Fire alarm Scotland: What are the new laws and what do I need to do?
| Published date | 03 September 2021 |
The change comes after the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower back in 2017 where a review into Scottish buildings was then conducted shortly after.
Privately rented and new-build homes may already meet these standards, but from February they will apply to every home in Scotland so it's worth checking now so you don't fall foul later.
So from the types of alarm you'll need to how must it will cost, we've compiled a list of FAQ's regarding the interlinked alarm system.
What alarms do I need?
The new standard requires:
* One smoke alarm installed in the room most frequently used for general daytime living purposes
* One smoke alarm in every circulation space on each storey, such as hallways and landings
* One heat alarm installed in every kitchen
Where there is a carbon-fuelled appliance such as boilers, fires (including open fires and heaters or a flue), a carbon monoxide detector is also required which does not need to be linked to the fire alarms.
Example:
If you live in a one bedroom flat, you will need two smoke alarms and one heat alarm.
A three bedroom, two storey house will need three smoke alarms and one heat alarm.
Whatever the size your home, if you have a carbon fuelled appliance like a boiler, you will also need a carbon monoxide detector.
What are interlinked alarms and why do you need them?
An interlinked fire and smoke alarm system contains devices that communicate with each other meaning if one goes off, they all go off.
This is great because no matter which room you are in, everybody will be alerted to the fire so there is more chance of them hearing it.
According to the Scottish Government, following the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower in 2017, a Ministerial Working Group on Building and Fire Safety was established to review Scotland's building and fire safety regulatory frameworks. This legislation was introduced in January 2019 to ensure that all homes in Scotland have the same level of protection whether the home is owned or rented.
How long do you have to comply with the new laws?
The regulations come into force from February 2022 - just five months away. So the sooner you are able to install them, the better.
They were due to come into force in February of this year however due to difficulties caused by covid, the government and Scottish Parliament agreed a delay.
What interlinked alarms do I need to buy?
There are two...
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