Protecting your home with smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms

Best for: living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, landings

They detect smoke from fires and are best installed on the ceiling in the escape routes or main living areas.

Smoke alarms usually have a flat surface with a test button, and ‘grates’ which let smoke into the detection chamber.

Best for: kitchens, garages

Heat alarms detect rapid rises in temperatures, like those seen during cooking fires, and can be fitted in kitchens or utility rooms without causing nuisance alarms to cooking fumes or dust.

These alarms usually have a ‘cage’ on the face of the alarm, which contains the heat sensing element that detects the rapid rise in temperature from fires caused by cooking or lithium batteries.

Best for: rooms containing boilers, gas fires, solid fuel burners, as well as main living spaces

Carbon monoxide cannot be seen, tasted or smelt, but is a deadly killer that can be present in homes when fuel doesn’t burn efficiently. The only way to be alerted to this deadly gas is to install an audible carbon monoxide (CO) detector.

Battery-powered alarms are easy to install as they take power from the battery within the unit. Alarms either come with a sealed long-life battery which will last the lifetime of the alarm (up to 10 years), or replaceable batteries (which need replacing regularly). The UK Fire and Rescue Service recommends sealed long-life battery-powered alarms as there’s no risk of forgetting to replace low batteries.

Mains-powered alarms require an electrician to install them as they are powered by the home’s mains-powered circuits (in the same way sockets and lighting are). They also contain a battery, but this is used, for back-up purposes if the power goes down in the home, ensuring you remain protected. These batteries can be sealed long-life batteries or replaceable batteries which need replacing regularly.

Please ensure you check the local regulations for your property type to ensure you are compliant.

Existing properties in England must have:

• A smoke alarm on each storey of the property.

• A carbon monoxide alarm (CO) in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance such as a boiler (excluding gas cookers).

• To increase protection, install a heat alarm in the kitchen and a smoke alarm in the main living space (optional).

• Smoke alarms can be battery- or mains-powered and have a replaceable or sealed-for-life battery, or a back-up battery.

Materially altered properties must have:

• If the home is being materially altered (re-wired or extended), then an additional smoke alarm is also required in the main living space.

• A heat alarm is required in the kitchen.

• Smoke and heat alarms must then be mains powered with a replaceable back-up battery.

• Where more than one smoke alarm is installed, all alarms must be hardwired or wirelessly interlinked. The heat alarm could also be included in this network.

For homes being privately rented and for further details, please refer to BS5839-6 standard.

These guidelines are the minimum level that is legally required. However, increased sensors within a home means that the alert to danger can be quicker, giving valuable time to escape.

This guidance provides a generic view in line with BS5839-6, however all properties require tailored protection.

Existing properties in Wales must have:

• A smoke alarm on each storey of the property.

• A carbon monoxide alarm (CO) in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance such as a boiler (excluding gas cookers).

• To increase protection, install a heat alarm in the kitchen and a smoke alarm in the main living space (optional).

• Smoke alarms can be battery- or mains-powered and have a replaceable or sealed-for-life battery, or a back-up battery.

Materially altered properties must have:

• If the home is being materially altered (re-wired or extended) then an additional smoke alarm is also required in the main living space.

• A heat alarm is required in the kitchen.

• Smoke and heat alarms must then be mains powered with a replaceable back-up battery.

• Where more than one smoke alarm is installed, all alarms must be hardwired or wirelessly interlinked. The heat alarm could also be included in this network.

For homes being privately rented and for further detail please refer to BS5839-6 standard.

These guidelines are the minimum level that is legally required. However, increased sensors within a home means that the alert to danger can be quicker, giving valuable time to escape.

This guidance provides a generic view in line with BS5839-6, however all properties require tailored protection.

Existing properties in Northern Ireland must have:

• A smoke alarm on each storey of the property.

• A carbon monoxide alarm (CO) in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance such as a boiler (excluding gas cookers).

• To increase protection, install a heat alarm in the kitchen and a smoke alarm in the main living space (optional).

• Smoke alarms can be battery- or mains-powered and have a replaceable or sealed-for-life battery, or a back-up battery.

Materially altered properties must have:

• If the home is being materially altered (re-wired or extended) then an additional smoke alarm is also required in the main living space.

• A heat alarm is required in the kitchen.

• Smoke and heat alarms must then be mains powered with a replaceable back-up battery.

• Where more than one smoke alarm is installed, all alarms must be hardwired or wirelessly interlinked. The heat alarm could also be included in this network.

For homes being privately rented and for further detail please refer to BS5839-6 standard.

These guidelines are the minimum level that is legally required. However, increased sensors within a home means that the alert to danger can be quicker, giving valuable time to escape.

This guidance provides a generic view in line with BS5839-6, however all properties require tailored protection.

All homes in Scotland must have the below protection:

• A smoke alarm in the circulation space of each storey (hallway and landing).

• A smoke alarm in the main daytime living space.

• A heat alarm installed in every kitchen.

• A carbon monoxide alarm to be fitted in each room with a carbon-fuelled appliance or flue.

• All smoke and heat alarms to be hardwired or wirelessly interlinked.

• Sealed, long-life battery or mains-powered alarms (with sealed back-up batteries) can be installed, with a maximum lifespan of 10 years.

This guidance is in line with the Scottish Tolerable Standard. Please refer to the standard for further information.

If you’re installing the alarm on a ceiling, then it should be at least 300mm from light fitting and walls – if possible, in the centre of the room.

If you’re installing the alarm on a wall then you will need to ensure the alarm is 300mm from the nearest wall, and between 150mm and 300mm below the ceiling.

Smoke alarms should be positioned at no more than 600mm vertically below the highest point in the room.

1. The alarm will be supplied with a base plate which can be secured to the ceiling or a wall. Break out the tabs from the base plate and then use the fixing slots on the base plate as a guide when marking the position of the drill holes.
   
2. With an appropriately sized drill, drill the holes and insert the plastic fixing anchors supplied (if needed).
   
3. Fit the base plate to the ceiling or wall using the screws provided.
   
4. If your alarm is not a sealed battery alarm, then install the batteries following the steps within the manual. To fit to the smoke alarm to the base plate, position the alarm on the base plate.
   
5. Then twist it clockwise until the alarm is locked in position. Make sure the alarm is twisted on fully.
   
6. The battery will now activate. The red indicator LED on the front of the alarm should flash approximately once every 45 seconds to show that the alarm is active. Press the alarm to test the function.
   

Mains-powered alarms must be fitted by a qualified electrician and installed as per the manufacturer’s instructions.

When heat alarms are installed in a room, they must be placed on the ceiling, ideally in the centre of the room. They should be at a distance no greater than 5.3m from the farthest wall, no greater than 5.3m from a door to any room in which a fire might start and no greater than 5.3m from the next heat alarm.

1. Fit the mounting plate to the ceiling using the screws provided.
2. If your alarm is not a sealed battery alarm, then install the batteries following the steps within the manual.
3. To fit the alarm to the mounting plate included in this pack, position the alarm on the plate, then turn clockwise until the alarm is locked into position. Make sure that the alarm is twisted fully. Thebattery will now activate.
4. The red LED on the front of the alarm should flash once, approximately every 45 seconds to show that it is active.

Mains-powered alarms must be fitted by a qualified electrician and installed as per the manufacturer’s instructions.

For alarms located in the same room as a fuel-burning appliance (for both wall and ceiling mounted alarms), the following applies:

• The alarm should be at a horizontal distance of between 1m and 3m from the potential source.
• If there is a partition in a room, the alarm should be located on the same side of the partition as the potential source.

Carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with sloped ceilings should be located at the high side of the room.

In addition to the above the following must be observed if the alarm is located on a wall:

• It should be located close to the ceiling.

• It should be located at a height greater than the height of any door or window.

• It should be at least 150 mm from the ceiling.

If the alarm is located on the ceiling:

• It should be at least 300 mm from any wall and any ceiling obstruction e.g. light fittings.

Alarms located in sleeping rooms and in rooms without a fuel-burning appliance should be located relatively close to the breathing zone of the occupants.

For installation settings in e.g. caravans, boats and tents, check the instruction booklet provided with the device.

To install and activate the alarm, please refer to the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Smoke alarms: Replace every 10 years (or sooner if end of life or not operating).
  
• Heat alarms: Replace every 10 years (or sooner if end of life or not operating).
  
• CO alarms: Replace every 5–10 years, depending on the manufacturer’s guidance.

• Intermittent beeping (even after new batteries).

• Discolouration or damage to the alarm.

• Expired date on the back of the unit.

We recommend this is completed every 3 months, or more often if suitable.

Using a soft brush adaptor on your vacuum run along the edges and the face of the alarm (please note – this may cause it to false alarm). You can also use a soft cloth to clean the face of the alarm.

If there is any visible damage to the alarm, or it is heavily stained or dusty, we would recommend you replace the alarm as the sensor within could be damaged.

**IMPORTANT: Do not use solvents or cleaners on your smoke alarm, as they may cause damage to the sensor or circuitry.**