Smoke Alarm

[1581960]

Looking for a fire/smoke alarm to install in the hallway of our bungalow, but there is a bewildering array of possibilities on Amazon and Ebay costing from as little as £5.99 (1/2Pcs Home Fire Alarm Smoke Detector Gas Sensor Fireangel with Batteries) to ones that are several times that price.

Advice from someone with knowledge and understanding of the jargon and specifications would be most welcome.

Many thanks.

Alan

 

[maggiebee]

When I needed one I just phoned my local fire station. They did a safety check for me and installed two smoke alarms free of charge.  Worth a call?

[1581960]

Thats a thought Maggie, thank for that.

[Buenchico]

If you're in Scotland, the law requires that you use interlinked smoke detectors:
https://www.gov.scot/publications/fire-and-smoke-alarms-in-scottish-homes/

If you're in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, the requirement to install interlinked detectors only applies to rental properties. However you might want to think about why landlords are obliged to install interlinked detectors and apply the same principles to guide your own choice of devices.

I'm happy enough to use standalone smoke detectors in my tiny (one bedroom) home though.  I've got a couple of FireAngel ones from Screwfix, which were incredibly easy to install (even for someone, like me, with zero DIY skills!). They're £8.79 each
https://www.screwfix.com/p/fireangel-sb1-r-battery-standalone-smoke-alarm/848cc
or £14.99 for two
https://www.screwfix.com/p/fireangel-sb1-tp-r-battery-standalone-smoke-alarms-2-pack/383cc
(Note that they're designed to be less sensitive to false alarms, such as when you burn the toast, than other types but still respond well to anything which might pose a real threat to your safety)

[barry1010]

Have you thought about contacting your fire service for a safety check? They will advise on what is best for your home and where they should go.

They often supply and fit at no charge

[barry1010]

Apologies, got distracted and posted late 

[1581960]

Good answers, many thanks to all.