Topic: smoke alarms (Read 2510 times)

roycv · « **on:** January 31, 2021, 10:42:54 am »

Hi all I wonder if anyone can throw some light on the one I have. It is very high up so I cannot inspect it anymore, it is me and my dodgy balance. It has an electrical mains connection and a battery. It bleeps when the battery needs changing as it did yesterday, this was done and OK after testing. I have changed batteries several times in the last 15 years.

What is the electrical mains connection for?
It was part of a big loft conversion and I asked for a mains driven one so that I would not have to risk life and limb changing batteries. I have never tried running it without a battery.

Any thoughts?
Regards
Roy

Subculture · « **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2021, 10:45:07 am »

I would hazard a guess that the battery is there as a back-up should you get a power cut.

Perhaps consider getting one or two simpler battery powered units and mounting on the side of the wall- they seem to work just as well there as on the ceiling, and a bit easier to get at. Glue some magnets on the case and a hoop so you can pull them off the wall with a big stick with a hook on the end.

Baldrick · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2021, 10:52:02 am »

Yes mains is back up for battery but if the battery does go flat the mains will make it bleep at constant intervals till you sort it and taking the battery out will not stop it , usually does this in middle of night . Always keep a spare battery handy.

I have the same problem with access to one of mine , when you are getting wobbly good idea to get someone in to replace batteries annually.

SailorGreg · « **Reply #3 on:** January 31, 2021, 11:04:32 am »

I had mains operated fire detectors in my previous house. There was a battery as backup if the mains failed, but I never had to replace the battery, it was kept charged by the mains power. Are you sure your detectors are getting mains power? Changing the backup batteries in a mains-powered system should be a very rare event. I doubt that the mains is acting as a backup to the battery - that would be a very strange arrangement.

You say you asked for a mains powered system to avoid battery changing, yet you seem to have changed batteries quite a lot. Do you have a record of who fitted the system? I would ask their advice, and if you can have tradesmen in your house at the moment, to come and check that all is well.

Greg

Baldrick · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2021, 11:17:36 am »

Quote from: SailorGreg on January 31, 2021, 11:04:32 am

I had mains operated fire detectors in my previous house. There was a battery as backup if the mains failed, but I never had to replace the battery, it was kept charged by the mains power. Are you sure your detectors are getting mains power? Changing the backup batteries in a mains-powered system should be a very rare event. I doubt that the mains is acting as a backup to the battery - that would be a very strange arrangement.

You say you asked for a mains powered system to avoid battery changing, yet you seem to have changed batteries quite a lot. Do you have a record of who fitted the system? I would ask their advice, and if you can have tradesmen in your house at the moment, to come and check that all is well.

Greg

The batteries in the alarms are normal cells, not rechargeable (at least not in mine ) so they need replacing on a regular basis.

barriew · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2021, 11:46:31 am »

Roy,

Our Firebrigade (Essex) fitted two smoke alarms for me free of charge. They are battery operated but with a 10 year life. If they fail in my lifetime, they will come and fit replacements.

Barrie

kinmel · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2021, 11:49:39 am »

Many house fires are caused by electrical faults and the power supply trips out.

With a mains only supply the alarm will stop sounding, or even never sound if it trips before smoke reaches the detector. Hence the battery.

The reason for fitting a mains supply is to overcome the occupier's failure to look after the batteries. You would be surprised how often crews attend a house fire and there is no battery in the alarm because Johnny's torch ran flat !
I have a 10 year battery alarm in every room and the hallway, 9 in all and you can link them if it is a large house. It works out at less than £1.00 a month and I don't care if the mains fail, or if a single unit fails.
Despite 27 years in the fire service I want an alarm while the fire is in it's early stages and still confined to one room, when it is still possible to walk out and stay out.

Tug Fanatic · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2021, 11:58:25 am »

Mains & battery smoke alarms were a mandatory building regs fitment 20 years ago. If you have more than one (maximum spacing is specified) they need to be linked so if one goes off they all do.
Battery is, as has been said, a backup for mains power.

Baldrick · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2021, 12:00:50 pm »

It is also a requirement to test the alarms regularly I do mine every month or two , find I can do this with the long broom handle to press the test button.

HMS Invisible · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2021, 12:02:03 pm »

Scottish householders have just been given an extra year to comply with strict new fire and smoke alarm regulations.
Worthy of note here is householders can install "Tamper proof long-life lithium battery alarms" themselves.
It's all here apart from the name of the retailer that sells the linkable 10 year battery type.

Where can I get one kinmel?

kinmel · « **Reply #10 on:** January 31, 2021, 12:16:50 pm »

Without doubt the most knowledgeable UK specialist is..... https://www.safelincs.co.uk/
All the information is there and they can talk all day about the technical side of it all.
Other suppliers are available.
p.s. In Wales new build residential premises has to have a sprinkler system installed as well. So far the sprinklers have stopped fire spread and saved lives, it's a pity it is so expensive to retro-fit a system.

Barney Magrew · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2021, 12:17:09 pm »

As far as I am aware (unless things have changed since I retired) then alarms should be mounted at the highest point as that's where the smoke gets to first. So please don't mount them on the wall where it's convenient to get to them. Alarms save lives not convenience. I am sure there are agencies that would help out if you rang them, including the Fire Service.

HMS Invisible · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2021, 12:26:58 pm »

Quote from: kinmel on January 31, 2021, 12:16:50 pm

Without doubt the most knowledgeable UK specialist is..... https://www.safelincs.co.uk/
All the information is there and they can talk all day about the technical side of it all.
Other suppliers are available.
p.s. In Wales new build residential premises has to have a sprinkler system installed as well. So far the sprinklers have stopped fire spread and saved lives, it's a pity it is so expensive to retro-fit a system.

Everything I need to comply with our new regulations is in here https://www.safelincs.co.uk/10-year-sealed-battery-smoke-alarms/ and they don't seem to be expensive for what they are.Thanks very much!

kinmel · « **Reply #13 on:** January 31, 2021, 12:28:45 pm »

UK fire services have stopped supplying alarms during the Covid 19 restrictions, but are keen to start it up again as soon as possible. The cost is negligible, the government buys 100,000s at a time.

They undoubtedly save lives now they are tamper proof and have a 10 year battery life.

Install at least 2 alarms, as the saying goes - one is none and two is one.

If you buy your own, the sellers happily replace any that fail during the 10 years.

HMS Invisible · « **Reply #14 on:** January 31, 2021, 12:32:47 pm »

The bulleted feature list last item for many products ( in bold text) is:-

Also suitable for the 2022 Scottish legislation

kinmel · « **Reply #15 on:** January 31, 2021, 01:15:22 pm »

Quote from: microgyros on January 31, 2021, 12:32:47 pm

The bulleted feature list last item for many products ( in bold text) is:-
Also suitable for the 2022 Scottish legislation

I have no doubt that Safelincs was amongst those consulted when the legislation was being drafted !
They love strange requests such my last one " I have a 3d printer in my workshop, if it catches fire what kit do I need to sound an alarm, shut off the power and discharge an extinguisher into the cabinet" He didn't even have to look it up and the parts were in stock.

Magic

roycv · « **Reply #16 on:** January 31, 2021, 04:59:25 pm »

Hi all thank you all for your responses and interest. It does seem that whatever the mains/battery combination was for it has not quite achieved its objective or maybe just failed mine. As it will leave an undecorated circle in the ceiling I will wait until the area is redecorsted and then have a 10 year job fitted.

It has been interesting reading your posts, I too am very conscious of fire and have a fire extinguisher next to the gas hob in the kitchen. So no chip fryers for me.

In fact when we went through a longish period of finding a new house my first thought when upstairs was always "How do I get out in a hurry".
Regards to all
Roy

Subculture · « **Reply #17 on:** January 31, 2021, 05:43:12 pm »

Maybe you should have got a bungalow!

HMS Invisible · « **Reply #18 on:** January 31, 2021, 05:52:58 pm »

If the option was open to me I'd fit a lithium primary battery after checking the alarm works.
The low self discharge characteristic is ideal. Way better than alkaline.

roycv · « **Reply #19 on:** January 31, 2021, 05:55:49 pm »

Hi Sub, we did buy a bungalow! But decided we wanted an upstairs after living there for 6 months.
Regards
Roy

Shipmate60 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 01, 2021, 09:23:11 am »

All my alarms are also carbon monoxide sensors too. CO poisoning the silent killer!!

Bob

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #21 on:** February 01, 2021, 09:41:44 am »

Quote

All my alarms are also carbon monoxide sensors too. CO poisoning the silent killer!!

Yes, Carbon Monoxide is important too - thanks for the reminder, just tested mine.

Colin

RST · « **Reply #22 on:** February 04, 2021, 11:23:59 pm »

Am absolutely convinced the pamphlet I received a cpl of months ago is unbiased and not in any way linked to any company offering devices.

....Wait, I just checked: It's company sponsored and of course compliant with "Scottish regulations" and no mention of 12 months delay on the regs. I imagine someone on SNP books is "ex-fire service" and we have this now with no real rhyme or reason but looks good to justify tax payers money on a commitee.

Also: I gave up the last time I asked a person at SFRS if they would consider a professional or domestic review -it was met with laughter, they don't do that for many years now!

...I'm trying to get a shopping list of what is required for two properties but I've been doing it for about 6 months and no complete system seems to be in stock. Meanwhile both places have reasonable protection plus Fi-Fi -an extinguisher and blanket also but not near the cooker god forbid you place the friefighting medum at the place the fire most likely! Bttery powered lamps.

I'm not in panic mode over this rule change, oif you didn't realise already there's not much you can do instead as long as you were sensible before.

The stupid but of the rules is I now need 2 sounders, less than 3m apart because of geometry -actually a third also when one single one would do the same job and clearly loud enough.

Thank god for idle hands in SNP keeping us ~~safe~~ spending -this is more nonsense than anything I met offshore.

kinmel · « **Reply #23 on:** February 05, 2021, 12:12:00 pm »

This is the current position regarding home inspections by Scottish Fire & Rescue..... https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/your-safety/online-hfsv-checker.aspx

davejo90 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 13, 2021, 12:42:59 pm »

We had an electrical check last week and the electrician changed over our old smoke detectors which had alkaline batteries in them for new rechargable type so no need to change batteries again.

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Author Topic: smoke alarms (Read 2510 times)

RST

davejo90