The law on fire alarms in Scotland has changed. We can help you meet the new regulations for homeowners.
Since February 2022, new safety standards require interlinked fire and smoke alarms throughout the home. This will alert you more quickly to danger and help save lives.
We can help older and disabled Edinburgh residents to meet the requirements by providing and installing alarms that comply with the new guidelines. We cover the Edinburgh City Council catchment area which does not include Midlothian, West Lothian or East Lothian.
The new fire safety standard requires:
- One smoke alarm installed in the room most frequently used for general daytime living purposes – this may be your living room.
- One smoke alarm in every circulation space on each storey, such as hallways and landings.
- One heat alarm installed in every kitchen.
- All alarms should be ceiling mounted and interlinked.
- Where there is a carbon-fuelled appliance such a gas boiler, an open fire or a gas heater present, a carbon monoxide detector is also required which does not need to be linked to the fire alarms.
How can we help?
Care & Repair Edinburgh can provide and install suitable wireless interlinked smoke and heat alarms. These come with a 5-year manufacturer’s guarantee and a 10-year battery life. We can also supply and fit carbon monoxide detectors if required.
There is support available for those on low incomes who are eligible for assistance. More information on eligibility criteria can be found further below.
We can advise you on how many alarms you will require and where they should be positioned depending on the size of your property.
- If you live in a single-storey property, you will need two smoke alarms and one heat alarm. If you have a carbon fuelled appliance like a boiler, you will also need a carbon monoxide detector.
- A double-storey property will need three smoke alarms and one heat alarm. If you have a carbon fuelled appliance like a boiler, you will also need a carbon monoxide detector.
Available assistance
The Scottish Government have awarded Care and Repair an assistance package for lower income older and disabled homeowners, to support our overall aim to help homeowners live independently and safely at home for as long as possible.
To be eligible for support, applicants must comply with all the following criteria:
- Live in and own their home that has a Council Tax banding of A-C.
- Be of either state pension age and in receipt of guaranteed Pension Credit, or have a disability and be in a support group for Employment and Support Allowance and provide the appropriate reference number.
- There should be no other earning adult in the household.
As well as assisting with the installation of battery-operated interlinked fire alarms for anyone eligible for support, CRE are also offering this service to anyone who is over the age of 60 or has a disability and lives within Edinburgh City Council’s catchment area at a cost of £245 for a single storey property (2 smoke + 1 heat alarm) or £299 for a double storey property (3 smoke + 1 heat alarm), which would be payable in advance. Additional alarms would be charged for at unit price.
We are currently adding client details to our Fire Alarm waiting list and are contacting them to arrange appointment dates when we are scheduled to work within their postcode area.
If you wish to apply, please do so at https://www.cre.scot/request-a-service/
Please remember to add your DWP number and the name of the benefit you receive if you think that you are eligible for Government funding. Please also add details of your home layout so that we can determine the correct number of alarms to be installed.
FAQs
What if I rent?
Private landlords are responsible for the installation of alarms.
What should I do with my old alarms?
Most alarms can be recycled at home or at a recycling centre.
Will my home insurance be affected?
Contact your insurer to check if the new fire alarm requirements are specified in your policy?
General guidance on interlinked fire alarms can be found at www.mygov.scot/firealarms
What does it cost?
For a single storey property (2 smoke + 1 heat alarm) - £245
For a double storey property (3 smoke + 1 heat alarm) - £299
There is some funding available to assist people who live in and own their home with a Council Tax banding of A-C and who are either of state pension age and in receipt of guaranteed Pension Credit, or who have a disability and are in a support group for Employment and Support Allowance, with no other earning adult in the household. More detail on this can be found further up this page.
Request our Fire alarms service
