Domestic heat/smoke alarm mains powered from different lighting circuits?

[Let me think]

Hi folks,

Friend is currently renovating his house, including a loft conversion. He had originally hoped to go with Grade F1 (tamper proof batteries) radio interlinked alarms. However architect has stipulated all alarms must be Grade D (mains powered with battery back-up), but can be still be radio interlinked.

All walls and celling's are up, plastered and painted. So looking to minimise damage where possible when installing.

It's going to be pain to run a separate circuit from CU for alarms and to have them hardwired interlinked, but if needs to be done that way then so be it. Same would also apply if running separate mains alarm feed cable connecting into lighting circuit MCB at CU.

So was wondering what your views would be on doing the following (not ideal in my mind, but a possible workaround).

• Downstairs alarms mains feed of downstairs lighting circuit (can 'easily' access - minimal damage).
• Upstairs alarms mains feed of upstairs lighting circuit (can 'easily' access - minimal damage).
• All alarms radio interlinked (could hardwire interlink downstairs, hardwire interlink upstairs with radio interlink between upstairs and downstairs).

Look forward to your input.

 

[Let me think]

New build in Scotland should have a carbon dioxide alarm in the master bedroom, I fitted one a couple of years ago. It is because modern property is so sealed up they say there is a risk from carbon dioxide build up!! The house I did had a Carbon dioxide 2 carbon monoxide, a heat detector and two smokies all interlinked.

That's a new one to me. Thanks for sharing. Better take back my tongue and cheek soda stream comment....

 

[littlespark]

The DIOXIDE was a mistake. The architect has admitted to that.

 

[Lister1987]

What I can't get my head around is that BS5839-1 not being sufficient. Surely rather than the devolved approach we appear to have, WHY on matters like this (fire safety, electrical safety etc) does the British government doesn't put the boot down and prohibit devolved 'modifications' to long standing, well...standards.

I'm not against them wanting change but I'm fully against devolved decisions, I mean just look at the COVID debacle we have at the moment....

 

[R-fur]

Building standards in Scotland and NI have always been different from England, nothing to do with devolution.

 

[Lister1987]

Building standards in Scotland and NI have always been different from England, nothing to do with devolution.

Begs the question as to why it was allowed in the first place and not universally applied across the UK? Same with laws, why must everywhere outside of England have laws that apply just to them? Surely if it's a good law with reasoning for it then it would make sense to apply it across the board? I'm getting the thread off topic so I'll can it ?

 

[R-fur]

Cant speak for NI but about 300 years ago England tried to standardise legal systems etc but due to mass rioting in Scottish city's Scotland was able to retain its Church, legal system, education system etc.