You are more than twice as likely to die in a fire at home if you haven’t got a working smoke alarm. Smoke alarms are the easiest way to alert you to the danger of fire, giving you precious time to escape. They are cheap, easy to get hold of, and simple to install.
How many alarms do you need?
The more alarms you have, the safer you will be. At minimum, you should have one on each floor of your home. You should always have one where you will hear it when you’re asleep.
Your fire service can provide you with the minimum alarms required. If you would prefer a higher level of detection, please see details below of the different systems available.
What sort of alarm should I get?
Ionisation alarms are the cheapest and most readily available, and are very sensitive to fires that burn fiercely. As such, they will detect such fires before the smoke gets too thick.
Optical alarms are more expensive, but are also more effective at detecting slow-burning fires (such as smouldering foam filled furniture or overheated wiring). These are less likely to go off accidentally and are therefore best for ground floor hallways and homes on one level.
Whatever model you choose, make sure it meets the British Standard 5446 Part 1 (BS 5446-1) and ideally also carries the British Standard Kitemark.
Basic smoke alarms run off nine volt batteries, and these should be replaced on a regular basis. You can buy alarms with ten-year batteries, which provide peace of mind, but have to be replaced in their entirety when the battery eventually dies.
You can have mains powered alarms, which need to be installed by a qualified electrician. These do have battery back-up in case of a power cut.
Specialist alarms
Some alarms come with an emergency light, which comes on when the alarm is triggered. They are particularly suitable for people who are D/deaf or hard of hearing.
Interconnecting or linking alarms are useful in larger properties and for people who are D/deaf or hard of hearing. When one alarm senses smoke, every alarm goes off.
People who are D/deaf or hard of hearing can get mains powered alarms with strobe lights and a vibrating pad, which can go underneath your pillow at night.
More information can also be found here.
Maintaining your alarm
To keep your smoke alarms in good working order, you should:
- Test them regularly (ideally once a week but at least monthly), by pressing the test button until the alarm sounds.
- Change the batteries once a year (unless mains powered or fitted with a ten year battery).
- Replace the whole unit every ten years.
- Clean your smoke alarms every three months by using the soft brush of your vacuum cleaner to remove any excess dust.
Smoke Alarm Problems
To keep your alarms in good working order:
- test it at least once a month
- press the test button until the alarm sounds
- change the battery once a year (unless it’s a ten-year alarm)
- vacuum or dust your smoke alarm once every three months to prevent false alarms
- Most smoke alarms need to be replaced after 10 years. Check your warranty and replace your alarm every 10 years.
If your smoke alarm is making an intermittent bleeping noise
- Check that your smoke alarm is definitely the source of the bleeping. Make sure the noise isn’t coming from another alarm (smoke/carbon monoxide/clock/burglar alarm) by a process of elimination.
- If it beeps every minute or so this could be a ‘low battery’ warning. This can also occur with hard-wired alarms (mains connected) as there is often a battery backup in case of a power cut. If the battery needs replacing, do so as soon as possible.
- Some alarms can be silenced by pressing the test button. Your smoke alarm will still detect smoke during this time of low battery warning silence. Make sure you replace the battery as soon as possible.
- Replace your alarm or its battery immediately, and certainly within seven days, as your alarm may not have enough power to warn you of a real fire after this time.
Smoke alarms can sometimes react to cooking fumes, candle flames or other non-emergency situations.
In the event of a false alarm:
- press and release the test button to pause the alarm
- It will then automatically return to full sensitivity within 10 minutes.
- Dust and insects can sometimes get into the grill so use a vacuum cleaner to clean the smoke alarm. You may need a step ladder or someone to help you do this.
It’s best to read the manufacturer’s instructions for your particular alarm. If you don’t have these to hand, you can find a copy online by looking up the make and model.
If you are still experiencing issues with an alarm we have installed for you, please email [email protected] with your address and details of the problem.