Am i right in thinking that to meet building regulations, all new smoke
alarms need to be wired into the lighting circuit? Also, do i need one
on every floor?

Am i right in thinking that to meet building regulations, all new smoke
alarms need to be wired into the lighting circuit? Also, do i need one
on every floor?

Smoke detectors should be mains powered and interlinked so that all go off
when one sensor activates. They should have battery backup (there are other
alternatives that are allowed, but ignore them). The interlinking doesn't
have to be by separate cable. Systems using signals over the mains cable are
available, as are RF signalled versions. The system should either be on its
own circuit, or be connected to a frequently used lighting circuit.

There are exceptions to needing to install such a smoke detector system.
Ignore these exceptions.

In house fires at night, you are extremely likely to die, as smoke will send
you deeper to sleep, not wake you. When there is a reliable mains powered
interlinked and battery backed smoke detection system installed, deaths and
serious injury are almost unheard of. Battery smoke detectors help, but are
significantly less reliable, as less than half have a functional installed
battery at any time.

I would refuse to live in a house that did not have such a system. I have
retrofitted such systems into every house I have lived in.

You need one on every floor. It is best to install on the landings. If you
are a heavy sleeper, also install one in your bedroom. Do not install one
near a kitchen and certainly not inside one. The kitchen requires a
temperature sensor instead, which should also be mains powered and
interlinked. An alarm system that goes off due to cooking fumes will be
ignored when it matters.

My system has been installed for two and a half years. It has activated only
once in that time, when the toaster caught fire. It has not suffered a
single false alarm. Ever. Not even during fry ups. Not for burnt toast.

Christian.

jason said the following on 13/01/2006 09:19:
Am i right in thinking that to meet building regulations, all new smoke
alarms need to be wired into the lighting circuit? Also, do i need one
on every floor?


New dwellings and loft conversions need mains smoke alarms.

Mains fire alarms should be on a dedicated circuit and should be linked
and preferably battery-backed up.

Yes, put one on every floor.

If not a new dwelling or loft conversion, battery fire alarms are
acceptable.



See he

http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1124478

and

http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/envir...otes/31542.htm

jason wrote:
Am i right in thinking that to meet building regulations, all new smoke
alarms need to be wired into the lighting circuit? Also, do i need one
on every floor?


I suggest you contact your local Fire Department. Ours will come and fit
them for you for free.

Douglas de Lacey

Douglas de Lacey wrote:
jason wrote:
Am i right in thinking that to meet building regulations, all new smoke
alarms need to be wired into the lighting circuit? Also, do i need one
on every floor?


I suggest you contact your local Fire Department. Ours will come and fit
them for you for free.

Well you're lucky, I couldn't get anything out of either the N. London
fire service near our flat in Barnet nor from our local Suffolk one.

By "I couldn't get anything" I mean they wouldn't even bother to tell
me anything useful or visit the property to make suggestions.

--
Chris Green

I suggest you contact your local Fire Department. Ours will come and fit
them for you for free.

They'll be cheap battery ones, though. You'd be very lucky to have to have
them out laying mains interlinked cables.

Christian.

Fire Brigade only involved with battery alarms for at risk groups in
UK.
Alarms with no battery back up must be taken back to separate spur on
consumer unit with no RCD.
Those with battery back up can be taken off adjacent lighting circuit;
this is recommended as if there is disruption on lighting circuit:

1/It will be readily apparent

2/It will get fixed

3/We have experience of tenants with alarms on dedicated spur
disconnecting circuit if alarm strats to nuisance alarm; they won't
disconnect a lighting one however!!

Follow this link for copy Installer Guide in pdf format
http://www.kiddefyrnetics.co.uk/ACSmokeHeatIM.rsf

On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 10:29:17 -0000 someone who may be "Christian
McArdle" wrote this:-

Battery smoke detectors help, but are
significantly less reliable, as less than half have a functional installed
battery at any time.

That is a matter of how seriously one takes such things. Those who
take such things seriously make sure the batteries are functional.

Mains powered smoke alarms on their own circuit can have their fuse
withdrawn, or circuit breaker turned off, should one be so inclined.


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

Mains powered smoke alarms on their own circuit can have their fuse
withdrawn, or circuit breaker turned off, should one be so inclined.

They can, but it happens less frequently. What is absolutely essential is to
design a system that NEVER false alarms. Then people aren't tempted to
disable them.

Christian.

David Hansen wrote:
On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 10:29:17 -0000 someone who may be "Christian
McArdle" wrote this:-


Battery smoke detectors help, but are
significantly less reliable, as less than half have a functional installed
battery at any time.


That is a matter of how seriously one takes such things. Those who
take such things seriously make sure the batteries are functional.

Mains powered smoke alarms on their own circuit can have their fuse
withdrawn, or circuit breaker turned off, should one be so inclined.

Indeed. The ones our FB install are FireX 4830 "DC Powered Ionisation
Smoke Alarm Non Removable Long Life Lithium Battery" (from the box) with
a 6 year warranty. Tails are provided to link the alarms though the FB
wouldn't do the linking (for me; I suppose they might have done for
someone not obviously able-bodied and competent). At the end of the
alarm's life, the FB comes and replaces it (or them, in our case; they
fitted 3).

I'm sorry if other brigades don't do this; I don't know what the capital
outlay would be but I'd guess it makes their job much easier. And the
cost of losing a fireman from trauma after a failed rescue is probably
pretty great...

Douglas de Lacey.