Did you know that new fire alarm legislation has come into force in Scotland to improve fire safety? Do you need to make changes to your fire alarms to ensure your home meets the new legal and safety standards?
We know that new home safety legislation can be confusing and making changes can seem like a burden. However, we understand the importance of high safety standards and that’s why Taylor & Martin welcomes the changes to the law which could save lives and protect homes from fire damage.
What are the new Scottish fire alarm regulations?
Every home in Scotland must have interlinked fire and smoke alarms. Interlinked alarms are connected by a radio frequency and do not need a WiFi connection, so when one goes off, all of them go off.
By February 2022 every home must have:
- One smoke alarm in the living room or the room you use most
- One smoke alarm in every hallway or landing
- One heat alarm in the kitchen
Additionally, all smoke and heat alarms must be secured to the ceiling.
Properties with boilers, fires, heaters or flues must also have a carbon monoxide detector in the same room as the appliance, but this does not need to be linked to the fire alarms.
What kind of fire alarms do I need in Scotland?
Homeowners can use sealed battery alarms or mains-wired alarms, but replaceable batteries cannot be used as the alarm sensors become ineffective over time and may not be reliable enough to detect heat or smoke in an emergency.
Note that there is no list of approved suppliers or fitters, and not all alarms are approved as suitable. We urge you to check that your alarms comply with the standards approved by the Scottish government.
When do homeowners in Scotland need to update their fire alarms
The Homeowners must be compliant with the changes to the fire alarm regulations from February 2022. Homeowners who have not yet made the necessary changes should do so as soon as possible.
Why are Scotland’s laws on fire alarms changing?
Scotland is introducing stricter fire and smoke alarm legislation as a public safety response to the 2017 Grenfell Tower Fire in London.
New rules are in place to give residents more time to evacuate from dangerous fires and means that Scottish Fire and Rescue services can be alerted to an emergency faster.
The new law applies to all Scottish homes, not just blocks of flats, and the property owner is responsible for making the necessary changes.
Who is affected by the new Scottish smoke and heat alarm laws?
The law is clear that every household in Scotland must comply with the new legislation. In every case, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to ensure compliance.
Landlords and housing associations have a responsibility to comply with the rule changes. If you believe your landlord is failing to comply you can apply for a first-tier tribunal.
Separate homes that form part of a shared property, like a tenement or block of flats, are not required to link to each other. The changes to the law do not require fire alarms in communal areas.
Local authorities have the power to force property owners to make the necessary changes to meet the minimum safety standards. Additionally, if homeowners decide to sell their property, compliance with the new legislation will need to be demonstrated in home reports going forward.
What happens if I don’t replace my fire alarms?
Homeowners who fail to meet the new minimum standards for fire alarms may unintentionally invalidate their home insurance policy. Insurers may even require homeowners to go above the minimum standard.
If you don’t know whether the new fire alarm rules affect your home insurance policy, we advise you to contact your insurer as soon as possible.
Taylor & Martin’s Perspective
After seeing the tragic events of the Grenfell Tower fire, we welcome the safety improvements brought in by this rule change. We believe these changes can help buy time for residents, neighbours and the emergency services. But, to have the biggest positive impact on safety – we all need to make sure we are doing our bit.
At Taylor and Martin, we make sure we stay up to date on all relevant rules governing property standards and home safety. We keep our clients informed about important changes. We also ensure our property managers are able to give advice or direct clients to the required information.
We also work with homeowners and residents to keep people and property safe. Our work contributes to the safety of everyone in the buildings we manage. For instance, keeping stairways clean and clear from obstruction and conducting maintenance to sprinkler systems and fire doors.
If you’re wondering how our services could improve the safety and comfortability of your property, please get in touch today.