Fire & CO Safety Feature
A guide to fi re & CO protection
Jennifer Bickford from Aico highlights the critical importance of proper installation and regular maintenance of life saving alarms, emphasising their role in protecting lives and ensuring long term safety in social housing properties.
D
esigning a home plays a pivotal role in ensuring occupant safety and wellbeing. A critical aspect of this responsibility is the correct integration of fi re and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. Getting this
right ensures alarms provide life saving detection and respond quickly in a fi re or CO event. It’s essential to note that specifi c requirements and best practices can vary
signifi cantly depending on the property type and local building regulations. Always consult the latest versions of relevant standards and legislation.
SITING ALARMS T e placement of fi re and CO alarms is paramount to their eff ectiveness. While seemingly straightforward, there are considerations to take when maximising detection and alerting occupants promptly. For optimal fi re detection, heat and smoke alarms should be located as
centrally as possible on the ceiling, and at least 300 mm away from walls, light fi ttings, or other obstructions. T is distance is vital to avoid restricted airfl ow, which can delay smoke reaching the sensor. Strategic placement ensures audibility throughout the property. Installing
alarms within three meters of every bedroom door will allow residents to be woken from sleep in the case of an emergency. Furthermore, positioning alarms between high risk rooms and bedrooms provides an early warning pathway. For properties with stairways, alarms should be sited on the fl at ceilings at both the top and bottom of the stairs to monitor the spread of fi re vertically. Never install fi re alarms within bathrooms or too close to a bathroom door,
as steam and moisture can trigger nuisance alarms or cause damage. Similarly, avoid siting alarms on sloped ceilings directly above stairwells, as this can also lead to ineff ective detection. A room with beams requires careful consideration. Where the depth of a
beam is less than 10% of the room height, position the alarm either twice the depth of the beam or 500 mm away, whichever is less. If a beam’s depth exceeds 10% of the room height, it eff ectively acts as a wall. In such cases, alarms should be fi tted on both sides of the beam. Alternatively, if the beam is less than 600 mm deep, an alarm can be sited on its underside.
CO ALARMS CO alarms have distinct siting requirements compared to smoke and heat alarms, primarily due to the nature of CO itself. When an alarm is installed in a room with a fuel burning appliance, it should be sited on the ceiling, between one metre and three metres from all potential sources of CO. Like fi re alarms, ensure it’s at least 300 mm away from walls, light fi ttings, or obstructions to avoid dead air zones. If the fuel burning appliance is in a confi ned space, such as a small
boiler room or cupboard, the CO alarm should be sited on the ceiling just outside that room. For instance, where a cupboard is within a bathroom, certain battery powered CO alarms are specifi cally designed for installation in such environments. In rooms without a fuel burning appliance, CO alarms should be sited at breathing height. T is means they should be placed at a height where occupants
Tenant & Residential Engagement 31
CO alarms have distinct siting requirements compared to smoke and heat alarms, primarly due to the nature of the gas itself; when installed in a room with a fuel burning appliance, they should be on the ceiling
Housing Management & Maintenance August/September 2025
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