Fire and Smoke Alarms Glasgow

Smoke and Fire Alarm Interlinking Glasgow

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Home is where you should feel safe, and this means that if you own a home, it is your responsibility to make sure that everyone within that building feels as safe as possible at all times. This is the case whether you live there yourself, or whether you are a landlord, and rent the property out to tenants.

There are lots of things that you need to think about when it comes to the safety of the property, and some of the main things to consider are smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and heat detectors.

Recently, as a result of the tragic Grenfell Tower fire back in 2017, things have changed in the industry, as there is more of a spotlight on fire safety within the home than ever before. From February 2022, it will be a legal requirement for all Scottish homes to meet the new standards in Fire & Smoke Alarms that are being released. If you’re not sure about what this means for you, we have laid out some important information about how you can make sure that your Glasgow home is safe at all times.

What are the new laws?
Even if you already have a smoke alarm system in your home, if it doesn’t meet with the new standards as of February 2022, you will need to ensure that the systems are upgraded before this time – or you will be breaking the law.

With the new regulations in place, all alarms installed in a property will need to be ceiling mounted, and interlinked with all other alarms within the property. You may find that rented properties or new build homes already meet these regulations, however you will need to check – and also remember that the new rules will apply to all homes, not just to new or rented homes.

Where should I have alarms in my property?
There are a number of space which will need to have alarms installed. These include the room that is used most during the day (so for many, this will be a lounge/living room), the kitchen, and any circulation spaces, for example hallways and landings. If you use gas appliances in the home, including a boiler, you will also need to have a carbon monoxide detector. This, however, does not need to be connected to the smoke alarms.

What exactly are interlinked alarms?
Alarms that are interlinked are exactly as they sound – they are connected to each other, which means that if one in the house is triggered, they will all sound at the same time. This means that everyone else in the house will have a much better chance of hearing an alarm, and therefore being able to get out of the property in case of a fire. There are two types of alarms that you can choose from, which are sealed battery alarms or mains wired alarms. Both of these will need to be replaced periodically, which you will be able to check on the packaging when you purchase them. Both of these are acceptable, and will meet the new guidelines. They are linked via a radio frequency, and do not rely on WiFi in order to work properly.

How do I choose the right alarm for my needs?
The Scottish government estimate that for an average, two storey home, the cost of an interlinked alarm system will be approximately £220. This is if you choose to fit the alarms yourself – there will be an additional charge if you would like somebody to do it for you. You should ensure that your alarms are made by a recognised brand, that you have bought them from a reputable company, and that there are lots of positive online reviews about the alarms. If you try to cut corners by buying cheaper products, you may find that they are not reliable enough for your requirements, and this is something that could cost you dearly in the long term.

Why are smoke alarms so important?
Given the fact that the new regulations bring with them a legal requirement to have an interlinked smoke alarm system fitted in your Glasgow home, there is little choice in the matter with regards to whether you would like to go ahead or not. However, if you’re in any doubt at the moment, it might help to think about the reason that smoke alarms are so important.

Every single year, people die in their own homes due to the fact that they did not have a suitable smoke alarm fitted. Before fire takes hold, there is often a lot of smoke and – while smoke inhalation is also a huge cause of injury and death – if you are able to be warned that there is smoke present in your property, you have a much higher chance of being able to get out safely than if you weren’t given this kind of advanced warning. Not only this, but the damage to your property is likely to be less, the earlier you are able to find out about the fire.

When you look at how many people suffer as a result of house fires each year, you will see exactly why it is so important to have smoke alarms fitted. Although the regulations don’t come into play until February 2022, from a safety point of view, it is advisable that you get things in order as soon as possible. That way, you will be able to feel safe in your home, and know that you have a high quality system in place to protect you.