Emergency Voice Communication (Refuge & Fire Telephone) System Maintenance Checklist
Make sure people waiting in refuges can talk to the fire warden — outstation and master station tests, battery checks, line monitoring and the service to BS 5839-9.
Also available as editable Excel and Word — with asset, sign-off and findings columns.
What is an evc refuge system maintenance checklist?
A emergency voice communication (refuge & fire telephone) system maintenance checklist is a structured list of the 8 preventive maintenance tasks — covering visual, functional and record-keeping checks — that keep an emergency voice communication (refuge & fire telephone) system running safely and reliably. It groups routine checks by frequency, from daily inspections to annual servicing, so FM teams and building engineers can plan and evidence preventive maintenance.
Core evc refuge system checks
- Confirm the master station shows normal status with no line or power faults
- Call from each refuge outstation in rotation and confirm clear two-way speech
- Record tests and faults in the log book
What is an emergency voice communication (refuge & fire telephone) system?
An emergency voice communication (EVC) system provides two-way speech between disabled refuges, evacuation lift lobbies or firefighting positions and a master station at the fire control point. People who cannot use the stairs wait in a refuge and use the outstation to tell the fire warden where they are. Firefighters' telephones use the same kind of system. EVC systems are designed and maintained to BS 5839-9, with routine tests of the outstations and servicing by a competent engineer at least annually.
This checklist is one of 19 in our fire safety maintenance checklists, covering fire dampers, alarms, emergency lighting, sprinklers, risers and fire doors — the statutory checks and their records.
Typical EVC Refuge System maintenance checklist
A practical starting point for planned preventive maintenance. Always refer to the manufacturer's O&M manual and site-specific requirements.
Visual Checks
- Confirm the master station shows normal status with no line or power faults
- Check outstation signage and instructions are present and legible
- Confirm refuges are clear and not used for storage
Functional Checks
- Call from each refuge outstation in rotation and confirm clear two-way speech
- Confirm the call is identified at the master station with the correct location
- Test the standby batteries and charger
- Check line monitoring reports a fault when a circuit is disconnected
Record Keeping
- Record tests and faults in the log book
Download the free EVC Refuge System maintenance checklist PDF
Get all 8 tasks as a printable PDF — free, no signup needed. Keep a copy in the plant room, attach it to work orders, or share it with your maintenance contractor.
The PDF is free and needs nothing. The Excel and Word versions add asset details, sign-off and findings columns so you can record the work as you do it — we ask for an email address for those.
Typical maintenance frequency
Suggested intervals for emergency voice communication (refuge & fire telephone) system maintenance. Actual frequencies should follow manufacturer guidance and site-specific risk assessments.
Monthly
- •Test a selection of outstations in rotation
- •Check master station status
- •Log the test
Annually
- •Full service to BS 5839-9
- •Test every outstation
- •Battery test
- •Issue service certificate
Common faults and issues
Issues to be aware of when maintaining emergency voice communication (refuge & fire telephone) system equipment.
Safety and compliance notes
Key safety considerations for emergency voice communication (refuge & fire telephone) system maintenance. This is general guidance only — always follow OEM instructions, statutory requirements, and your organisation's safe systems of work.
Reference standards and frameworks
- United Kingdom
- The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the relevant BS 5306 / BS 9999 parts
- North America
- The applicable NFPA standards (e.g. NFPA 10, 25, 72, 80)
Frameworks commonly referenced when planning evc refuge system maintenance programmes. Always confirm the requirements that apply to your site and jurisdiction.
Managing EVC Refuge System documentation with PM Assist
PM Assist helps FM and building operations teams search their O&M manuals and building drawings in seconds. Upload your emergency voice communication (refuge & fire telephone) system documentation and ask questions like “Where are the refuge points in this building?” or “When was the EVC system last serviced?” — and get source-cited answers instantly.
The checklist tells you what to check. The manual tells you the numbers.
Ask a evc refuge system manual a question and get the answer back with the page it came from. No signup, and you can drop in your own PDF instead of the sample.
“Where are the refuge points in this building?”Runs against a sample chiller manual so you can see the shape of the answer — then try it on one of yours.
Take this checklist with you
Download the branded PDF, generate a custom version for your asset, or run AI search across all your building documentation.
Related free tools
Related maintenance checklists
Further reading on evc refuge system maintenance
Compliance topics for evc refuge system maintenance
Compliance & CAFM
Run emergency voice communication system maintenance in PM Assist
This checklist is also a planned maintenance programme in PM Assist, included in every paid plan alongside the compliance register and mobile inspections.
- Add an emergency voice communication system to a building's asset register and this maintenance programme is created for you, with each task on its frequency in the planner.
- Emergency Voice Communication (Refuge & Fire Telephones) is tracked on the compliance register, with the date last done, the date next due and the certificate.
- Contractors can be given a login to see their jobs and upload certificates.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a refuge EVC system be tested?
Is an EVC system required in refuges?
Who answers a refuge call?
Manage your building documentation with AI
PM Assist gives FM teams instant access to O&M manuals, drawings, and maintenance knowledge — all searchable with AI.
- Upload and organise building documentation
- AI-powered search across all your manuals
- Source-cited answers for maintenance queries
- Team collaboration and access control
- No credit card required to start