Smoke, heat and carbon alarms in rented accomodation.

[sparkyste1]

Hi all,
I am trying to get my head around the current regs regarding smoke heat carbon alarms in rented properties.
for eg could I install.... mains powered c/w battery back up from the upstairs lights, same from the downstairs lights but both are radio-interlinked so both smoke alarms sound when fire breaks out.
Is a heat detector a must have?
If a boiler is installed in a under stairs cupboard and the property has a gas hob in the kitchen... does this mean 2 carbon monoxide detectors must be installed or just 1.

Look forward to your replies.

 

[Midwest]

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tenants-safer-under-new-government-measures. Always find the manufactures web sites quite useful, Aico being one; landlordlegislation2015Aico - Fire & CO Detection & Fire Protection Specialist

 

[tazz]

Depending on where you are, in England minimum requirement under Approved Document B is LD3, hallway & landings for smokes, and co detection not required, in Scotland Minimum requirement is LD2 Hallway, landings & kitchen or other high risk areas and co must be installed where gas or solid fuel is used. That said, installing a heat within in a kitchen and a co detector is good practice imo. Smokes can be linked via radio bases, and be feed individually off lighting circuits. CO detection should be fitted within 3 meters of a gas boiler, or solid fuel fire.

 

[Midwest]

The current regs apply only to soild fuel burning appliances, not gas appliances. Although the new legislation will (due 15 October 15 ish) . Carbon monoxide alarms should be located between 1-3 metres of solid fuel appliance (compliances with alarm manufactures guidance).

 

[tazz]

The current regs apply only to soild fuel burning appliances, not gas appliances. Although the new legislation will (due 15 October 15 ish) . Carbon monoxide alarms should be located between 1-3 metres of solid fuel appliance (compliances with alarm manufactures guidance).

2 months to go, and not before time, I would always recommend co detection with gas as well as solid fuel

 

[gutterball]

For Tazz Scottish regs

Therefore, in order to provide a fire detection and fire alarm system that should
alert occupants to the outbreak of fire a Grade D system should be installed in all
dwellings, comprising of:
at least 1 smoke alarm installed in the principal habitable room
at least 1 smoke alarm in every circulation space such as hallways and landings
and at least one heat alarm installed in every kitchen.
A principal habitable room is a frequently used room by the occupants of a
dwelling for general daytime living purposes.

Every inner room and adjoining access room should be provided with an
additional smoke alarm to give the occupants early warning. Where the access
room is a kitchen, the type of detector should be carefully considered to reduce the
likelihood of false alarms.

For CO you need one in every room with a combustible appliance. and if the flue passes through a room you need one in that room.

 

[tazz]

Always wonder with scotish regs, why in habitable rooms...?? the bs & scotish approved document both state LD2. Why are the classing a living room as high risk area.?

 

[gutterball]

Occupant characteristics - in the 4 years 2003-04 to 2006-07 where fatalities
were recorded, 38% of fires started in living rooms, 24% started in kitchens, 21%
in bedrooms and 17% of fires started in the remaining rooms and spaces. This
means that a significant number of fire related deaths (62%), occur from fires
started in living rooms and kitchens. It is therefore important that the outbreak of
fire in living rooms and kitchens is detected quickly and the alarm raised as early
as possible during the early stages of fire growth.

 

[tazz]

So why instead of contradicting the BS, don`t the scottish gov go the whole hog and request LD1, as the percentage of bedrooms & Kitchens are very close. Thats if any figures given by Governments these days are correct.

 

[gutterball]

Ours not to reason why.
Fife council insisted on a smoke alarm in a hallway cupboard on a HMO property as it had a fridge in it.

 

[tazz]

Ours not to reason why.
Fife council insisted on a smoke alarm in a hallway cupboard on a HMO property as it had a fridge in it.

Thats just going overboard, when there is a optical in the circulation area, outside the cupboard.......Glad were covered by English law where the BS guidance is followed.

 

[uksparks]

If in correct there is currently no clarity as to if they are to be mains powered other that a vague comment about bringing it into line with that of new builds.

i did speak to Aico the other day about this and they are equally confused / sitting in limbo not knowing.