Most fires at home start accidentally and the effects can be devastating. A fire detection system - that includes smoke and heat alarms - provides an early warning and time to escape that really does save lives.
Smoke alarm advice
The easiest way to protect your home and family from fire is with working smoke alarms. Here are some things to consider when buying and fitting a smoke alarm:
- fit at least one smoke alarm to the ceiling on every level of your home, bedrooms with bunk beds or high sleepers and rooms with an increased fire risk
- test your smoke alarms at least monthly - test them by pressing the button until the alarm sounds, if it doesn’t sound, you need to replace the battery
- vacuum your smoke alarms every six months to remove dust
- if your smoke alarms do not have a built in battery, make sure to change the battery every year - only take the battery out when you need to replace it
- if a smoke alarm starts to beep on a regular basis, you need to replace the battery or alarm if it has a built in battery immediately - if it is a ten-year alarm, you will need to replace the whole alarm every ten years
- never disconnect or take the batteries out of your alarm if it goes off by mistake
- a lot of people forget to test the batteries, so longer life batteries are better
- mains-powered alarms are powered by your home power supply and have a back-up battery in case of a power cut - they need to be installed by a qualified electrician and, like battery alarms, they do require testing
- you can even have linked alarms installed, so that when one alarm detects a fire they all go off together - this is useful if you live in a large house or over several levels
Purchasing smoke alarms
- they are available to purchase from DIY stores, electrical shops and most high street supermarkets
- ten-year sealed battery smoke alarms are the best option - they are slightly more expensive, but you save on the cost of replacing batteries
- look out for the British Standard Kitemark and Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) symbols, which shows the alarm is approved and safe
Smoke alarms are not suitable for kitchens, but heat alarms are. Fitting a heat alarm in your kitchen will give you warning of an increase in temperature caused by a fire but will not be set off by cooking fumes.
Find out more about smoke alarms on the Safelincs website.
Fitting your smoke alarm
Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue do not routinely fit smoke alarms as standard and use a risk scoring matrix.
Always follow the manufacturers’ installation instructions.
You should fit a smoke alarm to the ceiling of every level of your home, in bedrooms where there are bunk beds or high sleepers and in any room where there is an increased risk of fire.
Make sure the alarm is:
- in a location where you can hear it when asleep
- at least 30cm away from walls and light fittings
- not near heaters or air conditioning units which may affect performance
- if you choose to have a mains-powered alarm, make sure it's installed by a qualified electrician. Battery operated smoke alarms do not require an electrician
If you are a tenant, it is your landlord’s responsibility for ensuring that there are working smoke alarms fitted on every level of the property. But as a tenant, you are responsible for checking that alarms are working order and informing your landlord of any faults.
Troubleshooting faults
If your smoke alarm is beeping or behaving unusually and there is no sign of fire, take action immediately:
- press the test button – the alarm will sound briefly and this may help to reset and clear the fault
- consider temperature changes – fluctuating temperatures (e.g. heating turning off at night) may cause occasional chirping until conditions stabilise
- check for dusts and insects – a quick vacuum or careful dusting may stop false alarms if it is safe to do so
If problems continue and it is a smoke alarm that we have installed, please contact our suppliers Fire Angel on 0800 141 2561 or www.fireangel.co.uk for advice. Your old smoke alarm twists off its mounting plate and a new smoke alarm will simply twists back in its place.
If we did not install your alarm, please fill out our Online Home Fire Safety Check Form for further support and guidance.
Please do not ignore a beeping smoke alarm. Taking action could save a life.
Fire detection for vulnerable people
Regular smoke and heat alarms aren't suitable for everyone, and not everyone can respond or escape quickly if there's a fire. However, there are different kinds of fire detection and prevention systems available to help keep everyone safe.
Some people need extra attention because of their circumstances or lifestyle. There are three ways you can be vulnerable:
- increased fire risk
- less able to react
- reduced ability to escape
If you or anyone you live with is a vulnerable person, please get in touch and organise a free home fire safety visit. We can help you work out the right fire detection system for the circumstances, and help you get it installed.
Depending on what you or the vulnerable person needs, this might include:
- smoke alarms, heat alarms and specialist alarms – like strobe lights and vibrating pad alarms for people with hearing impairments
- linked alarms
- monitored alarms connected to Telecare
Though we don't fit all of these systems for you, we can offer advice and put you in touch with the right team.
Carbon monoxide
What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide (CO) fumes are silent, highly poisonous fumes that are produced by the incomplete burning of fossil fuels (e.g. coal, gas, oil, wood). CO is difficult to detect because you cannot taste, see or smell it.
This can happen when appliances such as boilers, cookers, heaters, gas fires and solid fuel burners are faulty, have been incorrectly fitted, or not regularly serviced. It can also occur if flues, chimneys or vents are blocked or poorly maintained.
Carbon monoxide can be produced by:
- blocked or poorly maintained chimneys or flues
- portable heaters using liquid petroleum gas (LPG)
- gas boilers and appliances including fires
- gas cookers or clay ovens
- car engines and generators
- BBQs - charcoal or gas
If your home is a houseboat, carbon monoxide can also be produced by:
- boat engines and generators
- wood and coal burners
- gas cookers or fridges
- car engines
Detection - get a CO alarm
It's really important to fit a CO alarm in all rooms containing fuel burning appliances, ensuring that the alarm is able to be heard throughout your home. When sleeping, it is important that your alarm would wake you if it sounds. You therefore may wish to keep a CO alarm in the bedroom. It's also a good idea to familiarise yourself with our information below about the signs of CO poisoning, and learn what to do if you suspect someone may be affected.
- follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how and where to fit
- alarms purchased should be audible alarms, or hard of hearing alarms (avoid ‘colour change’ or ‘black spot’ indicator tools)
- alarms should be placed in any room that has a fuel burning appliance
- they will alert you if there is a presence of CO and allow you to escape
- take a free-standing alarm with you when you go away on holiday - whether you are staying in a hotel, boat, tent or caravan
- if you or someone you care for uses telecare services, approach the supplier for linked-in smoke and CO detection
Purchasing CO detection
- they are available to purchase from DIY stores, electrical shops and most high street supermarkets
- seven-year sealed battery CO detectors are the best option - they are slightly more expensive, but you save on the cost of replacing batteries
- only buy alarms that have been certified to British Standard EN50291 and have the British or European approval mark, such as the Kite mark
- if purchasing an alarm for a houseboat or caravan, please note that they need to comply with a different British standard: BS EN50291-2
Landlords, be aware that:
- all landlords of private residential rental properties in England are required by law to install a carbon monoxide alarm in any room that contains a solid fuel burning appliance (e.g. coal or wood burning fires and stoves).
- the Government also ‘expect and encourage reputable landlords to cover all gas appliances’. Keep up to date with the regulations.
Tenants, be aware that:
- you are responsible for testing the carbon monoxide alarms regularly during your tenancy and making sure they are working effectively (including arranging for the replacement of batteries or the alarms themselves with the landlord).
Find out more about carbon monoxide on the Safelincs website.