Reminder - The Law on Fire Alarms is Changing

25 January 2022

As previously discussed, the law on fire alarms in Scotland is changing from the 1st of February 2022. This new law affects all homes in Scotland. 

Here’s a recap of what you need to know!

The law change means every home in Scotland must have an interlinked fire alarms installed by 1 February 2022.

Interlinked means that if one fire alarm goes off, they all go off, this means you will always hear an alarm wherever you are in your home. The law applies to all homes in Scotland, and it is the property owner’s responsibility for ensuring that their property has interlinked fire alarms in place.

What kind of fire alarms do you need to install?

As of the 1st of February, every home in Scotland must have the following fire alarm system in place:

• One smoke alarm in the living room or the room you/your family use the most
• One smoke alarm in every hallway or landing
• One heat alarm in the kitchen

All smoke and heat alarms must be mounted on the ceiling and interlinked.

Both fire alarms are interlinked by radio frequency, meaning they don’t require WIFI.

Mains-wired alarms are cheaper to buy; however, they must be fitted by a qualified electrician and replaced every 10 years. It’s also worth noting that you may need to redecorate after having mains-wired fire alarms installed in your home.

Where can you buy approved fire alarms?

The Scottish Government does not have a list of approved fitters or suppliers for interlinked fire alarms. You can buy both types of fire alarms online or from several retailers, and any qualified electrician can install the mains-wired type of alarms.

You just need to make sure you check that each alarm complies with the following standards:

• Smoke alarms: BS EN14604:2005
• Heat alarms: BS 5446-2:2003
• Carbon monoxide detector: British Kitemark EN 50291-1

How much will it cost to install new interlinked fire alarms?

The Scottish Government has estimated that it will cost around £220 to fit an average three-bedroom house with three smoke alarms, one heat alarm and a carbon monoxide detector. This cost is based on using sealed battery alarms that you install yourself. 

This is just a brief recap on the new fire alarms law, TSPC have a more detailed article featuring information on homeowners and landlords’ responsibilities; how the new law affects buying and selling and much more. For the full article written previously about the new law on fire alarms click here!