Are you a landlord in Huddersfield looking for some advice about smoke alarm installation?
There are many regulations that apply to the correct installation of smoke alarms in a tenanted property. It is vital that a landlord chooses a qualified and experienced smoke alarm installer to ensure a safe and compliant result. To help you understand your responsibilities as a landlord, JP Electrical Huddersfield have created this useful landlord’s guide to smoke alarm installation.
Back to top1) Where should smoke alarms be installed?
Regulations for landlords’ state that, as a minimum, one smoke alarm must be installed on every floor that is used as living accommodation. To provide the best protection it is also recommended that a smoke alarm is installed in each bedroom. For a smoke alarm to function effectively it must be installed in the correct position. This is usually on the ceiling in the centre of the room. If this is not possible, for example in a room with uneven ceiling heights, then there are further recommendations that govern the correct position. You must also take care that a smoke alarm is not installed within 10 feet of a cooker as this may cause false alarms and damage to the sensor. Alongside these general recommendations there are also specific guidelines from each individual manufacturer. It is best to use an experienced electrician who understands how to perform an effective and safe installation.
Back to top2) Hardwired or Battery Powered Smoke Alarms
When planning a smoke alarm installation at your Huddersfield rental property, you will be presented with two power source options; either battery operated or hardwired smoke alarms. A hardwired smoke alarm installation provides the best level of protection for your tenants. Battery powered alarms can be easily disabled, either intentionally or mistakenly. If a false or battery replacement alarm occurs, then many people will simply disconnect the battery and forget to replace it. This leaves your property with no effective protection. It is also easy to forget to check and replace the batteries and again this can result in failure. With a hardwired smoke alarm, you remove this uncertainty. Whilst they must still be tested regularly, they have both a mains power source and a backup battery, so the chance of failure is lower. This also means they are lower maintenance as, aside from your routine testing schedule, they shouldn’t need to be replaced for around 10 years.
Back to top3) Who should install hardwired smoke alarms?
A hardwired smoke alarm installation should only be carried out by a qualified, competent electrician with a thorough understanding of the regulations for landlords. The regulations state that landlords must ensure smoke alarms are installed in an effective way to best protect their tenants. An inexpertly installed smoke alarm will provide poor protection for your tenants and leave you as the responsible person, liable. By choosing a trusted, experienced electrician to install the smoke alarms at your Huddersfield property you can be certain of a safe, compliant result.
If you are a landlord in Huddersfield and would like to speak to an experienced electrician about your smoke alarm installation, call JP Electrical today. Based in Marsden, Huddersfield we are your local, fully qualified and NICEIC registered electrician. You can rely upon us to perform a smoke alarm installation that will not only keep your tenants safe but will ensure you meet your legal obligations as a landlord.
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