The FIA has updated its technical bulletin A Guide to Fire Detection and Fire Alarm System Zone Plans to reflect the latest recommendations in BS 5839-1:2025. This revision provides clear, practical guidance for those responsible for fire safety system design, installation, and maintenance—ensuring that zone plans are accurate, properly orientated, and fully compliant with the standard.

What Is a Zone Plan?

A zone plan is a diagram showing how a building is divided into fire detection zones, typically located next to the Control and Indicating Equipment (CIE). It includes important features such as entrances, exits, and main circulation areas. These plans serve a critical purpose: helping emergency responders, staff, and occupants quickly identify the location of a fire alarm activation.

Why It Matters

Zone plans are not just a formality—they are essential for life safety. When a fire alarm activates, anyone responding to the alarm needs to be able to identify the affected area instantly. This improves response times, supports effective evacuation, and enables fire and rescue services to act quickly.

BS 5839-1:2025 classifies the absence of a zone plan—or the presence of an outdated or inaccurate one—as a major non-conformity. Failure in this area could cause delays during an emergency, increasing risks to people and property.

Learning from Past Tragedies

The importance of correctly orientated zone plans was tragically highlighted by the Rosepark Care Home fire in 2004, where a Fatal Accident Inquiry concluded that an accurate zone plan could have helped emergency responders locate the fire more quickly. The outcome might have been very different had the fire’s location been easier to determine.

View the Technical Bulletin.