I 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.
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.
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.
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?
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
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.
'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.
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.
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.
We went for these.
https://www.safelincs.co.uk/scotland...noxide-alarms/
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
Are different brands compatible with each other?
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
Yep… gotcha now
Something like this ?
https://www.toolstation.com/fireange...leshoppingfeed