Wired Smoke Alarm on standard 2 bed 1900s terraced property?

Wired Smoke Alarm on standard 2 bed 1900s terraced property?

0:03 AM, 28th November 2024, About 11 hours ago 5

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The Local Authority is insisting I have a wired smoke alarm fitted (England) and a new EICR once completed (just got a new one !). It currently has interlinked wireless alarms and threatening enforcement notice

My question is – I believe this is not the Law as Gov.UK legislation states

The regulations do not stipulate the type of alarms (such as mains powered (‘hard-wired’) or battery powered) that should be installed. The LA are quoting their own Fire Safety principles:

LD2 Grade D1 AFD; including interlinked mains wired smoke detection located in the escape route at all floor levels lounge, separate dining room and cellar with heat detection in the kitchen

They are threatening legal enforcement if remedial notice is not completed as above

Who is correct?

Philip


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Nikki Palmer

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9:55 AM, 28th November 2024, About An hour ago

Is this an HMO?
I'm not an expert on them but wondered if that perhaps makes a difference?

Des Taylor & Phil Turtle, Landlord Licensing & Defence

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10:06 AM, 28th November 2024, About An hour ago

The local authority correctly quotes the guidance from British Standard BS5839-6:2019+A1:2020
The reason for this guidance is the safety of life and limb of your tenants.

Failure rates of battery alarms are 30% or thereabouts from
Government statistics and they do not have a backup power supply

Failure to do this puts you at significant risk of prosecution for gross negligence manslaughter or bodily harm should not he worst happen
Grade D1 is mains powered with an internal backup battery.
The requirement for a new EICR is however nonsense as you simply need the electrical installation and con ironing certificate which he has to also file with Building Control.
If you need help contesting the council on this latter point or on which rooms need what alarms (thought probably the council told you this) do get in touch with us at landlordsdefence.co.uk

Fraser Hopewell

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10:24 AM, 28th November 2024, About An hour ago

for a standard rental property British Standard BS5839-6:2019+A1:2020 is guidance and not the law. The law is Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022: guidance for landlords and tenants.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smoke-and-carbon-monoxide-alarms-explanatory-booklet-for-landlords/the-smoke-and-carbon-monoxide-alarm-england-regulations-2015-qa-booklet-for-the-private-rented-sector-landlords-and-tenants
just because the council go by the guidance does not mean you have to, the question you have to ask them is that the UK gov law

Steve Knell

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10:28 AM, 28th November 2024, About 57 minutes ago

Your question isn’t clear, since you don’t say enough about the existing installation; is it mains powered or battery only? Are they interlinked using wireless or is the interlink via a wired connection? I have a combination of wired (upstairs where it’s easy to access via the loft) and wireless (downstairs, where wired interconnect would be challenging) and all are mains powered with battery back-up and that set up passed a fire safety officers inspection earlier this year. All alarm units are linked together via a bridging unit that connects the wired and wireless domains. The property in a HMO.

Paul Essex

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10:49 AM, 28th November 2024, About 36 minutes ago

If you are in a selective licenced area it seems they are free to come up with any additional requirements.

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