Smoke alarms

[GaryMo]

Interesting. So when you say 'must', you mean that if, in my old house, I buy two battery smoke alarms and screw them to the ceiling, I am breaking some law?

No, you're not.

Another useful document - Approved Document B (Fire Safety)

 

[holmslaw]

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[GaryMo]

IE, This document does not apply to domestic fire alarms.

Did you miss 'VOLUME 1 - DWELLINGHOUSES' on the first page?

 

[chillout]

Maybe just new builds I think but I can see benefits of interlinkin tho

 

[holmslaw]

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[chillout]

I didnt read that bit! Think Ill stick with teh hardwired option then! Glad I checked iwth you guys! Thanks for posting the info.

 

[GaryMo]

chillout, you might not like the words I've posted, but they aint mine.

They are all from BS5839-6-2004, so you can comply with it or ignore it, but remember 80% of deaths and injuries from fires are domestic incidents.

BS5839-6-2004 clearly states "applies to new and EXISTING dwellings" - end of.

Not in an existing standard 2 storey home!

 

[holmslaw]

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[GaryMo]

Not in an existing standard 2 storey home!

NOTE 1 It is preferable that, in all dwellings (including dwellings other than those described above), all smoke alarms and
heat alarms (if provided) are also interlinked; this advice should be incorporated in instructions to householders (see Clause 24).

IE it includes 2 storey houses, as I said before I'm just quoting the BS.

Not my words, but as soon as any british standard states "preferable" you have to question the intelligence of the w****** that wrote the standard.

So it's preferable but not mandatory?

 

[RF Lighting]

The only time I am aware of the BCO insisting on interlinked mains smoke alarms in normal domestic premisis is in all new build properties, and where an existing 2 storey property is converted to a three or more storey property.

You can not force someone to install interlinked alarms, but I would recommened it and explain the benifits every single time.

Most people understand the benefit and are happy to have them installed, but if someone doesn't want them, you can't force them to have them.

 

[holmslaw]

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[GaryMo]

Hey, I agree but was just stating that it's preferable and not mandatory so you'll still be getting battery smoke detectors FOC from the Fire Brigade for some time yet!

 

[flameport]

Battery only alarms are better than nothing.
However they have serious flaws, primarily that the batteries run down (alleged 10 year life or not) and the batteries get taken out for various reasons.

Mains operated with rechargeable sealed batteries are the only sensible choice. None of that wireless junk either - hardwired only.

 

[holmslaw]

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[GaryMo]

Hey, I agree but was just stating that it's preferable and not mandatory so you'll still be getting battery smoke detectors FOC from the Fire Brigade for some time yet!

Probably better than nothing if installed by an amateur, but watch out if you are a qualified spark who should know better.

I can assure you that I wouldn't be installing battery smoke detectors in place of a more permanent and reliable solution!