Reply With QuoteI wish I could change my in-laws, maybe next year!
But, seriously, thank you for heads-up, I wasn't aware of that.
Just incase anyone has missed this,just changed mine & in laws over this week.
https://www.gov.scot/publications/fi...cottish-homes/
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I wish I could change my in-laws, maybe next year!
But, seriously, thank you for heads-up, I wasn't aware of that.
Originally Posted by jukeboxs
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I am all for safety and home fires whilst rare, are devastating
However I can’t help but think someone in government makes or imports fire alarms, or if they didn’t they do now.
It is an absolute worthwhile regulation. I reckon England will follow (kicking and screaming) in a few years. I can’t help thinking that it is Westminster government donors and members having a vested interest in NOT installing units - is the reason for England not following ScotGov’s lead.
In simple terms - it means that a fire developing in kitchen or living room (eg) downstairs sounds the upstairs alarm automatically, so the sleeping family are woken before the stairwell or other escape (for flats) is filled with smoke.
Battery units must be 10yr life, non-tamper.
I fully get that and agree that they are good thing and every house should have one, but the I would not be surprised if a member of government is importing them as we speak.
Whilst I agree with the regulations and absolutely see the benefit I do think they seem expensive. We’ve just ordered ours for £120 which I’ll put up myself.
I was quoted £275 for a supply and fit which will undoubtedly put a lot of people off.
No doubt retailers will be offloading their stocks of standard ones at reduced prices to gullible customers.
I don't know if it will get challenged, but I thought it was a given that you can only change new and not existing.
Why would you get them fitted since their shelf life is identical to a battery one?
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
I already had 2 aico smoke detectors in up and downstairs halls that were wired in luckily you can change a base to link with others that are not wired in.
Be interesting to see what insurance companies say should the worst happen if you haven't them installed
Think mine were around 150 for the base,1 heat and 1 smoke detector
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Screwfix are up to speed on this. I hope they've got large stocks though. https://www.screwfix.com/landingpage...d-in-scotland/
I wonder confirming compliance will be a specific question you have to answer when renewing house insurance?
There are no grandfather clauses. It has been passed, and cannot be challenged.
Annoying if you've recently invested in Nest protect which aren't compliant. I get why they aren't compliant (replaceable batteries, works on Wifi not RF) but still annoying. At least i can offload them to englanders :D
I would be surprised if it was Scottish Parliament members (due to the demograph of wealth amongst them) - but I wouldn’t put it past Westminster MPs from ‘investing’ in any money-making scheme.
House and contents insurance does not cover personal injury, which is the express purpose and reason for the new installation. However- Landlord insurance will have a dog in that race.
I don’t discount insurers latching on to it as a means to refuse a claim, but there is no basis in reality for that.
The ‘fitted’ quote might have been profiteering for people who don’t realise how easy it is to pair-up and mount the battery units.
Installing a wired system (if cabling is not there already and able to transmit ‘signals’) - would be much more costly than £275 for even a 2smoke/1heat (+1 non-linked CO alarm if applicable)
Hmmm I would think that some households will come up with a cost saving solution like just have one alarm in the kitchen or whatever.Does the law say that there needs to be a minimum number ?
B
Ooops just read the link belay that !!
Last edited by Brian; 20th December 2021 at 11:28.
Don’t forget to install one in loft spaces.
I live in a smallish flat on one level. The smoke detector in my hallway is loud enough to wake the dead, and sensitive enough to go off whenever I cook bacon and that's through the closed kitchen door.
I won't be installing the new system, until I am compelled to.
Fair play to the OP for raising the issue though, as I wouldn't have been aware otherwise.
Why would we do that unless the loft is used for more than storage?
Cheers,
Adam.
1) because there usually is lighting, and a short circuit created by a gnawed wire could lead to a fire that would remain undetected until it sipped below
2) in my case because that is where the boiler is.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
Not required, as it is not a living space (as opposed to bedroom), and it is above all other spaces - allowing evacuation of lower floor(s).
Another requirement is that they are fitted to ceilings, not the top of a wall.
If your boiler is in the house (rather than garage) you require a non-linked CO alarm which is a requirement for boiler in loft.
You are quoting what you, yourself have fitted, not what regulation requires.
Gnawed wiring will generally (almost all) cause the RCD (if fitted of course) to trip. I appreciate that not all houses have RCDs covering all circuits.
You are correct. Considering I live in SE England, I was answering based on why I would have one, not on what Scottish Law demanded, as I have no idea of where Stoney by the sea is
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
There are electrical cables in the loft space,after twenty four years as a fire alarm engineer I’ve seen my share of loft fires.
Unless they're fitted to the top of the wall, that is.
Asbestos in ceilings and how it affects installation
It is not necessary to disturb asbestos to install fire alarms. You may wish to seek specialist advice but it is possible to install interlinked, tamper proof long-life lithium battery alarms to ceilings with asbestos using a firm adhesive. It is unlikely that attaching an alarm with an adhesive pad would constitute disturbance of asbestos as it does not require cutting or drilling or similar intrusion to release fine particles.
If for any reason, it is inappropriate or you do not want to use an adhesive pad, battery-operated alarms that meet the manufactures requirement and can be wall mounted may be used, - to be compliant with the legislation, an alarm on the wall should be within 30 cm of the ceiling.
What make/how many did you fit? Leaflets starting to drop through the doors for tradesmen to instal and advising that this must be done by March, can’t see anyone coming around checking though.
Tis the place where they set fire to their balls on new years eveI have no idea of where Stoney by the sea is....... that'll undoubtedly set an alarm or two off.
Dunno why they still do it as there are far easier ways to get rid of ginger pubes
Edit: Just read the regs. Peculiar to asbestos panels in ceilings.Unless they're fitted to the top of the wall, that is.
I quoted the basic rule without any elaboration. It wasn’t my intention to copy/paste the entire document.
Last edited by blackal; 20th December 2021 at 17:08.
Meanwhile in Wales for new places and high risk properties...
Fire Sprinkler Legislation in Wales
In 2013 Wales changed their legislation by requiring the installation of sprinklers in all new houses and flats from January 2016 and all new high risk properties which include care homes, student halls of residence, boarding houses and certain hostels as of April 2014.
Any clue as to whether that is dry riser or a wet system?
If i was doing a new-build in countryside - I would be tempted to have a wet sprinkler system and also a hose reel from the garage (1”diam).
We went for these.
https://www.safelincs.co.uk/scotland...noxide-alarms/
Apologies, fitted as in screwed or stuck to the roof not wired in.
Not sure he was being quoted for a wired system.
But - I would surmise that:
An RF system may not penetrate thick stone walls, necessitating a wired system.
If a wired system was initially installed before now - then a combo system of RF and wired might be cost-effective. (Wiring requires an additional core over straight power supply)
A wired system in single storey modern build (with loft access) - could be a very good, high integrity system, that 10yrs down the line - is cheaper
That's the one.Tis the place where they set fire to their balls on new years eve
Dunno why they still do it as there are far easier ways to get rid of ginger pubes
Except this year and last, no balls of fire due to Rona....
Cheers,
Adam.
Are different brands compatible with each other?
It's been in force for Landlords for over 3 years now I think as I had it fitted to my rental quite some time ago.
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No…. They’ll al be different
Aico are probably the market leaders…
Oh, thanks not good.
Would ideally need combined heat+CO and smoke+CO to save having loads of the things which reduces my options.
In England so no rush, if ever needed at all.
English laws, when doing extensions / loft conversions are becoming really stringent too…
As I was having a third floor built they insisted I had door closers/ intumescent strips on all my lovely Victorian doors and got rid of an internal antique glazed door…. The only way around it was a full commercial battery backed fire Alarm system with fireproof fp100 cabling…. So, I have the fire alarm panel in the garage and 14 detectors throughout the house….
Overkill maybe, but, at least it’s done right and I don’t have to mess with the house too much to comply
You can have CO detectors interlinked to any photo/ heat detectors you choose…. Some brands may have multi criteria options too
Just needs to be on the same protocol / brand
Meant CO+smoke etc in the same unit (or I've misunderstood you).
So CO+heat in kitchen (with boiler) and CO+ smoke in living room (gas fire), don't want two in each room.
Last edited by Kingstepper; 20th December 2021 at 23:24.
Yep… gotcha now
Something like this ?
https://www.toolstation.com/fireange...leshoppingfeed
Yes, but interlinked.
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