The expert installation of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors at your Bristol property will help to keep your tenants safe.
Landlords have a legal responsibility to provide and maintain sufficient smoke and carbon monoxide detectors within their properties. At Allied Electrical Services we have many years of experience in providing smoke and carbon monoxide detector installation and maintenance services to landlords of rental properties across Bristol.
Installing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
For smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to function properly they must be installed in the correct positions throughout a property. A smoke or carbon monoxide detector that has been inexpertly installed, or whose batteries have failed, will provide no protection for your tenants. This could leave you, the landlord, on the wrong side of the law. A poorly installed alarm will not function correctly and may not warn your tenants of the danger in time. Firefighters attended just over 7500 house fires in 2018 in homes which had battery powered smoke alarms installed. For 38% of these homes the smoke alarm failed to work. For the majority, the main cause of the failure was the incorrect positioning of the smoke alarm, followed by missing or faulty batteries.
Mains powered smoke alarms
A mains powered smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector is the safest, most efficient option for landlords. They offer ease of maintenance and help you to stay in compliance with regulations. Importantly for landlords, who have many responsibilities to juggle, mains powered smoke detectors will be installed and maintained by a competent professional electrician.
Choosing an experienced, registered, and qualified electrician to install your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors offers you optimal protection for your property. It is important that the electrician who installs your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors understands the regulations they must comply with. Allied Electrical Services have been providing electrical services to landlords in Bristol for many years. All our electricians are highly trained and have a thorough knowledge of the regulations smoke alarms must comply with. Selecting us to install and maintain your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors you can be certain of a safe and compliant installation.
Where should smoke detectors be installed?
At least one smoke alarm must be installed on every floor of your property which is used as living accommodation. Smoke detectors should also be installed in every bedroom to provide the best protection for your tenants and property. Ideal positioning for a smoke alarm is centrally in a room and on the ceiling. They should always be least 10 feet away from cooking appliances to avoid false alarms. The restrictions and recommendations for smoke detectors installation are complex and vary by manufacturer and alarm. To ensure a safe and effective installation it is highly recommended that you choose a qualified and experienced electrician.
Where should carbon monoxide detectors be installed?
According to the regulations for landlords “A carbon monoxide alarm should be installed in every room which is used as living accommodation containing a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers)” As with smoke detectors, it is further recommended that a carbon monoxide detector is installed on every level of your property and inside every bedroom. False alarms can be caused, or your carbon monoxide detector may not function correctly, if placed in the wrong area. These locations include:
- Near to a fuel burning appliance.
- In an area of high humidity such as a bathroom.
- In direct sunlight.
- Near fans or vents which allow too much airflow.
Requirements for the placement of your detectors also vary depending on the presence of a fuel-burning appliance. As you can see, installing a carbon monoxide detector correctly requires considerable knowledge and careful planning.
If you need an expert installation of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors at your Bristol rental property, Allied Electrical Services are here to help. Fully qualified, NICEIC registered and highly experienced in the provision of electrical services to landlords, we are your reliable local electricians. Contact us today.
