Fire & Co Alarms
Achieving consistent fire and carbon monoxide safety
The last year has seen significant changes regarding the legal requirements for smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) protection for all types of residential dwellings throughout the UK, including both owned and rented properties. However, there still remains concerning disparities regarding the minimum level of protection required throughout each country and property type.
H
ere, Ian Ballinger, Head of Projects and Certification at FireAngel, discusses with Craig Drinkald, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service and National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) lead officer for CO in the UK, the importance for smoke and CO alarms to be fitted throughout all types of residential properties and the types of technologies that should be installed to achieve the highest standards of safety and compliance.
IB: The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 will be enforced in England from October 1st 2022, making the
Craig Drinkald
installation of smoke and CO alarms mandatory throughout all social housing properties, in addition to privately rented. Any social landlords found to be in breach of the legislation could be fined up to £5,000. What is the NFCC’s response to the extension of the requirements for domestic smoke and CO alarms throughout social housing?
CD: The NFCC are pleased with the new regulations and lobbied the Government to include these changes, which will require CO alarms to be installed in all rented and new build properties where there is a fixed combustion appliance (excluding cookers).
Ian Ballinger
We welcome the inclusion of both private and social sector landlords into the duty to replace or repair alarms once they have been informed that they are not working. We hope that landlords and residents proactively ensure that the alarms are working by carrying out regular testing. NHS data shows that 60 people per year die from CO poisoning, and any detection related measures that can provide an early warning for residents from CO or smoke is a step towards saving people from a very preventable source of harm.
IB: Four million households live in rented social housing in England, just under a fifth of all households. Does the NFCC believe the measurements outlined within the government’s Social Housing White Paper go far enough to achieve adequate levels of safety for all individuals throughout the UK?
“A mandate for all new properties or those that have fuel burning appliances fitted would undoubtedly make our communities safer.”
of February this year with regard to CO alarms it would have been a significant achievement, but the new English regulations are a massive step in the right direction. Hopefully, over time, data can be analysed to
CD: If we had been able to get the same level of regulation that has been in place in Scotland since the 1st
24 | electrical wholesaler April 2023
ewnews.co.uk
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