Blog · Maintenance
The Statutory Compliance Servicing Schedule Every Commercial Building Needs
26 August 2026 · 7 min read
Key takeaways
- A typical commercial building carries eight to twelve recurring statutory or recognised servicing duties across fire, electrical, water, air conditioning, lifting and gas.
- The intervals range from weekly (fire alarm test) to five-yearly (EICR, TM44), and each needs a record.
- Bundling them into one maintenance contract with one log is the simplest way to stop items being missed.
- The schedule below is a guide; your Fire Risk Assessment, legionella scheme and manufacturers’ requirements set the detail for your building.
Fire alarm weekly, emergency lighting monthly, extinguishers annually, electrics every five years, legionella monthly and two-yearly, lifts six-monthly, air conditioning five-yearly. Every one of those sits under a different law with a different enforcer, and in most buildings they are tracked, if at all, across three spreadsheets and someone’s memory. Here is the whole schedule in one place.
Fire safety
| Item | Interval | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Fire alarm test (call point rotation) | Weekly | Fire Safety Order; BS 5839 |
| Fire alarm service by competent engineer | Six-monthly | BS 5839 |
| Emergency lighting function test | Monthly | BS 5266 |
| Emergency lighting full duration test | Annually | BS 5266 |
| Extinguisher service | Annually; extended at 5/10 years | BS 5306-3 |
| Fire door inspection | Routinely; recorded | Fire Safety Order |
| Fire Risk Assessment review | At least annually | Fire Safety Order |
Electrical
| Item | Interval | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| EICR (fixed installation) | Typically 5 years (3 industrial) | Electricity at Work Regs; BS 7671 |
| Portable appliance testing | Risk-based, often annually | Electricity at Work Regs |
| Lightning protection test | Annually | BS EN 62305 |
Water hygiene
| Item | Interval | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Sentinel outlet temperatures | Monthly | ACoP L8; HSG274 |
| Flush little-used outlets | Weekly | HSG274 |
| Shower head clean | Quarterly | HSG274 |
| Cold water tank inspection | Annually | HSG274 |
| Legionella risk assessment review | Regularly; commonly 2 years | ACoP L8 |
Bundle it into one contract
Match with vetted contractors who deliver the full compliance servicing schedule. No-obligation quotes.
Mechanical and air conditioning
| Item | Interval | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Air conditioning service | Twice yearly or more | Manufacturer; good practice |
| F-Gas leak check | By charge: annual, 6-monthly or quarterly | F-Gas Regulation |
| TM44 inspection (over 12kW) | 5 years | EPB Regs 2012 |
| Gas appliance service and safety check | Annually | Gas Safety Regulations |
| Boiler and pressure systems | Written scheme intervals | Pressure Systems Safety Regs |
Lifts and lifting equipment
| Item | Interval | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger lift thorough examination | Six-monthly | LOLER 1998 |
| Goods lift and lifting equipment thorough examination | Annually | LOLER 1998 |
| Lift maintenance | Per contract, typically monthly | Good practice |
Other recurring items
- Asbestos register and plan review: annually; re-inspection of materials as the plan sets.
- Commercial EPC: valid 10 years; minimum E to let.
- Local exhaust ventilation thorough examination: 14 months.
- Roof, gutter and drainage inspection: at least annually.
Pulling all of this into one maintenance contract with one logbook is how facilities managers stop relying on memory. ComSurv matches you with contractors who deliver the full schedule.
Sources & further reading
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 — fire safety maintenance duties
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 — electrical maintenance
- HSE ACoP L8 — legionella control
- Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 — TM44 air conditioning inspections
- Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 — lift thorough examinations
External links open in a new tab. ComSurv is a matching service, not a firm of surveyors, and is not affiliated with these organisations. This article is general information, not legal, surveying or valuation advice; take advice on your specific situation.
Frequently asked questions
What statutory servicing does a commercial building need?+
Typically weekly fire alarm tests, monthly emergency lighting tests and legionella temperatures, annual extinguisher and gas servicing, six-monthly lift examinations, EICR every five years, TM44 every five years for air conditioning over 12kW, and reviews of the fire and legionella risk assessments.
How often must a fire alarm be tested?+
Weekly, rotating call points, with a service by a competent engineer every six months under BS 5839.
How often must passenger lifts be examined?+
Every six months by a competent person under LOLER 1998, with routine maintenance in between.
Can all statutory servicing be in one contract?+
Yes. Bundling fire, electrical, water, mechanical and lifting servicing into one maintenance contract with one log is the simplest way to keep the schedule complete.
