The British Standards and rules about the heat and smoke alarms

Introducing the standards and regulations BS about the smoke alarms, fire alarms, heat alarms

What does the British Standard say about the
smoke alarms, heat alarms, and their siting in the houses and dwellings? What about the new regulations?

Standards and regulations for smoke alarms & heat alarms

The British Standard BS 5839: Part 6: 2004 is the definitive Code Of Practice to which the Architects, the Building Professionals, the Enforcing Authorities, the Landlords and the Installers should refer for recommendations on the design, installation and use of smoke and heat alarms in the majority of domestic dwellings. Landlords in both the public and private sector are considered to have a Duty of Care to fit compliant smoke and heat alarm systems. Read more about what British Standard BS 5839: Part 6: 2004 recommends concerning:

The existing system grades and categories;
The new build properties and the materially altered dwellings(with 1 to 3 storeys);
The existing tenanted properties with a single storey(grade F, LD3) or with two and three stories(grade D, LD3);
For the new build and materially altered dwellings, the standards in England & Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

The Aico optical alarms
The optical sensors are more responsible to the smouldering fires producing large particle smoke, typical for... read more

The Aico ionisation alarms
The ionisation type sensors are a more sensitive class of sensors to the smoke that is almost invisible to the eye read more

The Aico heat alarms
The heat alarm are less likely to produce false alarms since they are less responsive to fire or smoke and more responsive to the rise of heat... read more

British Standard BS 5839: Part 6: 2004 - recommendations

Heat detectors from Aico
Using a heat sensor, not so keen on the smoke or fire detection but on the rise ....

Aico CO detectors
The CO(Carbon Monoxide) is am insidous gas, a killer. It cannot be seen, smelled or tasted. The CO alarms ....

Smoke detectors Aico
The Aico smoke detectors are keen mainly to detect the smoke produced by ....

System Grades

Six different grades of fire detection systems are being defined. Generally speaking, the greater the fire risk the more sophisticated the system should be. Briefly, these 6 grades are:

Grade A - A full system with control and indicating equipment installed to BS 5839: Part 1
Grade B - Detectors and sounders using simpler specified equipment
Grade C - Detectors and sounders or alarms with central control
Grade D - Mains powered alarms with an integral stand-by power supply
Grade E - Mains powered alarms with no stand-by power supply
Grade F - Battery powered alarms

System Categories

Three different categories of life protection systems are defined. Briefly these are (starting at the highest):

LD1 - Alarms in all circulation spaces that form part of escape routes and all areas where a fire might start, but not bathrooms, shower rooms or toilets
LD2 - Alarms in all circulation spaces that form part of escape routes and rooms or areas that present a high fire risk
LD3 - Alarms in circulation spaces that form part of escape routes

BS 5839: Part 6: 2004 emphasises that no one type of alarm is most suitable for all applications. Consideration must be given to the most suitable type of detection - optical, ionisation and heat. Top

New build properties and materially altered dwellings
One to three storeys - Grade D, LD2

Mains alarms with battery back-up
Optical smoke alarms in circulation spaces - hallways and landings e.g. Ei146 or Ei166RC with or without the RadioLINK technology of wireless interconnection.
Heat alarm in the kitchen e.g. Ei144 or Ei164RC with or without RadioLINK
Smoke alarm or heat alarm as best suited for the particular circumstance in the main living room
All alarms must be interconnected(via radioLINK or hard-wired; see devices).
The sound pressure level of the alarm signal measured at the doorway of each bedroom with the door open should be at least 85dB(A)

Existing Tenanted Properties Two and three storey - Grade D, LD3

Mains alarms with battery back-up
Optical alarms in circulation spaces - hallways and landings e.g. Ei146 or Ei166RC with or without RadioLINK
If a fire risk assessment shows the property or occupier to be a high fire risk, increase the number of alarms installed to meet the risk - e.g. follow recommendations for an LD2 installation
All alarms must be interconnected
The sound pressure level of the alarm signal measured at the doorway of each bedroom with the door open should be at least 85dB(A)

Existing Tenanted Properties Single storey - Grade F, LD3

Battery powered with a minimum battery life of 5 years e.g. Ei 10 year alarm
Optical smoke alarm in circulation spaces - hallway e.g. Ei3105TYCH
If a fire risk assessment identifies a concern that the occupier cannot or may not replace a battery, use mains alarms or mains with battery back-up
If a fire risk assessment shows the property or occupier to be a high fire risk, increase the number of alarms installed to meet the risk - e.g. follow recommendations for an LD2 installation

For the new build and materially altered dwellings - building regulations

All the architects, builders and installers must comply with Building Regulations and install mains powered alarms in new and materially altered dwellings.

England & Wales

Building Regulations Approved Document B (Fire Safety) minimum requirements are currently Grade D, LD3, but it also defines that installation should be to BS 5839 Pt.6 and therefore Grade D, LD2 is recommended.
Grade D, LD3

Mains alarms with battery back-up with the mains supply taken from a lighting circuit or a dedicated circuit from the distribution board
Smoke alarms are required in the circulation spaces such as hallways and landings. In general optical alarms are recommended e.g. Ei146, Ei166RC
Heat alarm to be installed in the kitchen where there is no door separating the kitchen from the circulation space, e.g. Ei144, Ei164RC
Smoke and heat alarms must be interconnected
Alarms may be interconnected using radioLINK