Fire and security systems in Oxford

Fortline installs, services and repairs fire alarms, intruder alarms, CCTV, access control and door entry, and tests emergency lighting, for businesses, landlords, managed blocks and homes in Oxford and across Oxfordshire. We're based near Newbury, and Oxford is within our service area of everywhere within about 30 miles of Newbury.

Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm, with a 24/7 emergency line on 01635 938998.

Oxford's buildings and what they need

Oxford has an unusual mix of property. Older and listed buildings sit next to modern offices, labs and science parks; there are many shared houses and flats let to students and young professionals; and there are retail units, hotels and apartment blocks. For fire and security work that means:

• Older and listed buildings: careful cable routes and, where cabling is hard, wireless fire detection that keeps disruption to the fabric low. Listed building consent may be needed for some work; check with the planning authority before work starts.
• HMOs and shared houses: Oxford City Council runs HMO licensing, and licence conditions usually cover fire detection and, in larger HMOs, emergency lighting. Your licence and the council's guidance set the standard for your property.
• Offices, labs and commercial units: fire alarms and emergency lighting kept to British Standards, with records your fire risk assessor and insurer will accept, plus access control and CCTV.
• Managed blocks: communal fire alarms, emergency lighting, smoke vents, fire doors and door entry on one schedule.

The rules in plain English

• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005: the Responsible Person for a business premises or the shared parts of a block has to keep fire safety measures in working order. See What does the Responsible Person have to do?
• BS 5839-1 (fire alarms in non-domestic buildings): servicing at least every six months, a weekly user test and a log book. See fire alarm servicing.
• BS 5839-6 (fire detection in homes, including many HMOs): sets the grade and category of smoke and heat detection for dwellings. Your HMO licence may name the grade required.
• BS 5266-1 (emergency lighting): a monthly functional check and an annual full-duration test. See emergency lighting.

Need a fire risk assessment? Fire risk assessments are arranged via our accredited partner, and we then keep your fire alarm, emergency lighting and extinguishers in line with it.

Security for Oxford properties

• Intruder alarms: installation, servicing and monitoring. Police response needs a system installed and maintained by a certificated company and registered with the police. Keyholding is available for monitored customers, at extra cost.
• CCTV: for entrances, bike stores, car parks and shops. Cameras covering public space or staff bring data protection duties; we'll explain the basics.
• Access control and door entry: fob and keypad access, video intercoms and door entry for blocks and shared houses.

Switching contractor

If you already have a contractor in Oxford but aren't sure your systems or paperwork are right, book a free system health check. We test the systems, check the records and give you honest written findings.

Areas we cover in Oxfordshire

• Oxford
• Abingdon
• Didcot
• Wantage
• Kidlington
• Botley
• Cumnor

Plus the villages along the A34 towards Newbury. See also Newbury and Reading.