More information on the standard, including the types of alarms, is in the Tolerable Standard Guidance Chapters 16 and 17. To be eligible for support from Care and Repair Scotland you must own and live in your home that has a council tax banding of A-C and:

Sealed, tamper-proof battery units must be used because they are safer than those which allow the user to change the batteries. Disposing of your old alarmsPlease note: A smoke or heat alarm will give an audible sound consisting of two cycles of three loud beeps, for CO alarms there will be two cycles of four loud beeps. This could be critical if you’re out when there’s a fire. All of the smart smoke alarms we've tested are optical models. During these 5 seconds you need to briefly press the ʻtestʼ button on any other Smart RF alarm fitted with a Smart RF Radio module. The new law has come about because of the Grenfell fire in London in 2017, and it applies to all Scottish homes. As a general principle, home owners must pay for any ongoing work needed on their own property. As with other housing standards, the homeowner must meet the new fire and carbon monoxide alarm standard. Local authorities have broad discretionary powers to provide advice and help to home owners with work needed to look after their homes. Help with the costs for pensioners and disabled people

Interlinked smoke detectors use radios and other technologies to detect fires while being connected throughout your home's system. They will alert you if a fire starts in another area, giving you time to evacuate the home. Once they sense an issue, all the alarms in your home go off together to facilitate the location of potential dangers in other areas. You can read our full article about what is an interlinked smoke alarm. System incorporating one or more interlinked mains-powered smoke alarms (and heat alarms if required), each with an integral stand-by supply. They can be hardwire-interlinked or radio-interlinked. The stand-by supply is user-replaceable and will not last the full life of the alarm.Mains-wired alarms are cheaper but if you use them, they must be fitted by a qualified electrician and must be replaced every 10 years. You may also need to redecorate after fitting them. Hard-wired and wireless fire alarms have different benefits, but both are useful in providing you with peace of mind that your family is safe from fires. Before deciding on an interlinked smoke detector system for your home, it's important to understand the pros and cons of each option so you can make an informed decision about which one will work best for you. Ionisation alarms ionise the air between two electrodes. These are positively and negatively charged, creating a small current inside the chamber. wall mounted and positioned at least 150 mm below the ceiling and higher than any door or window in the room (unless otherwise indicated by the manufacturer) If for any reason, it is inappropriate or you do not want to use an adhesive pad, battery-operated alarms that meet the manufactures requirement and can be wall mounted may be used, - to be compliant with the legislation, an alarm on the wall should be within 30 cm of the ceiling. Installation of alarms

Any mains-powered alarms, regardless of sensor type, must be permanently wired into a mains circuit. Alarms which use a mains plug are not suitable for the updated regulations. Our range of Smart RF alarms* and accessories have been designed to wirelessly interlink via a simple ʻLearn-inʼ process – so in the event of an alarm activating, all the alarms within the network will also activate. If you are resident in Scotland, you should be aware that there are new regulations in place from February 2022 that will make some of the above practices a legal requirement. For shared ownership properties, as with other condition standards, responsibilities are set out in the occupancy agreement. However, in general, it is your responsibility as the proportion owner, rather than the registered social landlord, to meet the new fire and smoke alarm standard. Private rented property If you use battery alarms, they must be sealed tamper-proof units and have long-life lithium batteries, which can be up to 10 years. You may be able to fit these types of alarms yourself andthey do not need an electrician. Batteries last for the duration of its operational lifespan, which may be up to 10 years - although sensors degrade over time.Their distinguishing feature is the fact that they can be linked to other alarms, both heat and smoke alarms, so that when one senses danger they all sound. British Standard 5839 Part 6 is a code of practice relating to the design, installation and maintenance of fire detection systems in domestic premises. The standard also grades fire detection systems which reflects their functionality and capability. The below table details the up-to-date grades for fire detection systems. Alarm Grades by Power Type (BS 5839 Part 6) BS 5839-6: 2019 Grade Please note that the Nest Protect System will notmeet the standard. This is because they do not meet the requirements for a heat alarm under the relevant British Standard. British Standard (BS 5839-6:2019) states that only heat alarms should be installed in kitchens. Costof alarms and financial help Homeowners and landlords