How can I find smoke alarms that are compliant for renting out? Grade D1: LD2 BS5839: Part 6: 2019

NibblyPig

So the regs appear to say that I need to adhere to Grade D1: LD2 BS5839: Part 6: 2019 fire regulations for renting out my property in Bristol.

I've looked this up and it says they need to be hardwired with a battery backup, and tamperproof (whatever that means), and interconnected.

I've been trying to find some smoke alarms that meet this but I just have no idea how to find any. The only ones I did find were hispec and when googling for reviews, there's an amazon review of like 3 stars with a guy saying they didn't go off when he tested them, and a Which? review which says the same. Also it seems that D1 means the batteries have to be sealed, I can't find ANY smoke alarms that have this which are also hard wired.

I've done more poking about and it seems that across the board any smoke alarms that I can find all have terrible reviews. Surely there is just a pack I can buy somewhere that are good? I read that Aico are the gold star when it comes to fire alarms, but they cost *insane* money for some reason. Like £90 + £50 wireless module each, plus a £100 hub? As far as I can tell? And even then I'm not completely sure if they're specifically compliant with that regulation.

I wonder if anyone has any idea what I should do, or if there's somewhere I can go for advice or help. I'm not renting out my house at the moment but in the future I hope to, but my fire alarms are due to be replaced so would be nice to get it done properly.

Many thanks

anselld

Aico are the ones to go for.   https://www.aico.co.uk/series/3000-series/  Yes, they are compliant.

You can pick them up cheaper on eBay, just watch out for the expiry date as they have a 10 year service life.

You don't need a hub.

You don't need wireless if you can hard-wire them together, but sometimes wireless is easier on retrofit.  LD2 is just one on each level plus kitchen (heat) and livingroom, so only four in two storey house.

MultiFuelBurner

Don't pick them up off eBay. In the event of a fire if they are found to be fakes you will be liable.

Get them from a reliable source and keep the receipt.

anselld

MultiFuelBurner said:

Don't pick them up off eBay. In the event of a fire if they are found to be fakes you will be liable.

Get them from a reliable source and keep the receipt.

They are not fakes, they are just cheaper than mainstream suppliers.  It is easy enough to see they are genuine and eBay suppliers would not survive for long peddling fakes.

MultiFuelBurner

anselld said:

MultiFuelBurner said:

Don't pick them up off eBay. In the event of a fire if they are found to be fakes you will be liable.

Get them from a reliable source and keep the receipt.

They are not fakes, they are just cheaper than mainstream suppliers.  It is easy enough to see they are genuine and eBay suppliers would not survive for long peddling fakes.

We, as responsible LL's, would not buy life saving equipment for tenants and the properties from eBay

We feel that advice is irresponsible and the best advice to the OP would be to buy from a reputable source for such important safety equipment.

What the OP does after reading the replies is up to them. The OP has never heard of the product so they may not be able to spot a fake product and you have not directed them to a specific supplier you trust and use and can state are genuine you just stated "eBay"

Poor poor advice imo.

propertyrental

Unfortunately both ebay and Amazon list suppliers who sell fakes...

https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/ebay-customer-reviews-aDd0j0g9ewIk

dimbo61

Sorry but you need to bite the bullet on this one.
AICO smoke alarms are very very good.
I would instal  a AICO heat alarm in the kitchen 
I would also fit a CO Alarm near the boiler

BobT36

Dunno whether it meets all those requirements, but my landlord (non-HMO) uses these, mains wired (with battery backup): https://www.screwfix.com/p/fireangel-sw1-r-mains-standalone-optical-smoke-alarm/396cc

One went a bit dodgy where it was going off (and setting the other one off) at nothing, however they replaced it quick and it hasn't been a problem since.