You've seen those adverts on TV, you know smoke alarms save lives every day in the UK and beyond, yet when did you last check yours?
The statistics about smoke alarms are staggering; they can reduce fire fatalities by 90%, and double your chance of survival in a fire. Yet in our busy lives, we sometimes forget to check the one part of any smoke alarm that really saves our lives, the battery.
Kidde, the leading manufacturer of smoke alarms, solve that problem with the ten year smoke alarm. Not only will its built-in battery last for the entire lifespan of the alarm, but the unit will also alert you when it is coming to the end of its useful life.
Our range includes many of the Kidde battery smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.
Types of smoke alarm
But there are several types of smoke alarm to choose from.
Optical smoke alarms sense the larger smoke particles from smouldering fires. They are the general-purpose choice for hallways, landings and living rooms.
Ionisation smoke alarms respond faster to small smoke particles from fast-flaming fires such as paper or wood. They can be prone to false alarms near kitchens and are less commonly specified in newer installations.
Battery smoke alarms run on either a replaceable smoke alarm battery or a sealed ten-year lithium cell.
Mains-powered smoke alarms are wired into the home electrical supply, with a battery backup for power cuts. Mains-powered units are required in most new-build homes under building regulations.
Wireless interlinked smoke alarms talk to each other by radio: when one detects smoke, they all sound.
Legal requirements
Domestic installations should follow BS 5839-6, the British Standard for fire detection in dwellings.
Landlords of HMOs and other rented properties have obligations under the Housing Act 2004 and, in England, the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 as amended by the 2022 Regulations, requiring at least one smoke alarm on every storey with living accommodation.
In Scotland, every home must have an interlinked smoke and heat alarm system under the revised Tolerable Standard, in force from February 2022.
What to look for when buying
- A recognised standard mark: the alarm should meet BS EN 14604, with domestic installation following BS 5839-6
- A sealed ten-year smoke alarm battery, or a mains smoke alarm with battery backup
- Interlinking if you have multiple floors
- A hush button
- Combined smoke and CO detection in a single unit where appropriate
