Smoke Alarms

Every year the fire and rescue service is called to over 600,000 fires which result in over 800 deaths and over 17,000 injuries. About 50,000 (140 a day) of these are in the home and kill nearly 500 and injure over 11,000, many which could have been prevented if people had an early warning and were able to get out in time. In fact you are twice as likely to die in a house fire that has no smoke alarm than a house that does.

Buying a smoke alarm could help save your home and the lives of you and your family.

What are smoke alarms?

Smoke alarms are self-contained devices that incorporate a means of detecting a fire (smoke detector) and giving a warning (alarm), usually a very loud beeping sound. They are about the size of a hand and are normally fitted to the ceiling. They can detect fires in their early stages and give you those precious minutes to enable you and your family to leave your house in safety.

What type of smoke alarms are available?

There are mainly four types of smoke alarm currently on the market – ionisation, optical (also described as photo electronic), heat and combined.

Ionisation: These are the cheapest and cost very little to purchase. They are very sensitive to small particles of smoke produced by fast flaming fires, such as paper and wood, and will detect this type of fire before the smoke gets too thick. They are marginally less sensitive to slow burning and smouldering fires which give off larger quantities of smoke before flaming occurs. They can also be too over-sensitive near kitchens.

Optical: These are more expensive but more effective at detecting larger particles of smoke produced by slow-burning fires, such as smouldering foam-filled upholstery and overheated PVC wiring. They are marginally less sensitive to fast flaming fires. Optical alarms can be installed near (not in) kitchens, as they are less likely than ionisation alarms to go off when toast is burned.

Heat Alarms: They detect the increase in temperature from a fire and are insensitive to smoke. They can therefore be installed in kitchens. They only cover a relatively small area of a room, so potentially several heat alarms need to be installed in a large kitchen.

A carbon monoxide (CO) alarm should be fitted in any home that contains a fuel burning appliance, like a boiler, and tested regularly to ensure that it is working.

What is carbon monoxide (CO)?

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colourless, tasteless and odourless gas that can cause harmful and potentially fatal effects.

Carbon monoxide is produced by the incomplete burning of fossil fuels, such as gas. This can occur in inadequately maintained or badly fitted domestic heating appliances, such as boilers and gas fires. If your flue or chimney is blocked, CO will be unable to escape your home if produce, allowing a dangerous concentration to quickly build up.

If carbon monoxide escapes into your home it will cause symptoms that include headaches, breathlessness, drowsiness, vomiting, chest pains, dizziness, vision problems and eventually collapse and loss of consciousness – which can easily be confused with, or misdiagnosed as, flu, fatigue or food poisoning. Be aware of the symptoms and be prepared to react if you recognise them in yourself or others.

HMO Regulations.

The Smoke, Heat and Carbon Monoxide Alarms for Private Tenancies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 are the current regulations which apply to HMO properties in Northern Ireland.

These regulations align Northern Ireland with fire and carbon monoxide (CO) safety measures already in place in other UK jurisdictions, ensuring consistency and best practice for tenant protection.

The primary goal is to significantly improve tenant safety by equipping properties with advanced fire and CO alarm systems.

New tenancies must be compliant from 1 September 2024.

Existing tenancies, granted before the 1st of September, must be compliant from 1st of December 2024.

More Alarms, Enhanced Protection.

The regulations require landlords to ensure a minimum number of smoke, heat and CO alarms to be installed in their properties.

Advanced Interconnectivity.

Smoke and heat alarms must be interconnected, by wiring or Radiolink, ensuring a complete warning system throughout the property. It is recommended that if you have more than one carbon monoxide alarm, they are interlinked to each other.

Reliable Power Sources: Alarms can be mains powered, battery powered (with a tamper proof battery), or a combination of both, for maximum reliability.

Quality and Compliance: All alarms must be manufactured and certified to British Standards (BS), they must also be installed and maintained in accordance with British Standards.

Tenant Responsibilities.

Access for Maintenance - Provide access for alarm installation, maintenance, and repairs.

Regular Testing - Test and maintain the alarms as instructed.

Reporting Faults - Report any suspected faults to the landlord immediately.

Landlord Responsibilities.

Initial Installation - Ensure the correct number and types of alarms are installed upon tenancy change.

Ongoing Maintenance - Replace faulty alarms promptly and before expiry.

Record Keeping - Maintain a clear record of alarm installations and replacements.

Alarm locations.

Carbon Monoxide Alarms must be installed in any room or circulation space which contains a fixed combustion appliance or a flue.

Smoke Alarms must be installed in every circulation space on each storey, and the room which is most frequently used by the occupants for general daytime living purposes (e.g. living room/lounge).

Heat Alarms must be installed in every kitchen.

Typical Minimum Coverage: