Warren Symonds, Reading School

The site of Reading School comprises over twenty buildings including number of Grade II listed buildings across a large site in the heart of Reading, Berkshire.

“RES have the expertise to maintain and upgrade large educational sites such as the Reading School.”

Will Grice, Projects Director, RES Fire

Fire stopping Guidance

Is fire stopping mandatory? 

Who can carry out fire stopping works?

0800 731 0727

Welcome to the latest RES Record, bringing you fire safety industry news and updates from the RES team.  

Since our last newsletter of Winter 2024 there are a number of key updates and highlights to share with you.

Emergency Lighting

Emergency Lighting Maintenance

• Monthly inspections

• Annual discharge testing

• Fault Finding and repairs

• Replacement light installations

BAFE Registered

BAFE SP203-4 Emergency Lighting: Third-party certificated by BSI.

Types of lighting systems

There are three main kinds of emergency lighting systems;

Non-maintained – lamp only illuminates in the event of mains failure to the luminaire.

Maintained – allow the emergency lamp to be operated at any time from the local supply to provide normal lighting but in the event of a power failure to the luminaire, it will illuminate the lamp from its dedicated battery back up power source.

Combined – multi-lamp luminaires where the emergency lamp can be operated in a non maintained or a maintained mode.

The required operating duration for emergency lighting varies according to the use of the building and can vary from a minimum of one hour to three hours depending on the requirements of the building or the activities taking place within the premises.

Emergency lighting testing

British Standard 5266: Part 8 requires that installed emergency lighting systems shall have continued maintenance and periodic testing carried out, as defined in the standard. In practice, the emergency luminaires must be functionally tested every month and for their full rated duration annually.

The purpose of this periodic testing is to ensure the satisfactory operation of each emergency luminaire, to establish that the light output from each luminaire is sufficient, and ultimately that the system is still fit for purpose and that it corresponds with the requirements of the standards.

For safety reasons, the standards advise that the emergency lighting testing should be carried out at times of least risk to the buildings occupants or if possible, when the premises are unoccupied or in unoccupied portions of those premises.

Service Video

RES recently undertook an annual (3 hourly) emergency light service of a large logistics warehouse to BS 5266-1:2016.

“Making your Small Block Of Flats Safe From Fire” has had amendments in relation to the Fire Safety England Regulations. Updated as of November 2024

“Fire Risk Assessment - 5 step checklist” has had an update. Updated as of November 2024

A Guide to making your small paying-guest-accommodation safe from fire” has had some additional sections added. Updated as of November 2024

The FPA (Fire Protection Association) have published an updated Approved Document B (Fire safety) Volume 1 (Dwellings) and Volume 2 (Buildings other than dwellings) of the Building Regulations to incorporate future amendments.

Established in 1985, RES (Reading Extinguisher Services) initially began servicing and maintaining portable fire protection and fire brigade equipment.

Left: Our original office on Caversham Road, Reading which RES occupied from 1985 to 2014.

From a small team of engineers and office staff westeadily grew as our services expanded into Fire Detection and Alarm Systems, SmokeControl Systems, Emergency Lighting and associated services.

Right: Our current site on Cremyll Road, Readng provides the space we need to operate efficiently.

We now have over thirty employees and 28 speciallyequipped service, maintenance and installation vans which of course have ourlatest distinctive RES Fire livery.

Fire Extinguisher Visual Inspection

Replace broken glass in a Manual Call Point

How to test and reset a manual call point

RES will be attending the Fire Safety Event on 8 - 10 APRIL 2025 at the NEC in Birmingham. Billed as the UK’s NO.1 Fire Safety Event,  it showcases the latest products and also includes seminars, networking events and Women in Industry specific events.

AOV Service and Maintenance

A number of our engineers recently undertook Certified and Accredited AOV Service and Maintenance training with trainer David McCormack.

The one day course involved in depth product training as-well as course work and an examination.

Smoke control and ventilation systems vent smoke out of a building in the event of a fire and are commonly used in residential, commercial, healthcare or educational premises.

Natural ventilation systems utilise windows, vents and automatic opening vents (AOVs) and are a primary system used in UK Building Regulations.

Alton Ninjas!

A good start to the 2024/2025 season for the Under 14 Ninjas after an injection of new players and a new head coach. They currently have had a run of 6 games unbeaten and are loving their new blue away kit!

Westood Wanderers

Westwood Wanderers U10’s are getting along great. Our 1st game of the year was last Saturday 18th of which a tight game saw us win 5-4 against Hearts of Teddlothian Buffaloes making it a 5 game winning streak!

The whole club will be completing a sponsored run in the next week or so to raise fund for the club also.. this is done during training and usually has the club mascot Wolfie in attendance!

Jess Knight Accounts Assistant  

Jess joined RES in May 2016 as an Office Administrator. 

In March 2018 she then moved over to Accounts Assistant whilst training in Bookkeeping Level 2. 

With Level 2 completed, Jess is now working on her AAT Management Accounting Techniques Level 3, which she is enjoying working through.