Smoke alarm rules to apply to all homes in Scotland

[JK-Electrical]

​

Kerching!!!

I think it's only a matter of time before the rest of the UK follows suit.

I do hope that the Scottish Government includes a requirement within the forthcoming legislation that the installation of smoke and heat alarms are undertaken by suitably qualified, professional electricians only. I'm not holding my breath though. That said, I'm sure the Local Housing Associations will insist that contractors are members of SELECT or NICEIC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-43443725

 

[Spoon]

All seems like a good idea. I have a smoke detector just outside our kitchen (in the hall way) and one on the landing.
If I put one in my icky-bicky kitchen then the bugger will be going off all the time.
What is classed as 'most frequently used'? I would have to have one in the living room and one in each of the kids bedrooms. Oh and might as well put one in our bedroom.. ( just to clarify 'Our' means mine and the missus.. I don't have a bedroom with you @JK-Electrical ..... not yet anyhow...)

 

[Octopus]

Its SO DAFT that a rewire or refurbishment of a property can happen and there is no mandated installation of such life saving devices.

All paths lead back to the DCLG in England, Wales and NI.

 

[pirate]

The Scottish govt. had a consultation on the regs. for smoke alarms in rented properties, to which I replied in some detail.
There were many aspects, but one was a suggestion to allow alarms to be purely 10 year lithium battery with radio interlinks, rather than having to have a mains wired one with hardwiring to the rest.
Basically, this is supposed to encourage installation of alarms as there is no concern over wiring, redecoration etc. which is maybe a good thing overall.
However, as you all know, that type of alarm is expensive, and a bit ugly...nevertheless, I install them quite often, and so, regretfully, I don't think there will ever be a rule, certainly in Scotland, that alarms have to be installed by a "proper" electrican.

 

[Squid]

Thought Scotland where going the sprinkler route.........

 

[pirate]

Not got any knowledge of that, but maybe in social housing ?

 

[Midwest]

Its SO DAFT that a rewire or refurbishment of a property can happen and there is no mandated installation of such life saving devices.

All paths lead back to the DCLG in England, Wales and NI.

When we had a kitchen extension ten years ago, we had to fit smoke alarms. Our lad just had ground floor extension, BC wanted smoke alarms for that bit.

 

[Wilko]

View attachment 41435
... What is classed as 'most frequently used' ...

At my place it's the smallest room, at least it always seems occupied when I want to go there

 

[Wilko]

I'd like to put proper alarms in the new Casa del Wilko, but I'm somewhat stunned by the material costs. There is no simple way to connect the floors with new carpets and old artex ceilings. So I'm thinking radio, but it's just over £400 for Heat, CO, three Optic Smoke and a Controller. Maybe it's just me ...

 

[pirate]

That seems a bit dear? but is £400 a reasonable budget for family safety? I think it is, and you will save £££££S by not wiring and redecorating...and drilling holes in old artex with asbestos in it

I used the Aico ones, wasn't so expensive, but only 1 mains wired with 10 year battery, 1 heat, and 2 smokes, all radio interlinked, all 10 year batteries.

Just checked the last invoice for that lot...£354.92 including Vodka And Tonic, so my memory was, as usual, wrong!

 

[pirate]

HUH! Wrong again Pirate!!! That price was for 1 mains/batt smoke. 1 smoke and 1 heat, all 10 year batt. all linked.
Mad thing is, in that flat, you have the mains smoke in the hall, another in the living room, and a heat in the kitchen, as required by the regs...but if you ran a tape measure between them, none is more than 10 feet from the next, so if one goes off, you aren't going to miss it, and the hall one is going to alert the bedrooms no bother...

When tested, and they all go off together, the noise is incredible!

I think it's time for a small refreshment

 

[Midwest]

Aico tell me 3m from a doorway, and an alarm on an escape route, i.e. kitchen diner out to patio doors requires an alarm, ground floor room with just a window, no alarm technically required. Always install one of those 'locate & control' switches with base system.

 

[Wilko]

Yes, rapidly approaching wine o'clock here

 

[Spoon]

but is £400 a reasonable budget for family safety? I think it is,

It's a rip off when you can get 2 smoke alarms for £30 which would be suitable for my house arrangement.

 

[Squid]

It's a rip off when you can get 2 smoke alarms for £30 which would be suitable for my house arrangement.

Only two?

 

[Spoon]

Only two?

View attachment 41443

What you doing, taking pics of my outside bog....

 

[Squid]

What you doing, taking pics of my outside bog....

The jokes over......... ;o)))))

 

[telectrix]

thinking of trying these out. no wiring, wireless interlinked. @ £36 per unit (inc. VAT), got to be worth a punt.
FireAngel WST-630Q Wireless Interlink Thermoptek Smoke Alarm | Smoke Alarms | NoLinkingToThis - https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/fireangel-wst-630q-wireless-interlink-thermoptek-smoke-alarm/87048

 

[pirate]

Those look interesting Tel...and the price seems very reasonable.
Of course, you may find that any TDorH could install those, so best to keep quiet!

 

[telectrix]

yes but could they install them in the correct order.