The British Standards Institution (BSI) has launched a public consultation on BS 9996, a proposed new British Standard providing guidance on the commissioning, maintenance and ongoing management of integrated fire safety systems in buildings.

The draft standard, BS 9996 Commissioning and Maintenance of Integrated Fire Safety Systems – Code of Practice, was published for public comment on 21 October 2026 and aims to support a more coordinated approach to ensuring fire safety systems operate effectively together throughout a building's lifecycle.

The proposed standard sets out recommendations covering several key areas, including:

• Commissioning and verification: Planning and carrying out the commissioning of active and passive fire safety systems, including integrated systems testing to verify whole-building performance.
• Inspection, testing and maintenance: Establishing arrangements for the ongoing inspection, testing and maintenance of fire safety systems throughout a building's lifecycle.
• System coordination: Addressing the relationship between the design, specification, commissioning, verification, inspection and maintenance of fire safety systems.
• Information and change management: Ensuring fire safety measures remain effective and coordinated, supported by accurate documentation and a clear audit trail.

BS 9996 is intended to provide a structured approach to the joint commissioning and maintenance of interconnected fire safety systems, helping to ensure that their performance is appropriately verified, recorded and maintained over time.

The standard is relevant to a wide range of professionals involved in building fire safety, including designers, fire engineers, installers, commissioning specialists, facilities managers, maintenance providers, Accountable Persons, duty holders, Building Control bodies and Fire and Rescue Services.

The consultation is open until 6 January 2027.

The FIA encourages members and wider industry stakeholders to review the draft standard and consider submitting feedback to help inform its development.

Engagement with consultations such as this provides an important opportunity for the fire safety industry to contribute its technical expertise and practical experience to the development of standards that support effective fire safety management.

Further information is available online at www.bsigroup.com

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