Home / SANS 10139 fire alarm basics
SANS 10139 fire alarm basics in plain English
SANS 10139 is the South African national standard for fire detection and alarm systems in buildings. This page is a short, high-level orientation for facility owners and security managers.
It is not a summary of what the standard requires and it is not compliance advice. For that, read the current edition of the standard and speak to a competent person.
What SANS 10139 is about
SANS 10139 deals with fire detection and alarm systems in buildings: how they are designed, installed, commissioned and maintained. South African National Standards are published by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS).
It is one part of a bigger picture
Other rules can apply to your building as well, such as the National Building Regulations, municipal by-laws and your insurer's requirements. What applies depends on the type of building and where it is.
Who does what
- Owners and managers rely on competent, certified fire alarm contractors to design, install, commission and maintain the system.
- Your contractor, a fire engineer, your local authority and your insurer are the right people to tell you what applies to your building.
- Your team follows the site's emergency procedure when the alarm sounds.
Where FireWatch Pro fits
FireWatch Pro listens to your existing fire alarm panels and shows FIRE and FAULT across your sites in one place. It does not certify your system, it does not hold or claim certification to SANS 10139 or any other standard, and it does not replace servicing or inspections.
Whether your system meets the standard is a question for your contractor or another competent person.
FireWatch Pro is monitoring, not a replacement. It does not replace certified installation, servicing or inspections, a monitoring centre, or the emergency services, and it does not control your fire alarm.
Official sources
We link to these for orientation. Always check the current edition of any standard and the rules that apply to your building.
- South African Bureau of Standards (SABS)Publisher of South African National Standards, including SANS 10139.
- National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS)Administers the National Building Regulations.
- Fire Protection Association of South Africa (FPASA)Industry body for fire protection in South Africa.
Keep reading
- Fire alarm monitoring in South AfricaFire alarm monitoring software for South African facility owners and security managers. One view of FIRE and FAULT across your sites, alongside certified systems.
- Remote monitoring vs servicingRemote monitoring shows you what your fire alarm panel is reporting. It does not replace certified installation, servicing or inspections. Here is the difference.
- FIRE vs FAULT alarmsA plain-English guide to FIRE and FAULT on a fire alarm panel: what each one means, who should act, and why a FAULT should never be left to sit.
- Multi-site fire alarm monitoringWatch the fire alarm panels in all your buildings from one screen. See FIRE and FAULT as they happen, most urgent first, without ringing around site by site.
Get clearer visibility across your sites
Sign in to get started, or ask your administrator to invite you to your organisation.
FireWatch Pro helps you keep watch. It does not replace your certified fire alarm systems, monitoring centres or emergency services, and it does not control your fire alarm. It is designed to work alongside them. FireWatch Pro does not certify any building or system.