is it good to include a Smoke alarm in the loft space as part of building regs?

Andy From Sligo · 15-04-2017 01:58PM #1

I have read in the past that some houses have burnt down due to fires (maybe electrical fires or from chimney) where the fire has started up in the loft space. - but strangely there seems to be no requirements for new / newer properties to have a smoke or heat alarm(s) to be installed in the loft area.

Would it be good idea to install a smoke alarm into the loft area in domestic dwellings now. It could be argued that if an alarm goes off in the loft the dweller may not hear the alarm going off with the insulation between loft and ceiling, but with modern alarms now they can be linked to other alarms with no problem, in fact even with our smoke / heat alarms in our property they are wired up in a way that if a fire breaks out in our kitchen it sounds not only the kitchen alarm it sounds all the others on the circuit as well so if a fire broke out in the kitchen the upstairs alarm on the landing sounds as well.

Is it good idea to have smoke alarm in loft area or overkill do you reckon?

mikeoneilly · 15-04-2017 02:09PM

Cold and Condensation can set them off so probably not

Metric Tensor · 15-04-2017 02:10PM

It's 100% a good idea and is required in most non-domestic buildings.

All smoke alarms in new dwellings have to be interlinked so it will sound everywhere when one detects smoke. There's plenty of interlinked retrofit alarms on the market too so try to make sure it's interlinked and mains powered. Also and this is the hard part - you have to test it regularly so don't put it behind the Christmas Tree!

There's no such thing as overkill when it comes to keeping your family safe.

mikeoneilly · 15-04-2017 03:01PM

https://www.eielectronics.com/downloads/smoke-alarm-manuals.html?download=31:alarm-manual

(d) Locations to Avoid Don’t place your Smoke Alarm in any of the following areas: • Bathrooms, shower rooms, garages or other rooms where the smoke alarm may be triggered by steam, condensation, normal smoke or fumes. • Attics or other places where extremes of temperature may occur (below 4°C/34°F or above 40°C/104°F).

Andy From Sligo · 15-04-2017 03:54PM

mikeoneilly wrote: »

Cold and Condensation can set them off so probably not

oh really, thanks, I never knew / heard about this - imagine that

Andy From Sligo · 15-04-2017 03:56PM

mikeoneilly wrote: »

https://www.eielectronics.com/downloads/smoke-alarm-manuals.html?download=31:alarm-manual

(d) Locations to Avoid Donâ€™t place your Smoke Alarm in any of the following areas: â€¢ Bathrooms, shower rooms, garages or other rooms where the smoke alarm may be triggered by steam, condensation, normal smoke or fumes. â€¢ Attics or other places where extremes of temperature may occur (below 4Â°C/34Â°F or above 40Â°C/104Â°F).

wonder about Heat alarms then, if they are affected? - maybe best to put a heat alarm up in the loft (if they are not affected by low temperature )

Mycroft H · 15-04-2017 04:12PM

Attics can get really hot in the summer can't they though?

Andy From Sligo · 15-04-2017 06:04PM

Mycroft H wrote: »

Attics can get really hot in the summer can't they though?

Our EIelectronic ones trigger at 58c - I havent really measured temp up in the loft in the summer, but you could be right it could affect it

is it good to include a Smoke alarm in the loft space as part of building regs?

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