Smoke Alarms in Scotland - New Regulations means a large bill!

cymruchris

Grim72 said:

theoretica said:

Grim72 said:

Hi Le_Kikr - it is for literally every home! As a new forum user I can't post links unfortunately but if you google search for "Fire and smoke alarms: changes to the law" you will see the link on the Scottish Government's website
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Thanks cymruchris Even at current prices - based on my needs that would come in at under £300 which is a fair saving on the £500 quoted for hard wiring. I noticed they also do a 6-piece home kit covering everything I need (except for an additional CO2 alarm)  which might be an option. Out of interest were these easy to install/set-up - I know they need to be ceiling mounted to comply with the new Scottish regs. The downside is you will need to replace after 10 years compared to if they were hard-wired due to the lithium battery I think?

I still can't see how everyone is expected to afford these - hard enough getting some people to buy/install a cheap £10 smoke alarm!

I think all the hard wired ones need to be replaced every 10 years too, because the smoke detecting bit dates too.  But (if the manufacturers haven't changed their fittings) it should be possible to do a fairly straightforward swap over unplugging the old units and plugging in new ones.

Thanks theoretica So will that mean I will need to shell out £300 every ten years to replace the units too? If so I don't see any benefit in getting them hardwired - if all the units will need to be replaced after 10 years regardless of whether they are hard wired or wireless? I'm guessin g you can't just replace the battery like you can on the current cheap smoke alarms?

Who knows what the law will be in ten years? Look at the law now compared to ten years ago, how much change has there been? Technology will probably become smarter - and by the time ten years comes you’ll probably have to change it no matter what you’ve got fitted at the time. 

Norman_Castle

Grim72 said:

theoretica said:

Grim72 said:

Hi Le_Kikr - it is for literally every home! As a new forum user I can't post links unfortunately but if you google search for "Fire and smoke alarms: changes to the law" you will see the link on the Scottish Government's website
.
Thanks cymruchris Even at current prices - based on my needs that would come in at under £300 which is a fair saving on the £500 quoted for hard wiring. I noticed they also do a 6-piece home kit covering everything I need (except for an additional CO2 alarm)  which might be an option. Out of interest were these easy to install/set-up - I know they need to be ceiling mounted to comply with the new Scottish regs. The downside is you will need to replace after 10 years compared to if they were hard-wired due to the lithium battery I think?

I still can't see how everyone is expected to afford these - hard enough getting some people to buy/install a cheap £10 smoke alarm!

I think all the hard wired ones need to be replaced every 10 years too, because the smoke detecting bit dates too.  But (if the manufacturers haven't changed their fittings) it should be possible to do a fairly straightforward swap over unplugging the old units and plugging in new ones.

Thanks theoretica So will that mean I will need to shell out £300 every ten years to replace the units too? If so I don't see any benefit in getting them hardwired - if all the units will need to be replaced after 10 years regardless of whether they are hard wired or wireless? I'm guessin g you can't just replace the battery like you can on the current cheap smoke alarms?

Mine have mains powered bases that connect wirelessly meaning there is no wired connection between them so less work to install and cheaper to replace. The wireless connection is to sound all the alarms rather than just the one detecting smoke. When they need replacing they unclip from the ceiling mounted base and the replacement clips on so replacing them every 10 years should be a diy job.

Dividing the cost by the 10 year lifespan makes them feel cheaper.

cymruchris

Norman_Castle said:

Grim72 said:

theoretica said:

Grim72 said:

Hi Le_Kikr - it is for literally every home! As a new forum user I can't post links unfortunately but if you google search for "Fire and smoke alarms: changes to the law" you will see the link on the Scottish Government's website
.
Thanks cymruchris Even at current prices - based on my needs that would come in at under £300 which is a fair saving on the £500 quoted for hard wiring. I noticed they also do a 6-piece home kit covering everything I need (except for an additional CO2 alarm)  which might be an option. Out of interest were these easy to install/set-up - I know they need to be ceiling mounted to comply with the new Scottish regs. The downside is you will need to replace after 10 years compared to if they were hard-wired due to the lithium battery I think?

I still can't see how everyone is expected to afford these - hard enough getting some people to buy/install a cheap £10 smoke alarm!

I think all the hard wired ones need to be replaced every 10 years too, because the smoke detecting bit dates too.  But (if the manufacturers haven't changed their fittings) it should be possible to do a fairly straightforward swap over unplugging the old units and plugging in new ones.

Thanks theoretica So will that mean I will need to shell out £300 every ten years to replace the units too? If so I don't see any benefit in getting them hardwired - if all the units will need to be replaced after 10 years regardless of whether they are hard wired or wireless? I'm guessin g you can't just replace the battery like you can on the current cheap smoke alarms?

The 10 year battery is a backup. they will all need a mains supply. Mine are wireless meaning there is no wired connection between them so less work to install. The wireless connection is to sound all the alarms rather than just the one detecting smoke. When they need replacing they unclip from the ceiling mounted base and the replacement clips on so replacing them every 10 years should be a diy job. They are available with a replaceable battery but you are still expected to replace the alarm every 10 years as the sensors age or get dirty making them unreliable.

The ones I just installed linked above are inter connected wirelessly and are wireless - they don’t have Mains connections but do have a ten year battery life. They also allow the installation of a gateway unit so that the system can be monitored remotely - and any activations sent to the account holder. 

Grim72

cymruchris said:

Who knows what the law will be in ten years? Look at the law now compared to ten years ago, how much change has there been? Technology will probably become smarter - and by the time ten years comes you’ll probably have to change it no matter what you’ve got fitted at the time. 

True enough - I'm just finding the costs hard to fathom - at the moment (not interlinked) I could replace the 3 smoke alarms, 1 heat alarm and 2 CO alarms (ran off normal batteries form the supermarket) for around £50-£100. In a small house you hear the alarm downstairs in the upstairs bedrooms too. Whereas the new regs will see everyone need to increase that cost to at least £300. To be honest it isnt a major issue for myself but I just can't understand how every household in Scotland is expected to find that kind of money when all you hear on the news is about foodbanks, people losing their jobs due to COVID19, and a general uncertainty for everyone's livelihood. I suspect I will be in the minority in terms of those that are able to fork out for this - I'm even more concerned that I still havent seen anything in the general press etc to advise people of the upcoming changes (I know commercial enetrprises/businesses/councils etc are aware but dont think any private homeowners know.

molerat

I can see thousands of old ladies being conned out of £Ks by being told they will go to prison if they don't have them fitted, typical SNP government with their nanny state policies.  Agree very poor, well none whatsoever, communication of this to the general population.

scottishblondie

The truth of the matter is that most of the population will have no idea that they're supposed to do it, and so won't.  Out of the people who are aware, half again probably won't bother.  It's not like on the "deadline" day inspectors are going to go out to every house and punish you if you've not done it.  Over time it will just happen.  When you buy your next house the home report will probably point out the lack of interlinked detectors, and tell you to put them in.  Some people will, others won't.

Grim72

Yup that was my interpretation too - I dont think it will become an issue until you go to sell your house but I'd rather get it in place now than wait (plus it should improve safety - which I guess is the main aim). I think it would have made more sense to enforce the legislation on new properties rather than saying every home needs to do it (even though, as you say, no-one will ever know until you go to sell your home). As ever with regulations the only ones that are financially hit are the ones that follow the rules (unfortunately I have always been one of those mugs lol)

theoretica

I saw an article somewhere about enforcement of this - it had some interesting wording along the lines of 'advice will be given' and seemed rather more pragmatic than the legislation.  Many households will get these through living in rental properties and I got the impression they would be required before a house could be sold, rather than being on the home report as something needing doing, but I may be wrong here.

I do agree that interlinking is unnecessary overkill for many small properties.

Petriix

You can buy interlinked smoke alarms for around £15 each with a simple diy installation. You don't need to shell out £hundreds at all.

Grim72

Petriix said:

You can buy interlinked smoke alarms for around £15 each with a simple diy installation. You don't need to shell out £hundreds at all.

I must be looking in the wrong places as I cant find anything compliant and available at those types of prices? MY DIY skills involve screwing the unit to the ceiling - as soon as any electrical work begins I'm out unfortunately