Fire and smoke alarms: changes to the law

17 August 2023

The Scottish Government has advised that every home in Scotland must have:

one smoke alarm installed in the room most frequently used for general daytime living purposes
one smoke alarm in every circulation space on each storey, such as hallways and landings
one heat alarm installed in every kitchen
one carbon monoxide (CO) alarm in a property where there is a gas appliance installed

The new law came into force on 1 February 2022, but it provides flexibility for people to fit the necessary alarms within a ‘reasonable period’ after this deadline.

All alarms should be ceiling mounted and interlinked.

Interlinked smoke and heat alarms are connected to each other within your home. When one goes off, they all go off, so you will hear the alarm from anywhere in your home. This helps people to react quicker and saves more lives.

Further details can be found at Scottish Government: Fire and smoke alarms: changes to the law.

Homeowners

If you are a homeowner, it is your responsibility to ensure that your home meets these criteria.

All work must be carried out by a competent person or reliable tradesperson.

Private rented accommodation

If you live in private rented accommodation, you should speak to your landlord to arrange for these to be installed. East Ayrshire Council is not responsible for the maintenance or installation of any linked smoke, heat or CO alarms in private homes.

Elderly or disabled

If you are elderly or disabled and require assistance with this, a few local organisations may be able to assist:

East Ayrshire Care and Repair: Telephone 01290 428011 or search for 'Care and Repair Ayrshire’ on a device such as a tablet or smartphone
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (Kilmarnock): Telephone 01563 522144 to arrange for a Home Fire Safety visit
Helping Hands: Telephone 01563 574333

If you have boiler cover your insurer may be able to install the appropriate alarms.

Telecare customers

As an East Ayrshire Council telecare/community alarm service user, you may have one or more smoke/heat alarms and a carbon monoxide alarm provided by the Council’s telecare/community alarm service.

These telecare smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms connect to the call centre. When a telecare smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarm goes off, the call centre is alerted. A call handler can then speak to you to check you are okay and can also call the fire service on your behalf (if required).

Interlinked smoke and heat alarms are required to be installed in addition to any telecare smoke/heat alarms to help keep you safe. If you have fitted interlinked smoke and heat alarms, please do not remove your telecare smoke/heat alarms.

Telecare smoke and heat alarms:

link with the telecare alarm unit in your home
connect to the telecare call centre and the call handlers there
are installed and maintained by the telecare/community alarm service

New interlinked smoke and heat alarms

Interlinked smoke and heat alarms:

do not link with your telecare alarm units
do not connect to a call centre or call handlers
must be installed and maintained by the homeowner/landlord

Information about interlinked heat and smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms can be found at mygov.scot: Fire safety for homeowners.

If you have any questions about your telecare equipment, please contact your community alarm/telecare service by pressing your pendant/ bracelet alarm or pressing the button on your telecare/community alarm unit.