Smoke Alarms - Am I correct?

[ADS]

Hi,

Am I correct in my interpretation of the 'Buildin Regs' that, in a normal 'two-storey', three bedroom semi, if the kitchen has a door between itself and the 'hallway', then there is no requirement for heat/smoke alarm in the kitchen itself - just fit one in the hall and one on the landing?

Cheers

 

[NozSpark]

A normal house will have a LD3 system,, that is smoke detectors on escape routes only - usually hall and landing (within 3m of bedroom doors)

You could increase this to a LD2 system which would also have appropriate detectors/sounders in higher risk rooms (kitchen and living room) in addition to LD3 requirements

 

[ADS]

A normal house will have a LD3 system,, that is smoke detectors on escape routes only - usually hall and landing (within 3m of bedroom doors)You could increase this to a LD2 system which would also have appropriate detectors/sounders in higher risk rooms (kitchen and living room) in addition to LD3 requirements

Cheers Noz,

This is a kitchen extension - should it specify the requirement in the customers plans then- and if not, go with the LD3?

 

[batty]

I always thought the regs say were fire are likely to start so generally I put a heat in the Kitchen.

 

[NozSpark]

So they are not making a new room, just increasing the size of one??

This kind of detail should be on the plans, but sometimes it isn't

I'd just go with a LD3 if it isn't

 

[ADS]

Thanks.

It only came up because the woman next door to my customer had exactly the same extension built on her house a couple of year ago, and she told my customer that a 'heat' alarm was a 'requirement' of her building inspector - so I was just wondering.

Needless to say, she's disconnected hers now - got fed up of it.

 

[NozSpark]

If it's that much of a bother Id see what the building inspector wants..

If in quotation stage make a note that you've quoted for an LD3, but will require building inspectors/architects confirmation that this is adequate

 

[nsbs]

although i always install a heat detector in the kitchen, there is no need in a normal sizes 2 up 2 down.

ian

 

[Theorysparky]

think of it this way

if there was a fire in the kitchen and it didnt have a heat alarm would the nearest alarm activate in enough time for the family to get out safely

it doesnt really matter what the architect has omitted on the plans its upto you to ensure your work complies.

did a job recently and he had missed an extractor fan......still needed one

 

[wozz]

Heat alarm instructions (aico) say unless there is a good chance of heat being contained within the room its best to put a smoke detector in the adjacent room. I persume this is because heats have a really poor response times to fires compared to a smoke detector.

 

[Megaohm7]

I was told by a building inspector that a heat alarm should go in a kitchen/diner in particular this was a job that was recent and a new extension I installed 2 further smokes, 1 in the hallway and 1 on the landing. When I function tested them they certainly made my ears ring.

 

[SteveT]

If req'd fit heat alarm in Kitchen - they are designed to be activated by high heat, i.e. not that found in normal kitchens - if they are activating without fire they are possibly faulty. I think its is around 85C for activation. AICO do a great little book, A6 size, FREE and it contains all the latest regs, info etc, they sem to be the leaders in smoke/fire/heat alarms in domestics

 

[NozSpark]

Don't forget (for domestic systems),, that so long as you follow the manufacturers instructions for siting and testing that you may not need to smoke or heat test the alarms and you will not need to do a dB test either (certainly for Aico ones)