Smoke alarms

[nairn hibee]

Anyone know anything about these alarms we have to have by February ,I was going to ignore it as we already have smoke and carbon monoxide ones ,but read that house insurance will be invalid if we don’t have smoke ,carbon monoxide and a heat detector all linked together ,I believe you can get battery ones rather than hard wired .anyone know which make to get and if it’s acceptable to the insurance company to fit them myself and if it’s a simple thing to do .seems a harsh time to have to do it when most people are feeling the pinch

[Sir David Gray]

Anyone know anything about these alarms we have to have by February ,I was going to ignore it as we already have smoke and carbon monoxide ones ,but read that house insurance will be invalid if we don’t have smoke ,carbon monoxide and a heat detector all linked together ,I believe you can get battery ones rather than hard wired .anyone know which make to get and if it’s acceptable to the insurance company to fit them myself and if it’s a simple thing to do .seems a harsh time to have to do it when most people are feeling the pinch

https://www.mygov.scot/home-fire-safety

[nairn hibee]

https://www.mygov.scot/home-fire-safety
That’s great thanks for the link ,not as expensive as I thought

[lapsedhibee]

Anyone know anything about these alarms we have to have by February ,I was going to ignore it as we already have smoke and carbon monoxide ones ,but read that house insurance will be invalid if we don’t have smoke ,carbon monoxide and a heat detector all linked together ,I believe you can get battery ones rather than hard wired .anyone know which make to get and if it’s acceptable to the insurance company to fit them myself and if it’s a simple thing to do .seems a harsh time to have to do it when most people are feeling the pinch

Found AICO wireless to be good, DIY not too complicated, and CO detector doesn't have to be interlinked with the rest.

[nairn hibee]

Found AICO wireless to be good, DIY not too complicated, and CO detector doesn't have to be interlinked with the rest.
Ok thanks ,will have a look

[He's here!]

Anyone know anything about these alarms we have to have by February ,I was going to ignore it as we already have smoke and carbon monoxide ones ,but read that house insurance will be invalid if we don’t have smoke ,carbon monoxide and a heat detector all linked together ,I believe you can get battery ones rather than hard wired .anyone know which make to get and if it’s acceptable to the insurance company to fit them myself and if it’s a simple thing to do .seems a harsh time to have to do it when most people are feeling the pinch

I made mention of this on another thread. Clearly the thinking behind it is to prevent another Grenfell tragedy and nobody's going to quibble with that worthy aim. However, the one size fits all approach seems wrong. These new smoke and heat alarms must be interlinked and must either have irremovable tamper proof batteries or be wired in by a professional electrician so you can't switch them off. I get the necessity for such uniformity in a block of flats where potentially hundreds of people are sharing the same escape route, but for those in, say, a bungalow, the new stipulations seem excessively invasive and an almighty pain in e*se for those familiar with trying to cook in a small, hot kitchen and having to break off to fan the smoke alarm with a towel.

Personally I won't be rushing to comply. The safety system we have at present has proved its worth on occasion and is more than adequate IMHO, plus I don't foresee local authorities making regular spot checks on every owner-occupied home. I guess where folk might find themselves compelled to 'upgrade' is if they apply for home alterations/extensions.

[Santa Cruz]

I made mention of this on another thread. Clearly the thinking behind it is to prevent another Grenfell tragedy and nobody's going to quibble with that worthy aim. However, the one size fits all approach seems wrong. These new smoke and heat alarms must be interlinked and must either have irremovable tamper proof batteries or be wired in by a professional electrician so you can't switch them off. I get the necessity for such uniformity in a block of flats where potentially hundreds of people are sharing the same escape route, but for those in, say, a bungalow, the new stipulations seem excessively invasive and an almighty pain in e*se for those familiar with trying to cook in a small, hot kitchen and having to break off to fan the smoke alarm with a towel.

Personally I won't be rushing to comply. The safety system we have at present has proved its worth on occasion and is more than adequate IMHO, plus I don't foresee local authorities making regular spot checks on every owner-occupied home. I guess where folk might find themselves compelled to 'upgrade' is if they apply for home alterations/extensions.

Does a failure to comply with the new regs invalidate your existing household and building insurance, have you checked with your provider?

[Mon Dieu4]

Does a failure to comply with the new regs invalidate your existing household and building insurance, have you checked with your provider?

Once it's implemented I'd imagine it will do, Insurance Companies aren't usually known for missing a trick and will be all over it

[nairn hibee]

Does a failure to comply with the new regs invalidate your existing household and building insurance, have you checked with your provider?
From what I can gather it would be a get out for the insurance company if you had a fire ,it said to consult your insurance company ,found the fire detector shop online which has Scottish compliant packs which you can fit yourself costs £265 inc vat .£299 if you have an upstairs

[nairn hibee]

I made mention of this on another thread. Clearly the thinking behind it is to prevent another Grenfell tragedy and nobody's going to quibble with that worthy aim. However, the one size fits all approach seems wrong. These new smoke and heat alarms must be interlinked and must either have irremovable tamper proof batteries or be wired in by a professional electrician so you can't switch them off. I get the necessity for such uniformity in a block of flats where potentially hundreds of people are sharing the same escape route, but for those in, say, a bungalow, the new stipulations seem excessively invasive and an almighty pain in e*se for those familiar with trying to cook in a small, hot kitchen and having to break off to fan the smoke alarm with a towel.

Personally I won't be rushing to comply. The safety system we have at present has proved its worth on occasion and is more than adequate IMHO, plus I don't foresee local authorities making regular spot checks on every owner-occupied home. I guess where folk might find themselves compelled to 'upgrade' is if they apply for home alterations/extensions.
We have smoke and carbon monoxide ,but a big risk to take compared to the cost of complying .I think it is very excessive though,I think a lot of people will ignore it though

[Santa Cruz]

From what I can gather it would be a get out for the insurance company if you had a fire ,it said to consult your insurance company ,found the fire detector shop online which has Scottish compliant packs which you can fit yourself costs £265 inc vat .£299 if you have an upstairs

Thanks to you and MD4 for the advice. I think the price quoted might be a bit steep for some working families who are home owners on basic wages and pensioners with just a state pension income. I'm not against the idea, it's sensible to make homes as safe as poss, I just think the SG could have contracted the purchase to one provider with an option to pay in instalments.

[Moulin Yarns]

I made mention of this on another thread. Clearly the thinking behind it is to prevent another Grenfell tragedy and nobody's going to quibble with that worthy aim. However, the one size fits all approach seems wrong. These new smoke and heat alarms must be interlinked and must either have irremovable tamper proof batteries or be wired in by a professional electrician so you can't switch them off. I get the necessity for such uniformity in a block of flats where potentially hundreds of people are sharing the same escape route, but for those in, say, a bungalow, the new stipulations seem excessively invasive and an almighty pain in e*se for those familiar with trying to cook in a small, hot kitchen and having to break off to fan the smoke alarm with a towel.

Personally I won't be rushing to comply. The safety system we have at present has proved its worth on occasion and is more than adequate IMHO, plus I don't foresee local authorities making regular spot checks on every owner-occupied home. I guess where folk might find themselves compelled to 'upgrade' is if they apply for home alterations/extensions.

Anybody competent at wiring a plug can fit new ones, and if you have existing un linked ones you only need to slide the old one off and slide the new one on. I know because I did it last year when the new regulations were due to come in, last February.

I understand your point about bungalows, but if it saves lives then there really can't be any complaints!! A 2 bedroom bungalow needs 1 heat alarm and 2 smoke alarms, my 2 bedroom, 2 storey house needed 1 heat alarm and 3 smoke alarms.

[Moulin Yarns]

From what I can gather it would be a get out for the insurance company if you had a fire ,it said to consult your insurance company ,found the fire detector shop online which has Scottish compliant packs which you can fit yourself costs £265 inc vat .£299 if you have an upstairs

Pretty sure that's where I got mine from 👍

[Moulin Yarns]

Thanks to you and MD4 for the advice. I think the price quoted might be a bit steep for some working families who are home owners on basic wages and pensioners with just a state pension income. I'm not against the idea, it's sensible to make homes as safe as poss, I just think the SG could have contracted the purchase to one provider with an option to pay in instalments.

The last bit is the very thing He's here! Complained about on the other thread until I pointed out that there was no government approved alarms.

[Santa Cruz]

The last bit is the very thing He's here! Complained about on the other thread until I pointed out that there was no government approved alarms.

I didn't mean Gov approved alarms, I meant supplied by one contractor to enable the public to have an option of paying in instalments. If these types of initiatives are made affordable for all there will be a higher uptake.

[Moulin Yarns]

I didn't mean Gov approved alarms, I meant supplied by one contractor to enable the public to have an option of paying in instalments. If these types of initiatives are made affordable for all there will be a higher uptake.

Rental property had to comply back in 2004 I think, when the fire safety regulations were last updated, this is to bring all domestic property to the same standards.

[Mikey]

https://www.mygov.scot/home-fire-safety

Average cost of £220 eh!

Will the nanny state be paying that?

[lord bunberry]

Average cost of £220 eh!

Will the nanny state be paying that?
I know, i hadn’t heard anything about that. I’ve got 3 smoke alarms in my house already, but I’m going to have to get rid of them and pay £220 for a government approved system. They won’t be happy until they’re running every aspect of our lives.

[Moulin Yarns]

I know, i hadn’t heard anything about that. I’ve got 3 smoke alarms in my house already, but I’m going to have to get rid of them and pay £220 for a government approved system. They won’t be happy until they’re running every aspect of our lives.

You are echoing this myth, started by He's here! that you must buy government approved alarms. There is no such thing!!!

As I explained above, I've done it and you don't even have to replace the full alarms, just the bits that communicate with each other.

1 Heat alarm in the kitchen, 1 Smoke alarm in the living room and 1 smoke alarm in the hall on each floor.

[lapsedhibee]

As I explained above, I've done it and you don't even have to replace the full alarms, just the bits that communicate with each other.



Not sure that all makes of detector will be flexible enough to do this.

[Moulin Yarns]

Not sure that all makes of detector will be flexible enough to do this.

No, that's why the legislation was brought in.

As I did this 18 months ago I can't remember the details of what I looked at, and this is not the in any way an endorsement but I got Aico Radiolink base units to replace the existing ones, not the full alarm needed to be replaced. I think Fire Angel is another make that is suitable, neither are 'government approved'.

I already had Aico alarms, the existing ones fit the Radiolink base very simply.

I think people are over thinking how difficult it is, and cheaper than suggestions because you don't have to replace full alarms, just the base which is fixed to the ceiling.

[lapsedhibee]

No, that's why the legislation was brought in.

As I did this 18 months ago I can't remember the details of what I looked at, and this is not the in any way an endorsement but I got Aico Radiolink base units to replace the existing ones, not the full alarm needed to be replaced. I think Fire Angel is another make that is suitable, neither are 'government approved'.

I already had Aico alarms, the existing ones fit the Radiolink base very simply.

I think people are over thinking how difficult it is, and cheaper than suggestions because you don't have to replace full alarms, just the base which is fixed to the ceiling.

I know what you are describing works with Aico kit, but am doubting whether every make/model allows this flexibility. Some people may have detectors installed to which RF links cannot be added, and they will have to replace rather than modify.

[gbhibby]

I have a smoke/heat alarm which is in my hallway which is 2 feet outside my living room and the same distance outside my kitchen. Hardwired and speaks to other alarm in top hall. Not all house layouts are the same. The Scottish Government had this deadline initially during the pandemic. The deadline is unrealistic should be extended. If everybody starts buying the supplies will run out and prices will increase. Don't think this has been thought through by SG, what provisions have they made for homeowners on low income.There will be people setting up websites to offer services and people will be ripped off. This should have been done liaising with the local councils and bulk buying compliant alarms to cut down costs.

[Moulin Yarns]

I have a smoke/heat alarm which is in my hallway which is 2 feet outside my living room and the same distance outside my kitchen. Hardwired and speaks to other alarm in top hall. Not all house layouts are the same. The Scottish Government had this deadline initially during the pandemic. The deadline is unrealistic should be extended. If everybody starts buying the supplies will run out and prices will increase. Don't think this has been thought through by SG, what provisions have they made for homeowners on low income.There will be people setting up websites to offer services and people will be ripped off. This should have been done liaising with the local councils and bulk buying compliant alarms to cut down costs.

The deadline was originally February 2020, pre pandemic. I must be the only person on hibs.net who fitted them for the original deadline. My only concern was how little publicity it had in 2019 and early 2020. Now it's getting publicity people are complaining about it.

[gbhibby]

The deadline was originally February 2020, pre pandemic. I must be the only person on hibs.net who fitted them for the original deadline. My only concern was how little publicity it had in 2019 and early 2020. Now it's getting publicity people are complaining about it.
Not complaining but think it could have been handled in a better way. I agree that the original publicity was poor. There are wider issues here as well. If you do not fit the alarms what are the insurance consequences this needs to be
made clear. When it comes to selling your house what are the implications if your house does not comply.
Building regulations constantly change but you do not have change your house to comply. I will fit them but think the whole issue could have been handled more professionally by the SG.

[lord bunberry]

The deadline was originally February 2020, pre pandemic. I must be the only person on hibs.net who fitted them for the original deadline. My only concern was how little publicity it had in 2019 and early 2020. Now it's getting publicity people are complaining about it.

The first I knew about it was reading this thread. If the government want everyone to have a certain type of alarm in their house they should pay for it.

[Santa Cruz]

The first I knew about it was reading this thread. If the government want everyone to have a certain type of alarm in their house they should pay for it.

Aye same here, heard nothing about it. My smoke alarm in my last home was fitted for free by the Fire Service.

[Skol]

Aye same here, heard nothing about it. My smoke alarm in my last home was fitted for free by the Fire Service.

I am the same and hadnt heard of this at all until I read this thread. I had a new boiler installed in March and the engineer put in a new Carbon Monoxide detector at the time but didnt mention anything. I have two independent and non compliant smoke detectors as well.

[Moulin Yarns]

https://www.aico.co.uk/scottish-legislation/

https://www.gov.scot/publications/fire-and-smoke-alarms-in-scottish-homes/

https://www.mygov.scot/home-fire-safety



Happy to help.

[ronaldo7]

These adverts have been all over the tv and radio since August 19th. Not sure if they've had newspaper ads as I don't do papers. The SG are providing £500,000 to help eligible older and disabled homeowners with installation, in partnership with care and repair Scotland. They've already provided £1 million to the fire and rescue service to install alarms in owner-occupied homes identified as highest risk.

[Mr Grieves]

The deadline was originally February 2020, pre pandemic. I must be the only person on hibs.net who fitted them for the original deadline. My only concern was how little publicity it had in 2019 and early 2020. Now it's getting publicity people are complaining about it.

I had my house rewired back in 2018 and had them fitted then based on the recommendation of the electrician. Guess I was lucky they mentioned it.

[Just Alf]

I am the same and hadnt heard of this at all until I read this thread. I had a new boiler installed in March and the engineer put in a new Carbon Monoxide detector at the time but didnt mention anything. I have two independent and non compliant smoke detectors as well.I've had a few flyers through the door from companies wanting to install them, maybe I shouldn't be chucking them out, and actually read the things!

[beensaidbefore]

The first I knew about it was reading this thread. If the government want everyone to have a certain type of alarm in their house they should pay for it.


correct

[Skol]

correct

I am not so sure they should pay for it, but they should have made a better job of making people aware of what was required and the options to go about it.

[StevieC]

I'm going to go against the grain here, and actually back this new legislation.

I remember the shock waves that ripped through the fire alarm industry with the Rosepark Care Home fire in 2004, which killed 14 people. I used to install fire alarms and would sometimes lose out on jobs because other companies priced for the cheaper heat detectors in bedrooms (which I refused to do). After Rosepark every fire alarm system that had heat detectors in bedrooms had to get them replaced with smoke detectors. Cost a lot of businesses a lot of money to do that, and no doubt many of them complained about these costs (especially the ones with recently fitted systems where they'd specified heat) but IMO it was the right thing to do.

Appreciate that being told to fork out a couple of hundred pounds on new smoke detectors (when you already have a couple fitted) is going to stick in the throat (and I'm in this group as well), but it's being implemented to save lives.

The area of complaint I would agree with, is that originally it was VERY poorly advertised and the original date of compliance was unrealistic. I think that most people will now be aware, although far from all, and most should be compliant by the new date.

I think I'm in the same situation as Moulin, in that I can utilise my current interconnected mains powered detectors (Aico detectors) and just replace one base with a Radio Frequency base .. and then add additional radio linked detectors as required.

[beensaidbefore]

I am not so sure they should pay for it, but they should have made a better job of making people aware of what was required and the options to go about it.


Possibly, but usually there is a 4 year roll out or something. This seems to be thrust upon us. I understand the sentiment but I already have 3 smoke detectors in a fairly small house so feel for me it is unnecessary and a waste of money. they have budgeted to assist with high risk properties, and Imo that should be enough. I own my own home so think I should be able to decide what goes in it. I extend that to stupid regulations like new sockets having to be 'accessible' if even when my property isn't!

[gbhibby]

These adverts have been all over the tv and radio since August 19th. Not sure if they've had newspaper ads as I don't do papers. The SG are providing £500,000 to help eligible older and disabled homeowners with installation, in partnership with care and repair Scotland. They've already provided £1 million to the fire and rescue service to install alarms in owner-occupied homes identified as highest risk.
£500,000 will cover only 2500 homes based on cost of £200 per home. I am not against this legislation but how many people will actually take the necessary action to install the alarms.

[lapsedhibee]

£500,000 will cover only 2500 homes based on cost of £200 per home. I am not against this legislation but how many people will actually take the necessary action to install the alarms.

Quite a lot, since most people most of the time try to do what they believe to be the right thing.

[gbhibby]

If the cost per house is £200 and there are 3 million households it would cost £600m. This could have been a five year project done in conjunction with local authorities creating jobs along the way and be monitored by local authorities. £125m per year cost and there could have been a charge to householders that can pay. So there would be likely little cost to SG.

[ronaldo7]

£500,000 will cover only 2500 homes based on cost of £200 per home. I am not against this legislation but how many people will actually take the necessary action to install the alarms.

We've got to start somewhere, and as they've already given money to the fire and rescue service for the highest risk properties, it's better than doing nothing. Im sure we'll get more bang for our buck with the cash we're putting in, and scaling up as things progress is better than waiting on another Grenfell, with some of those families still waiting to be housed 3 years after the event.

[gbhibby]

Quite a lot, since most people most of the time try to do what they believe to be the right thing.
You have greater faith in people than I do.

[Mr Grieves]

If the cost per house is £200 and there are 3 million households it would cost £600m. This could have been a five year project done in conjunction with local authorities creating jobs along the way and be monitored by local authorities. £125m per year cost and there could have been a charge to householders that can pay. So there would be likely little cost to SG.

Many of the 3 million households will have interlinked alarms already because they're either a rental property or new build.

[lapsedhibee]

You have greater faith in people than I do.

Can well believe that a majority with a house layout like your own, where the three required interlinked detectors might be not much more than a metre away from each other, won't do it (and I wouldn't either, because in that situation if you can hear one you can hear them all, so no benefit in interlinking). And that's a lot of people. But there's also a lot of people living on two floors etc where interlinking would provide a genuine, easy to understand, safety benefit. I think most will comply, though some reluctantly.

[Moulin Yarns]

I'm going to go against the grain here, and actually back this new legislation.

I remember the shock waves that ripped through the fire alarm industry with the Rosepark Care Home fire in 2004, which killed 14 people. I used to install fire alarms and would sometimes lose out on jobs because other companies priced for the cheaper heat detectors in bedrooms (which I refused to do). After Rosepark every fire alarm system that had heat detectors in bedrooms had to get them replaced with smoke detectors. Cost a lot of businesses a lot of money to do that, and no doubt many of them complained about these costs (especially the ones with recently fitted systems where they'd specified heat) but IMO it was the right thing to do.

Appreciate that being told to fork out a couple of hundred pounds on new smoke detectors (when you already have a couple fitted) is going to stick in the throat (and I'm in this group as well), but it's being implemented to save lives.

The area of complaint I would agree with, is that originally it was VERY poorly advertised and the original date of compliance was unrealistic. I think that most people will now be aware, although far from all, and most should be compliant by the new date.

I think I'm in the same situation as Moulin, in that I can utilise my current interconnected mains powered detectors (Aico detectors) and just replace one base with a Radio Frequency base .. and then add additional radio linked detectors as required.

Stevie, you probably don't remember but I picked your brains about at the beginning of 2020 as the deadline was approaching.

[Moulin Yarns]

Many of the 3 million households will have interlinked alarms already because they're either a rental property or new build.

Absolutely. Every Airbnb should already comply, every private rental property should already comply. The group most affected by this are owner occupied, and I doubt many families will be willing to risk death and destruction.

[StevieC]

Stevie, you probably don't remember but I picked your brains about at the beginning of 2020 as the deadline was approaching.

I can’t even remember what I had for my tea last night!
Did I provide you with useful information??
To be fair, I’d only just seen the recommendations back then, so was probably still researching it myself.

[lord bunberry]

What happens if I don’t get this new alarm system? I’ve got a smoke alarm in my hall outside the kitchen, it’s got a heat sensor on it, I’ve also got two smoke alarms in the bedrooms. I can hear when my neighbours smoke alarm goes off never mind my own, if I put my smoke alarm with the heat sensor in the kitchen it would go off every time I cook due to having a small kitchen.

[Moulin Yarns]

What happens if I don’t get this new alarm system? I’ve got a smoke alarm in my hall outside the kitchen, it’s got a heat sensor on it, I’ve also got two smoke alarms in the bedrooms. I can hear when my neighbours smoke alarm goes off never mind my own, if I put my smoke alarm with the heat sensor in the kitchen it would go off every time I cook due to having a small kitchen.

Your choice. Maybe invalidate your insurance.

There is no requirement for smoke alarms in bedrooms, the hall and landing will give earlier warning, you could be overcome by smoke while sleeping before alarms in the bedroom trigger.


Fire brigade do free home visit

[lord bunberry]

Your choice. Maybe invalidate your insurance.

There is no requirement for smoke alarms in bedrooms, the hall and landing will give earlier warning, you could be overcome by smoke while sleeping before alarms in the bedroom trigger.


Fire brigade do free home visit
Yeah I do know that, the ones in the room are more for peace of mind. As I said there’s no chance I wouldn’t hear my main smoke alarm anywhere in my house, I live in a terraced house on two levels. My worry is that if there was a fire when I wasn’t in the house and my insurance doesn’t pay out. I can’t tell you how ridiculous it would be to have a smoke alarm in my kitchen.

[Moulin Yarns]

Yeah I do know that, the ones in the room are more for peace of mind. As I said there’s no chance I wouldn’t hear my main smoke alarm anywhere in my house, I live in a terraced house on two levels. My worry is that if there was a fire when I wasn’t in the house and my insurance doesn’t pay out. I can’t tell you how ridiculous it would be to have a smoke alarm in my kitchen.

You do not need a smoke alarm in the kitchen, what is required is a heat alarm.



FWIW, my heat alarm went off on Sunday as I was cooking Sunday dinner, not smoke. It then set off the alarms in the hall, and my wife came running 😁

If you have any issues, contact the local fire station and they will come out and give advice. It's free and they are only happy to help stop fires.


I'll add, smoke alarms in the bedroom are useless, no matter what you think about peace of mind, not much use when everyone is unconscious through smoke inhillation.

[Moulin Yarns]

I can’t even remember what I had for my tea last night!
Did I provide you with useful information??
To be fair, I’d only just seen the recommendations back then, so was probably still researching it myself.

It's a while ago, but I knew you were in the alarm business.

I think you pointed me in the right direction though.

My former colleague Wendy, would disagree that you could do that 😉

[Santa Cruz]

You do not need a smoke alarm in the kitchen, what is required is a heat alarm.



FWIW, my heat alarm went off on Sunday as I was cooking Sunday dinner, not smoke. It then set off the alarms in the hall, and my wife came running 😁

If you have any issues, contact the local fire station and they will come out and give advice. It's free and they are only happy to help stop fires.


I'll add, smoke alarms in the bedroom are useless, no matter what you think about peace of mind, not much use when everyone is unconscious through smoke inhillation.

Why do we need a heat alarm? Most kitchens are hot, will the Fire Service not be swamped with these kind of calls?

Having thought about this, I can see a benefit to having these interlinked systems in public buildings, it seems excessive in the average family home that already has smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors imo.

[StevieC]

I'll add, smoke alarms in the bedroom are useless, no matter what you think about peace of mind, not much use when everyone is unconscious through smoke inhillation.

I’d disagree, although it is less likely.
A smouldering fire starting in the bedroom, and the bedroom door is normally closed, could be picked up quicker with smoke detectors in bedrooms.

Cheap eBay phone charging cables have been known to overheat and burn .. and kids sometimes stick phones, tablets under their pillow while they’re charging, that’s a potential fire hazard.

[Itsnoteasy]

I am the same and hadnt heard of this at all until I read this thread. I had a new boiler installed in March and the engineer put in a new Carbon Monoxide detector at the time but didnt mention anything. I have two independent and non compliant smoke detectors as well.

Don't see why the engineer would mention it he is a gas engineer.

[He's here!]

Yeah I do know that, the ones in the room are more for peace of mind. As I said there’s no chance I wouldn’t hear my main smoke alarm anywhere in my house, I live in a terraced house on two levels. My worry is that if there was a fire when I wasn’t in the house and my insurance doesn’t pay out. I can’t tell you how ridiculous it would be to have a smoke alarm in my kitchen.

Same here. I think we'd give up cooking!

[He's here!]

Anybody competent at wiring a plug can fit new ones, and if you have existing un linked ones you only need to slide the old one off and slide the new one on. I know because I did it last year when the new regulations were due to come in, last February.

I understand your point about bungalows, but if it saves lives then there really can't be any complaints!! A 2 bedroom bungalow needs 1 heat alarm and 2 smoke alarms, my 2 bedroom, 2 storey house needed 1 heat alarm and 3 smoke alarms.

Straightforward as that sounds to some, I think you underestimate how complicated or impractical that sort of DIY approach would be for many. A lot of smoke alarms are in difficult to reach places, often impossible without a ladder, which makes changing them at best a risky business and at worst downright dangerous - especially for the elderly.

[mvteng]

Purely for information.

My mum just had an electrician out to do compliant smoke alarms/heat detector /carbon monoxide monitor in her house.

3 bedrooms - upstairs and downstairs

Cost was £395 including VAT. She got 3 quotes - most expensive was £740

[patch1875]

Our house is 13yo l. We have 2 wired smoke alarms no idea if they are linked or not will have to look into it more.

Possibility we are putting the house on the market later this year so im guessing they will have to be correct for the home report.

[He's here!]

Our house is 13yo l. We have 2 wired smoke alarms no idea if they are linked or not will have to look into it more.

Possibility we are putting the house on the market later this year so im guessing they will have to be correct for the home report.

New regulations don't kick in until February 2022 so if you sell your house before then it may be for the new owners to sort out.

[Berwickhibby]

As MY states the need for the new alarms are required or your household insurance can/will be invalidated in the result of a claim as confirmed by my insurance provider on renewal. So today I will be throwing out three perfectly good serviceable smoke alarms as they don't link to each other and install new smoke alarms at after a time when I have I have not been able to earn. Well done Nippy 👏👏👏

[Moulin Yarns]

As MY states the need for the new alarms are required or your household insurance can/will be invalidated in the result of a claim as confirmed by my insurance provider on renewal. So today I will be throwing out three perfectly good serviceable smoke alarms as they don't link to each other and install new smoke alarms at after a time when I have I have not been able to earn. Well done Nippy 👏👏👏



The aico alarms come in 2 parts, the base units that are fixed to the ceiling and wired, and the bit that you can see with the sensors. If you check the manufacturer of your existing alarms you may only need to replace the base unit with one that is radio linked.

Aico alarm base EI168RC is the ones I used, cuts the costs of fitting whole new alarms.

Other fire alarms may be different but Aico are one of the main manufacturers.

Hope that helps people.

[Alex Trager]

I made mention of this on another thread. Clearly the thinking behind it is to prevent another Grenfell tragedy and nobody's going to quibble with that worthy aim. However, the one size fits all approach seems wrong. These new smoke and heat alarms must be interlinked and must either have irremovable tamper proof batteries or be wired in by a professional electrician so you can't switch them off. I get the necessity for such uniformity in a block of flats where potentially hundreds of people are sharing the same escape route, but for those in, say, a bungalow, the new stipulations seem excessively invasive and an almighty pain in e*se for those familiar with trying to cook in a small, hot kitchen and having to break off to fan the smoke alarm with a towel.

Personally I won't be rushing to comply. The safety system we have at present has proved its worth on occasion and is more than adequate IMHO, plus I don't foresee local authorities making regular spot checks on every owner-occupied home. I guess where folk might find themselves compelled to 'upgrade' is if they apply for home alterations/extensions.

I’ve not long moved into a bungalow.

We rewired the house and fit the new alarms.

They cost £120:

2 x Smoke Alarms.
1 x Carbon.
1 x Heat detector.

Smoke detector in the hall and living room.
Heat detector in the kitchen.
Carbon in the living room beside the boiler.

[marinello59]

My stairway is open plan from my living room meaning that my main living space and the hallway are effectively the same. I take it that means I only have to have one smoke detector downstairs and one upstairs. I’m hoping that’s the case anyway.

[Mon Dieu4]

My stairway is open plan from my living room meaning that my main living space and the hallway are effectively the same. I take it that means I only have to have one smoke detector downstairs and one upstairs. I’m hoping that’s the case anyway.

My folks house is the same, what I took from it is one at the top of the stairs should suffice, that's what I'm going to do in their house anyway

Heat in the kitchen
Smoke in the dining room
CM in the living room
Smoke at the top of the stairs

[Moulin Yarns]

My folks house is the same, what I took from it is one at the top of the stairs should suffice, that's what I'm going to do in their house anyway

Heat in the kitchen
Smoke in the dining room
CM in the living room
Smoke at the top of the stairs

The dining room room probably doesn't need one. Just the main living space.

[Mon Dieu4]

The dining room room probably doesn't need one. Just the main living space.

They already have an existing one in their dining room, was just going to replace the old one with a new interlinked one for safety sake

[Moulin Yarns]

They already have an existing one in their dining room, was just going to replace the old one with a new interlinked one for safety sake

👍 Good to hear there are some sensible people on hibs.net. We are few and far between 😉

[lapsedhibee]

The dining room room probably doesn't need one.
For posh people that like to set fire to their food.

[Jay]

Is there guidance anywhere on what you need. I've not got a clue. It's a totally ridiculous move by the SG. The costs involved will stop a lot of people doing it and how will that stand with the house insurance. I have a 3 bed mid terrace but already have hard wired smoke detectors in the hall and landing and a carbon monoxide detector ...and a fire blanket. Im happy with that without spending hundreds more

[Sir David Gray]

Is there guidance anywhere on what you need. I've not got a clue. It's a totally ridiculous move by the SG. The costs involved will stop a lot of people doing it and how will that stand with the house insurance. I have a 3 bed mid terrace but already have hard wired smoke detectors in the hall and landing and a carbon monoxide detector ...and a fire blanket. Im happy with that without spending hundreds more

Just on here I think.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/fire-and-smoke-alarms-in-scottish-homes/

[Mon Dieu4]

Just on here I think.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/fire-and-smoke-alarms-in-scottish-homes/

Or this is a bit more visual if you can't be bothered reading it all

https://fireguardplus.co.uk/bundle?gclid=CjwKCAjwj8eJBhA5EiwAg3z0mzwmwREMJDUWi uD1DLv-XCOz4r31myhMjSmKgdbtXQ4EVPFUna42pxoCb0AQAvD_BwE

[Moulin Yarns]

Is there guidance anywhere on what you need. I've not got a clue. It's a totally ridiculous move by the SG. The costs involved will stop a lot of people doing it and how will that stand with the house insurance. I have a 3 bed mid terrace but already have hard wired smoke detectors in the hall and landing and a carbon monoxide detector ...and a fire blanket. Im happy with that without spending hundreds more


A heat sensor in the kitchen, a smoke alarm in the main living space and circulation space on each floor. CO monitor in a room with a gas or solid fuel fire /boiler.

The smoke and heat alarms have to be radio linked so if one goes off then they all do.

[Moulin Yarns]

For posh people that like to set fire to their food.

The only time I burn things (glazed carrots) is on a Sunday when we use the posh room 😏

[Jay]

Thanks everybody. Looks like I need to replace existing ones and add another smoke alarm and a heat detector. Fab news the same month as UC is getting cut . Well done the SG :aok:

[Moulin Yarns]

Thanks everybody. Looks like I need to replace existing ones and add another smoke alarm and a heat detector. Fab news the same month as UC is getting cut . Well done the SG :aok:

If you check the ones you have, then check the manufacturer, you might only need to replace parts of the alarms. Aico alarms are easy to do, already mentioned above.

And don't forget who is cutting UC. 😉

And this has been known about for almost 2 years.

[Berwickhibby]

Alarms bought and fitted by myself, basically replaced what I had (working) with new ones that connect with each other £229 wasted in my opinion....well done Nippy 👏👏👏

[Moulin Yarns]

Alarms bought and fitted by myself, basically replaced what I had (working) with new ones that connect with each other £229 wasted in my opinion....well done Nippy 👏👏👏

You do realise that the same legislation is in place in the rest of the UK as a result of Grenfell, don't you. This is all about saving lives and is not political, because it is supported by all parties. 🙄

[Berwickhibby]

You do realise that the same legislation is in place in the rest of the UK as a result of Grenfell, don't you. This is all about saving lives and is not political, because it is supported by all parties. 🙄

Then well done Bozo🤡 👏👏👏 still a waste of my money to fix something imho which was not broken

[Skol]

I have a smoke alarm which goes off at the slightest thing and annoys the whole street. Think it was only a £20 job but its more than effective. In fact when I am doing bacon rolls I usually need to take it down and put it outside to stop it going off !

However I am going to need to look into a new compliant system but will probably have that along with what I have already. i.e. 2 x smoke detectors and 2 x Carbon Monoxide (I only need one, but a 2nd came with my new boiler)

[McD]

Alarms bought and fitted by myself, basically replaced what I had (working) with new ones that connect with each other £229 wasted in my opinion....well done Nippy 👏👏👏

If you don’t mind me asking.,,

is that the battery ones or the mains ones?

where did you get them from?

cheers :aok:

[lord bunberry]

I live in a 2 storey house so I’m going to need one in the living room, one in the hall, one on the upstairs landing and a heat alarm and carbon monoxide detector in the kitchen. To say that’s overkill is the understatement of the century. I noticed you can buy linked smoke alarms and heat alarms on eBay. The smoke alarms are around £28 and the heat alarm is about £45, they’re all sealed and last 10 years, but even then it’s going to set me back over £150 and the alarm in the kitchen will have to be removed every time I cook something.

[Moulin Yarns]

I just Googled the radiolink bases I got, Aico ei168rc and you can buy them for less than £50. If you already have hard wired Aico alarms then you can save quite a lot by doing this. Especially if you are able to DIY.

[Berwickhibby]

If you don’t mind me asking.,,

is that the battery ones or the mains ones?

where did you get them from?

cheers :aok:

Battery ones 5 smoke. 1 heat and Co from eBay

[lapsedhibee]

I live in a 2 storey house so I’m going to need one in the living room, one in the hall, one on the upstairs landing and a heat alarm and carbon monoxide detector in the kitchen. To say that’s overkill is the understatement of the century. I noticed you can buy linked smoke alarms and heat alarms on eBay. The smoke alarms are around £28 and the heat alarm is about £45, they’re all sealed and last 10 years, but even then it’s going to set me back over £150 and the alarm in the kitchen will have to be removed every time I cook something.

Why would your heat alarm go off every time you cook something? :dunno:

[HappyAsHellas]

Been postponed for another year so plenty time for the price to fall as I'm sure foreign manufacturers will exploit this.

[Hibby70]

Been postponed for another year so plenty time for the price to fall as I'm sure foreign manufacturers will exploit this.

Do you mean till 2023. The regs were already put back a year and I had heard rumours that it may get delayed again but haven't seen anything yet.

[Moulin Yarns]

Been postponed for another year so plenty time for the price to fall as I'm sure foreign manufacturers will exploit this.

Explain please?

February 2022 is the deadline, already put back from February 2020.

[lord bunberry]

Why would your heat alarm go off every time you cook something? :dunno:
My kitchen is really small, the alarm in the hall goes off all the time when I’m cooking. Having one in the kitchen will be even worse.

[Rocky]

My kitchen is really small, the alarm in the hall goes off all the time when I’m cooking. Having one in the kitchen will be even worse.
Which is why heat alarms are to be installed in kitchens rather than smoke alarms.

[Scouse Hibee]

My kitchen is really small, the alarm in the hall goes off all the time when I’m cooking. Having one in the kitchen will be even worse.

Invest in a kitchen door or cooking lessons 😁

[Rumble de Thump]

My kitchen is really small, the alarm in the hall goes off all the time when I’m cooking. Having one in the kitchen will be even worse.

Have you looked into getting some cooking lessons?

[Rumble de Thump]

Alarms bought and fitted by myself, basically replaced what I had (working) with new ones that connect with each other £229 wasted in my opinion....well done Nippy 👏👏👏

Why do you call the First Minister Nippy?

[Moulin Yarns]

Why do you call the First Minister Nippy?

Oh!! I just thought he was being self congratulatory. 😉

[Berwickhibby]

Why do you call the First Minister Nippy?

Because what I normally call her would not pass the swear filter :greengrin

[Just Alf]

Because what I normally call her would not pass the swear filter :greengrinHa ha .. there is that! :-)

[ronaldo7]

Because what I normally call her would not pass the swear filter :greengrin

For someone who serves a flag, I can understand that. 😆

[Moulin Yarns]

From twitter


By February 2022, every Scottish home needs interlinked fire alarms. Some are battery powered that you can fit yourself. Find out more at https://t.co/FOlH4D4sk4

[Skol]

I did a google search yesterday for options. First one I clicked looked great until I saw that it wasn’t compliant in Scotland. I clicked their link for Scottish compliant options and they are out of stock due to high demand. You could add your email to a notification list when they get more stock but November is the earliest.

[overdrive]

We’ve just recently moved and we think we have interlinked alarms as they all go off when one goes off.

However, I suspect the one in the kitchen is a full smoke alarm as it goes off whenever we cook anything on the gas at full heat (even with the window open). Any idea how you can check that?

[makaveli1875]

We’ve just recently moved and we think we have interlinked alarms as they all go off when one goes off.

However, I suspect the one in the kitchen is a full smoke alarm as it goes off whenever we cook anything on the gas at full heat (even with the window open). Any idea how you can check that?

If it's a smokey it will look the same as the others , heat detectors look slightly different . Or unclip it from the base and it will tell you on the sticker under it

[gbhibby]

Absolutely. Every Airbnb should already comply, every private rental property should already comply. The group most affected by this are owner occupied, and I doubt many families will be willing to risk death and destruction.
Should comply but do they comply? Remember there are many older people who will probably end up paying more than they should.

[Just Alf]

Should comply but do they comply? Remember there are many older people who will probably end up paying more than they should.Folks houses won't suddenly become unsafe, it's simply that the regulations have been improved to a higher threshold. Nobody HAS to change their systems unless they want to or are selling their house.
How many of us upgraded our fuse boards over the last few years when the electrical regulations were upgraded?

[Hibby70]

Folks houses won't suddenly become unsafe, it's simply that the regulations have been improved to a higher threshold. Nobody HAS to change their systems unless they want to or are selling their house.
How many of us upgraded our fuse boards over the last few years when the electrical regulations were upgraded?

Bet buildings/content insurance companies will think differently if there's a fire mind you.

[Moulin Yarns]

Folks houses won't suddenly become unsafe, it's simply that the regulations have been improved to a higher threshold. Nobody HAS to change their systems unless they want to or are selling their house.
How many of us upgraded our fuse boards over the last few years when the electrical regulations were upgraded?



https://www.mygov.scot/home-fire-safety

[Just Alf]

https://www.mygov.scot/home-fire-safetyI know, there's no way to actually police it until a property is sold though.

That said, there is the insurance angle, however even that can be addressed if the cause of the damage wasn't down to smokies not meeting current standards.

I will add, my own house met the standards when it was built but won't meet these higher standards being introduced, so I will be looking into getting an upgrade done at some point sooner rather than later.

[The Pointer]

Been postponed for another year so plenty time for the price to fall as I'm sure foreign manufacturers will exploit this.

Aico, as mentioned above, are foreign but I'd rather not having to buy Chinese.

[The Pointer]

Because what I normally call her would not pass the swear filter :greengrin


My current favourite is Kim Sturg-Un, but I have others.

[Moulin Yarns]

Aico, as mentioned above, are foreign but I'd rather not having to buy Chinese.

Is there any manufacturer in the UK?


What kind of telly do you watch? What car do you drive?

The Brexit dividend 😉

[WhileTheChief..]

I stay in a tenement which has high ceilings. I can’t even reach the smoke alarm on the ceiling to turn it off, let alone be able to replace it.

Ok, I can go out and buy some ladders and then attempt to change it. Doubt I could even change a plug though, not done that in over 20 years!

My neighbour on the ground floor is a single 88 year old lady. No chance in hell she can do it herself so she’ll have to fork out upwards of £250?

The govt should be paying for it as a national rollout.

[WhileTheChief..]

We’ve just recently moved and we think we have interlinked alarms as they all go off when one goes off.

However, I suspect the one in the kitchen is a full smoke alarm as it goes off whenever we cook anything on the gas at full heat (even with the window open). Any idea how you can check that?

Get yourself an induction hob, they’re amazing and add minimum heat to the kitchen!

[Santa Cruz]

I stay in a tenement which has high ceilings. I can’t even reach the smoke alarm on the ceiling to turn it off, let alone be able to replace it.

Ok, I can go out and buy some ladders and then attempt to change it. Doubt I could even change a plug though, not done that in over 20 years!

My neighbour on the ground floor is a single 88 year old lady. No chance in hell she can do it herself so she’ll have to fork out upwards of £250?

The govt should be paying for it as a national rollout.

Fully agree.

Also add vulnerable people are being put at further risk due to high covid case numbers having workers in the house. People could have accidents trying to install them with high ceilings adding to NHS pressures. It needs delayed at the very least.

[Moulin Yarns]

Fully agree.

Also add vulnerable people are being put at further risk due to high covid case numbers having workers in the house. People could have accidents trying to install them with high ceilings adding to NHS pressures. It needs delayed at the very least.


As mentioned before, the fire brigade are happy to give advice in the home and, at least in the past, fitted alarms free of charge.

https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/your-safety/for-householders/home-fire-safety-visit.aspx

[Santa Cruz]

As mentioned before, the fire brigade are happy to give advice in the home and, at least in the past, fitted alarms free of charge.

https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/your-safety/for-householders/home-fire-safety-visit.aspx

Thanks MY, I appreciate that. Could see the fire service getting overwhelmed if people misinterpreted this advice as a free full installation, which it should be anyway imo.

[gbhibby]

I stay in a tenement which has high ceilings. I can’t even reach the smoke alarm on the ceiling to turn it off, let alone be able to replace it.

Ok, I can go out and buy some ladders and then attempt to change it. Doubt I could even change a plug though, not done that in over 20 years!

My neighbour on the ground floor is a single 88 year old lady. No chance in hell she can do it herself so she’ll have to fork out upwards of £250?

The govt should be paying for it as a national rollout.
You will probably need some sort of platform to do the job to comply with health and safety.

[gbhibby]

I know, there's no way to actually police it until a property is sold though.

That said, there is the insurance angle, however even that can be addressed if the cause of the damage wasn't down to smokies not meeting current standards.

I will add, my own house met the standards when it was built but won't meet these higher standards being introduced, so I will be looking into getting an upgrade done at some point sooner rather than later.
I said in a previous post that this should have been rolled out by passing it onto the local councils. They could have kept register of houses that complied. Some jobs could have been created to do installations in people's property where the householder was not comfortable doing the work themselves. Also there could have been a bulk buying of suitable alarms Economies of Scale councils could supply at alarms at a reduced price. . People would be charged for installations so would be cost neutral.

[Moulin Yarns]

Finished my installation today. 3 were easy to replace, but I had to wire the new one in the living room, bit of a pfaff. But happy to be ahead of the game.

[Paul1642]

Finished my installation today. 3 were easy to replace, but I had to wire the new one in the living room, bit of a pfaff. But happy to be ahead of the game.

How much did it cost you and did you do it yourself? I want to get it sorted but not ready to spend a couple hundred pounds at this time of year.

[Moulin Yarns]

How much did it cost you and did you do it yourself? I want to get it sorted but not ready to spend a couple hundred pounds at this time of year.

If you look back the thread you will find some info.

Aico alarms, I already had 2 smoke and 1 heat alarm, easy to replace the base unit with radio linked ones. Saves on the cost of full alarms.

[Santa Cruz]

Care & Repair Edinburgh offer installation for disabled or elderly people. I know a couple of households who have used them recently. Charged just over £100 and the tradesman took around 20 minutes to install.

https://www.cre.scot/

[H18S NX]

Care & Repair Edinburgh offer installation for disabled or elderly people. I know a couple of households who have used them recently. Charged just over £100 and the tradesman took around 20 minutes to install.

https://www.cre.scot/ Thank you for the information S/C,sent a request for help as I am disabled,cheers m8:aok: