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Hi there, I am adding fire safety devices to the home, I am not a qualified electrician and therefore are in need of some friendly advice.

I am adding two smoke alarms and an emergency light to a ring which already houses all the fire safety equipment. At the moment there are two smoke alarms connected and a heat alarm, all from separate junctions on the ring. The below is what I am proposing to do, I have checked all the cable lengths and understand the necessary ratings for all the components involved. My main questions are, does this conform to the right standards in England, am I being silly and overloading everything, do I need more FCU’s and if this is all wrong a brief few words as to what I would need to do. I understand this is a community forum and please be assured I am not trying to get a step by step guide. Once the install is complete a qualified electrician will be checking it all, but I am too embarrassed that I don’t know how to do this already to ask him. Attached is a diagram of what I want to do. Thanks in advance. :)Advice needed TIA :) 53984AC9-7B84-44CD-916B-7DB7C86DB58C - EletriciansForums.net
 
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Are you conversant with the requirements for the installation of safety systems, these systems are there to save lives, incorrectly installed systems can cost lives.
 
Are you conversant with the requirements for the installation of safety systems, these systems are there to save lives, incorrectly installed systems can cost lives.
Hi, to a reasonable extent but wanted to know how I could actually do it safely, I wouldn‘t be connecting the fcu to the circuit, the electrician would and he would only do this once checking that I had done everything right, I am trying to save money and learn some things along the way. :) — sorry editing this as I just re read your reply and wasn’t sure whether you are referring to the installation of the fire safety devices or a viewpoint from electrical safety. If you are reffering to the installation of the fire safety devices then yes very much so. :)
 
Trying to save money is not the same as trying to save life when it comes to safety systems and your average electrician is not likely to have a clue with regard to this. They may well consider the installation safe with regard to electrical safety but is it correct with regard to BS5266 and BS5839, the standards for the safety systems you are installing.
 
The electrician you are going to ask to check it. Get him in to give you the advice and specifications you need Prior to doing work.
better to get it before you start and if he is going to sign it off then his design would be best.

Edit : also as an extra piece of advice as @westward10 above says make sure the sparky you get the advice from is skilled in emergency lighting systems.

ive got a fair bit of experience in the electrical installation world but alarms and emergency lighting I would get another specialist company in to spec up and probably fit I wouldn’t do it myself without specialist help.
 
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Trying to save money is not the same as trying to save life when it comes to safety systems and your average electrician is not likely to have a clue with regard to this. They may well consider the installation safe with regard to electrical safety but is it correct with regard to BS5266 and BS5839, the standards for the safety systems you are installing.
Hi there thank you for your reply,

My electrician has already completed the bs5839 tests on the existing system and has informed me that he can do this again after the new installation and the bs226 as well. I understand I’m not a professional and have no qualifications but please be assured i have done as much research as I can and have studied the relevant safety requirements prior to any of this.
 
The electrician you are going to ask to check it. Get him in to give you the advice and specifications you need Prior to doing work.
better to get it before you start and if he is going to sign it off then his design would be best.
Thank you Pete,

I will :), I just thought I might be able to get some advice as to whether my diagram actually would make sense as a functioning system prior to presenting him the documents. I understand the professional knows best and would never want to put people at risk.
 
Hi there thank you for your reply,

My electrician has already completed the bs5839 tests on the existing system and has informed me that he can do this again after the new installation and the bs226 as well. I understand I’m not a professional and have no qualifications but please be assured i have done as much research as I can and have studied the relevant safety requirements prior to any of this.
Which BS5266 tests have they carried out I assume this to be photometric design to ensure compliance.
 
What does your electrician think of your design because they are certifying it.
 
Thank you for your guidance, I just wanted to know if the design I made makes sense as an overview not an in-depth assessment. Apologies if I expected too much. Many thanks for your time.
With regard to a design we have no building plan on which to compare it to so it is pretty meanliness. How big is this building, are you designing systems following a risk assessment because it is all vague. Are you competent to be undertaking these works, lots of questions.
 
With regard to a design we have no building plan on which to compare it to so it is pretty meanliness. How big is this building, are you designing systems following a risk assessment because it is all vague. Are you competent to be undertaking these works, lots of questions.
Thank you again for your time.
 

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