Smoke alarms in Scotland
What are the rules?
Following the tragic events of the Grenfell fire in London, the Scottish Government introduced new rules governing the use of smoke and heat alarms in the home. These came into effect in February 2022 (after initially being delayed from February 2021 due to the Covid pandemic). The new laws dictate that every Scottish home must have interlinked smoke / heat alarms so that if any of the alarms is triggered then they all sound an audible warning.
It is important to note that EVERY household will have to follow these rules. These don’t just apply to rented properties or businesses. The new rules are designed to improve the safety standards in Scottish homes and help prevent future fires similar to the one at Grenfell.
Luckily the standards are easy to understand and easy to follow. Each household must have a smoke alarm on every landing or hallway, a smoke alarm in the most commonly used room in the house (usually the living room), a heat alarm in the kitchen and a carbon monoxide alarm wherever there is a carbon fuelled appliance like a boiler, fire or heater.
If you choose to fit tamper-proof lithium battery powered alarms then you do not need a qualified electrician to do the work. However, if you prefer the mains powered alarms then get in touch with us and we will be happy to fit them for you. We will also be happy to fit the battery powered alarms as we can make sure they are sited correctly to adhere to the regulations and all working properly to ensure you are as safe as possible in your own home.
