Myth 25: Is a digital logbook allowed to be used?

YES – in BS 5839-1:2025, clause 48.2  states:  “The logbook should be made accessible to all interested parties”, with an accompanying note stating “The logbook may be kept in either paper or digital form”

Clause 48 of BS 5839-1:2025 provides a useful commentary on the intended purpose of a fire logbook and lists 8 specific recommendations on the information that should be recorded therein. A model format for a paper-based logbook is also provided in Annex  H but it is NOT a  specific recommendation to provide a paper copy. This is clarified in the NOTE at the end of clause 48.2 (as quoted above). However, there are other clauses in the standard which recommend additional information is recorded in or kept with the logbook.   

Accessibility and who the interested parties are is open to interpretation.

In simple terms, access to the logbook needs to be suitably controlled and clearly defined to ensure that persons with legitimate interest are able to read and where necessary update the records in a timely fashion to meet the intended purpose as expressed in clause 48. Such persons may include; fire alarm service/maintenance  technician, Fire & Rescue Service, fire risk assessor, Responsible Person, premises management.

---

Specifically:

• Radio signal strengths (BS 5839-1:2025 26.12 )
  * Previous versions of BS 5839-1 recommended the inclusion of these within the logbook. The recommendation within the 2025 version recommends “system records which could still include the logbook.
• The rate of false alarms (BS 5839-1:2025 31.1))
• A list of which initiating devices have been tested during the service visit (BS 5839-1:2025 43.2.8)
• All variations (BS 5839-1:2025  6.5 & 48.1h))