Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Whose responsibility is it to have these alarms installed.
A. The homeowner (or landlord if you rent).
Q. What alarms will I need?
A. You will need interlinked alarms - one heat alarm for the kitchen, one smoke alarm for your main living space (usually the living room), and one smoke alarm for each circulation space (landing or hallway). This is the minimum protection required to meet the new safety standards.
Q. What type of alarms are available?
A. There are two types, mains and battery operated. Mains alarms are hard wired into the mains supply, and battery alarms which must be sealed and tamper-proof with a long life of up to 10 years.
Q. Will I need an electrician to fit them?
A. Only if they are going to be hard wired to the mains. Battery operated alarms can be installed by a competent installer.
Q. What date do I have to have them installed by?
A. The legislation says that by February 2022, every home should have these alarms.
Q. Do I need to have a Carbon Monoxide alarm?
A. If you have a carbon-fuelled appliance - boiler, fire, heater or flue, you must have a Carbon Monoxide alarm (this does not need to be linked to the others, but for best protection, it should be). It must have a sealed battery for the duration of its lifespan.
Q. What will happen if I don't install these detectors?
A. Your home may be at risk, and ultimately there may be checks to see if you have these detectors installed. In time, the installation of these detectors will form part of any Home Report should you wish to sell your home.
Q. Will my insurance cover me if I don't have detectors?
A. It is likely that insurance companies will demand that you install them. Not having them installed may invalidate your insurance - please check with your insurer.
Q. What does interlinked mean?
A. Interlinked means that if one alarm goes off, they all go off. This is so that no matter where you are in the house, you will hear one.
Q. Must all of the alarms need to be interlinked?
A. Yes, except for the Carbon Monoxide alarm.
Q. Do I need to have WiFi in my home?
A. No, the alarms work independently of WiFi.
Q. Are there certain standards that the alarms need to meet?
A. The following standards must be met:
Smoke alarms: BS EN14604:2005
Heat alarms: BS 5446-2:2003
Carbon monoxide detectors: British Kitemark EN 50291-1:2010
Q. Do Hi Tec alarms meet these standards?
A. All alarms installed by Hi Tec Alarms meet the relevant standards.