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 – see our landlord electrical safety duties page for the fuller picture, including EICR requirements.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many smoke alarms do I need in my home?

Current guidance (BS 5839-6) calls for 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, plus a heat alarm in the kitchen rather than a smoke alarm, which is prone to false alarms from cooking.

Should alarms be interlinked?

Yes – 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.

Battery or mains-powered?

Mains-powered alarms with a tamper-proof battery back-up are recommended over battery-only alarms in most modern installations, and are usually installed as part of a rewire or consumer unit upgrade, wired to a dedicated, clearly labelled way on the consumer unit.

What are my duties as a landlord?

Landlords in England must 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.