Would you replace a 25 year old fire alarm panel if still working?

Bob Geldoff1234 · Apr 2, 2018

Have there been any major changes in fire alarm systems in the past 25 years?
The reason i ask is i have just had a customer on the phone that is saying that the company who service the fire alarm system for a church hall says that the panel must be replaced as it's 25 years old.

Now as far as i'm aware it's fully working with monitored zones and separate bell circuits and has been tested and passed for the past 25 years.
He is quoting £1000 to change the panel.

I personally think he's trying it on but i'd thought i'd ask on here first in case there are any new rules that stipulate the the panel would have to be changed.The batteries were only changed last year so are still fully working.
What do you guys think?

buzzlightyear · Apr 2, 2018

if is working ,why change it . has long its been serviced .
do you not think how many fire alarms over 25years in this country.

westward10 · Apr 2, 2018

BS5839:1 offers no life expectancy for a control panel. It would be interesting to know their reasons. Modern panels may offer greater flexibility and reductions in false alarms but if the existing panel is providing compliance with BS5839:1 I see no reason to change it.

Bob Geldoff1234 · Apr 2, 2018

Thanks guys.My thoughts exactly.The price to change it set alarm bells ringing

(no pun intended!

).It's over double what i would think it would cost.I am going tomorrow to do some PAT testing so i will take some photo's of the panel and post back here tomorrow night.

Bob Geldoff1234 · Apr 3, 2018

Here are the photo's of the alarm panel in question and also the engineers report.

[ElectriciansForums.net] Would you replace a 25 year old fire alarm panel if still working?

westward10 · Apr 3, 2018

Interesting, still see plenty of those panels in use and the most common failing is the membrane over the function buttons but they generally still operate, that one does not look too bad. I wonder if they can give proof it has exceeded the manufacturers service life.