Smoke alarms - Complete rewire - Cannot find any regulations/law

[davesparks]

Unfortunately the BC officer is god in this situation. I would stop worrying and as Trev says, just bung em in.

11.50 each for two aico ionising mains alarms, a few metres of 3 core and earth, and an hour or two.

taking the inspector on will end in the same result as suggested above

Should that not be 1 ionisation and 1 optical alarm?

 

[trev]

Is this written in black and white anywhere?

Considering the subject matter of part p it's not exactly a huge leap of faith to work out what a refurbishment of a domestic installation would constitute is it?

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Should that not be 1 ionisation and 1 optical alarm?

Actually two opticals in hallways, ions in bedrooms/ lounges. But better than nowt!

 

[ipf]

hello, popeye.

Beat me to it, Bluto.

 

[Guest77]

If the rewire is finished and all floors down etc then use aico relay base smokes, you can just add the 2 smokes and heat near lights with feeds in and feed them that way, then code the bases so they interlink via a radio frequency, okay they are around 40 quid each instead of the 12 they would cost if normal mains detectors purchaed but no wiring between detectors and 3 hours work max to fit the lot and no mess or making good.


Mike

 

[tazz]

Building document B & fire safety 2000 covers installation of fire detection within dwellings.
This only requests, new builds or alterations, such as extentions, and loft conversions. As the alterations would be covered by building control, detection would be compulsory. As to the building in question, the op has not altered the construction of the building, only rewired it. Therefore detection can only be recommended from a safety point of view. Therefore the only person to make this decision, is the person who owns the property.

 

[Octopus]

I have just completed a complete rewire on an average 1960's 3 bed semi.

Inspector chap has just been round and said to get signed off I need to install 2 smoke alarms and one heat alarm in the kitchen, because there is no door, and they all need to be interlinked.

He couldn't quote me the appropriate regulation or law and I wasn't going to press the point as some people make bad enemies!

I have spent an hour trawling through 17th regs, OSG, Part P, and Part B. I cannot find any reference that says you HAVE to do it.

- Customer is more than happy with two new battery powered smoke alarms.
- There were NO smoke alarms at all when I started.
- There is no other building work being done. Just the rewire.
- I know what the inspector says is best practice.
- It's not a massive amount of work.
- The customer just does not want the expense!
- It is usually best to KNOW what the requirements are!

Can someone please tell me:
A) Does such a regulation/law exist?
B) What is the reference number/page number/document reference/title?

C) What the local building inspector asks for he gets.

If the inspector is involved because of "material" alterations to the fabric of the building they WILL want smokes added before they will issue a completion notice.

Learn and move on!

 

[tazz]

Murdoch....from what can tell this is just a scam inspector, not building control.

 

[Octopus]

Murdoch....from what can tell this is just a scam inspector, not building control.

OK but its a rewire and as the OP hasn't actually confirmed who the inspector was and whether other works are being done, we as usual, are pxssing in the wind.

EDIT: If he's not a scam member and has paid LABC then the inspector may well apply "local" rules and insist on the smokes.

 

[tazz]

True..reading between the lines, most building control inspectors are pretty clued up, and present all documentation and regs in writing along with layout drawings....the op sounds like he been given nothing...hence my conclusion it just a scam inspection.