Mains Operated Smoke Alarm

RussJK

You might consider switching it for an optical smoke alarm to reduce the continual false alarms.

My parents in law used to have the ionisation type for years, so whenever I'd visit I used to call it the Grill Detector as it detected 100% of the time when food was being cooked. Finally they bought the optical type and it's not gone off except in testing.

(btw I don't believe it's true that rented properties necessarily require smoke alarms within the flats themselves. Building regulations just say that any property built after 1992 require a smoke detector on each level - but this could easily be situated in the hallway outside the apartments. Older buildings don't require this. Interestingly, there's no legal obligation for a landlord to provide a carbon monoxide detector in rented properties with a gas supply.

Edit: most landlord type sites seem to be quoting from the Smoke Detectors Act 1991 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/37/section/1 , but there may be different requirements based on occupancy of rented flats)

kwikbreaks

There are different types of alarm. I have mains powered alarms but the one in the kitchen is different from the others. The electrician told me it is a heat rather than smoke detector type. 18 months and no falsies so far.

===

Checked alarm - no identification other than the words "heat alarm". It had to meet building regs as it as put in during a full rewire when I had the house refurbished. Google gives lots of results for mains heat alarm.

RussJK

As above, heat detectors are best for inside the kitchen itself. Outside of the kitchen, smoke detectors are best and the extra expense of an optical type will save a lot of headache

Laz123

I have a little cap, like a shower cap, which I cover over the one near the kitchen.

Fifer

There are two types of smoke/fire detection - ionisation detectors which are very prone to nuisance alarms, particularly when cooking and those which use optical technology which are not.

Richie-from-the-Boro

cit_k wrote: »

Since when is it a legal requirement for smoke alarms to be fitted to residential rented property?
Got a link to this?

I assume you are responding to RussJK's use of the word legal.

""" 27th April 2011 - the cost of installing a hard-wired, battery backup, interlinked system with three detectors would be in the region of £180 to £400. This would mean a cost to the sector of £540 million to £1.2 billion. The cost of ensuring enforcement would also need to be taken into consideration.

It is education around fire safety that provides the best value for money. The installation of properly maintained smoke alarms in every household is at the centre of efforts to reduce fire death in the home, as they provide important and vital early warning of fire and can help people to escape. The Fire Kills campaign has for some time conducted high profile campaigns promoting smoke alarms and maintenance messages. """

All HA's, in fact all of the public social housing sector have a ' requirement ' to install smoke alarms in the same way they have a requirement to remove asbestos. The bottom line for the ' refusenik's including the O/P is that if its written into the existing contract [ lease or rent ] it's not debatable. The Housing Association will have made a board level decision that is ratified by a committee of ordinary leaseholders / renters / shared ownership and minuted. Once that point has been reached the HA can install a ' kermit the frog ' type smoke alarm if it chooses so to do.

Kimberley

I'll ask the HA about the Optical smoke alarm but they said no to a battery operated one so I won't hold my breath

The couple downstairs said if they go off everytime the toaster and cooker is used then they will complain and if I do the same then the HA may change them.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Kimberley wrote: »

I'll ask the HA about the Optical smoke alarm but they said no to a battery operated one so I won't hold my breath

The couple downstairs said if they go off every time the toaster and cooker is used then they will complain and if I do the same then the HA may change them.

If the dynamics of the [ still / moving air ] space in which the smoke alarm is being installed or the over sensitivity of the alarm for that space mean it's constantly arming itself for ' no good ' reason. Collate the evidence from other / all residents in your block / all blocks and present it to the landlord as a collective case of ' not fit for purpose '.

Fifer

Kimberley wrote: »

I'll ask the HA about the Optical smoke alarm but they said no to a battery operated one so I won't hold my breath

Here's a mains powered optical detector for just over £20. It has a hush button too, to silence false alarms.

Yorkie1

I've got a heat one near the cooker, then smoke ones in the hall and landing. The only time one has gone off is when I didn't shut the kitchen door between the kitchen and the hallway during cooking ... the heat activated one has behaved itself to date (touch wood!)