The guideline covers planning, design, installation, commissioning, use and maintenance of the systems.

The guidelines cover systems intended for the protection of life and/or the protection of property.

The guidelines cover systems with a control and indicating equipment and at least one manual call point or one fire detector. In the event of a fire the systems may be capable of providing signals to initiate the operation of ancillary equipment (such as fixed fire extinguishing systems) and other precautions and actions (such as machinery shutdown or remote transmission of alarms).

These guidelines do not cover the ancillary services themselves or ancillary circuits to interface with them. The guidelines do not cover systems combining fire alarm functions with other non-fire related functions.

The guidelines do not recommend whether or not an automatic fire detection and/or fire alarm system should be installed in any given premises. These guidelines should be used by appropriately competent persons. However, guidance is also given to other persons purchasing or using a fire detection and / or fire alarm system. Smoke alarms according to EN 14604 are not fire detection and fire alarm systems.