Smoke Alarms - what do we need?

bpk101

As part of the electrical stage of our terraced house refurb, the electrician has insisted we install 3 x smoke alarms and 1 x heat detector, we're having a log burning stove installed in the lounge and he's suggested we need the alarms fitting in the following areas:

Lounge
Dining Room (which is open plan to the lounge)
1st Floor landing (which again is open plan via the stairs to the downstairs living space)
Kitchen (heat alarm)

Apparently these need to be hard wired, not battery. Does this advice sound correct?

We'd like something quite minimal / designer looking and are considering the Nest Protect. Would we therefore need 4 of these units (£90 each!)?

Sounds like a lot of alarms for such a small open plan space.

newbie1980

i am a electrician and he is correct

the regulations insist on it now when any big works is done

i personally use aico ei164 and ei166 with an ei168 base so no wiring between is needed as the ei168 is a radio base which talks to each other

DaftyDuck

Does it sound like a lot of alarms to save your life? How much are you paying for a log-burning stove to be installed - several hundred quid at a guess!

You need one detector in the room with the fire in it. You need one outside the bedroom doors... as a minimum. The kitchen heat detector is sensible. Again, it's your choice if you want something designer/minimum, but please don't put the styling above the need for sufficient for safety.

It sounds like your guy is probably on the ball, and I'd welcome the extra... although I would go for function over form myself.

anselld

newbie1980 wrote: »

i am a electrician and he is correct

the regulations insist on it now when any big works is done

i personally use aico ei164 and ei166 with an ei168 base so no wiring between is needed as the ei168 is a radio base which talks to each other

I would second the use of Aico. You can pick these up brand new on eBay for circa £20.

ei168 is good for retrofit but if you are still in a major refurb then just interconnect with 3core+earth and stick the smokes on their own circuit.

jjlandlord

For the log burner you really need a CO detector as well, which is compulsory for new installations, I believe.

For the rest, I don't think they are compulsory if you just refurb existing rooms.
However, since you will probably have access to the wiring in the floor space it is the opportunity to upgrade as proposed by your electrician.

I recently DIY'ed the installation of 2 wireless aico detectors (mentioned above) and they do seem very good.
The wireless base + the detector make them close to 3 inches thick, but they are matt white and I find them rather stylish.

bpk101

Yep absolutely agree and we're not doubting the safety aspect of this... happy to pay for what's required. Just want to make sure the quantity is correct as the lounge and dining room are pretty much 1 open plan room, I wander if we really need 2 for this space?

Here's a floor plan: http://bpkersey.com/images/open-rooms.jpg

jjlandlord

bpk101 wrote: »

Just want to make sure the quantity is correct as the lounge and dining room are pretty much 1 open plan room, I wander if we really need 2 for this space?

One on the side of the log burner, yes for sure. On the other side the gain is not obvious to me, though if that's where you keep a lot of alway-on electronics (TV, DVD, audio, etc.) they may be an argument that you should keep an eye on those devices.

Edit:
Looking at the floor plan, the diner is also the hallway and the bottom for stairs, so I think it makes sense to have a detector there.

bpk101

jjlandlord wrote: »

One on the side of the log burner, yes for sure. On the other side the gain is not obvious to me, though if that's where you keep a lot of alway-on electronics (TV, DVD, audio, etc.) they may be an argument that you should keep an eye on those devices.

All TV equipment will be in the lounge... only electrical equipment we'll have in dining room (on alcove shelves) will be hi-fi... stereo amp, CD player, turntable and 2 x speakers.