SMOKE & HEAT ALARMS

Smoke and heat alarm requirements come up often during rewires, consumer unit changes, and EICRs, so here’s a plain-English summary of what’s generally expected in a domestic property under current guidance (BS 5839-6) — and how we can help if your alarms need bringing up to standard.

WHAT’S TYPICALLY REQUIRED

• At least one smoke alarm in the principal habitable room (usually the living room), and in circulation spaces such as hallways and landings, on every storey.
• A heat alarm in the kitchen — a smoke alarm is prone to false alarms from cooking, so a heat alarm is used there instead.
• Alarms should be mains-powered with a tamper-proof battery back-up, rather than battery-only, in most modern installations.
• Alarms on the same storey are usually interlinked, so that one alarm sounding triggers all of them — giving you a warning wherever you are in the property.

IF YOU RENT YOUR PROPERTY OUT

Landlords in England have a legal duty to ensure at least one smoke alarm is fitted on every storey with a room used as living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance (such as a gas boiler or wood burner). Alarms must be tested and confirmed working at the start of each new tenancy.

WHEN THESE ARE TYPICALLY FITTED

Alarm circuits are usually installed as part of a rewire or consumer unit upgrade, wired back to a dedicated, clearly labelled way on the consumer unit. We’re also happy to quote for upgrading existing battery-only alarms to mains-wired, interlinked ones as a standalone job.

Any questions about this or your job? Call us on 01444 682683 or email info@mlpelectrics.co.uk — we’re happy to talk it through.