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Frequently asked questions about changes to the law for fire and smoke alarms and how this affects the telecare/community alarm service:

I currently have smoke and heat alarms provided by the Council’s telecare/community alarm service - do I need to do anything to meet the new regulations?

Yes. Telecare smoke and heat alarms are in addition to the interlinked alarms and you need to meet the new regulations. You will still need to fit interlinked smoke and heat alarms and maybe a carbon monoxide alarm.

If you are a homeowner, this is your responsibility. There will be a charge for this for most people, but your local Care and Repair Service may be able to help you to install the alarms. For more information please visit the Care and Repair Scotland website

If you are a tenant, it is your landlord’s responsibility to install interlinked smoke and heat alarms and a carbon monoxide alarm.

I have fitted interlinked smoke and heat detectors and a carbon monoxide alarm to meet the new regulations. Should I remove my telecare heat, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms?

No. Interlinked smoke and heat alarms require 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 and a new carbon monoxide alarm, please do not remove your telecare smoke/heat alarms or your telecare carbon monoxide alarm.

Will the Council’s community alarm/telecare service provide the extra smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms I need to meet the new regulations?

 

No. This is because the interlinked smoke and heat alarms are required as well as the telecare smoke/heat and carbon monoxide alarms to help keep you safe.

The telecare smoke/heat alarms are not the same as interlinked smoke and heat alarms.

 

Who do I contact if I have questions about my telecare heat, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors?

 

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.

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.

 

How do I know which alarms are telecare heat, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms?

These will have been installed by the telecare service and are linked to the telecare alarm unit in your home.

If you are unsure, you should ask the person installing your new interlinked alarms to check the existing heat, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms by pressing the test buttons on them.

If they connect to the call centre, these are telecare alarms, and you should tell the operator that you are testing the alarm.

Do I need to change the location of my telecare heat/smoke alarms when installing new interlinked heat and smoke alarms?

No. The telecare alarms should be left in their current position. The installer of the new interlinked alarms should identify a suitable position for these to ensure all alarms work safely together.

Contact Information

 

Smart Supports
East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership
9 Balmoral Road
Kilmarnock
KA3 1HL
Telephone: 01563 503371
Mobile: 07769 367292