Interlinked Smoke & Heat Alarms in Fraserburgh

Common questions

Smoke Alarm FAQs for Fraserburgh

• Are interlinked smoke alarms actually mandatory in Scotland?

  Yes. Since February 2022, every Scottish home (owner occupied and rented) must have interlinked smoke alarms in every storey, plus a heat alarm in the kitchen. The rule comes from the 2019 Tolerable Standard amendment, delayed implementation due to COVID, now fully in force. Properties without compliant alarms can fail home insurance claims, mortgage lender checks, EICR compliance, and Scottish Landlord Registration.

• What's the difference between hard wired and sealed battery alarms?

  Hard wired alarms run on mains power with a 9V battery backup. They're more reliable long term, last the lifetime of the wiring, and pass any inspection. Sealed 10 year battery alarms run entirely on a tamper proof internal battery. Cheaper to fit (no cable runs needed), legally compliant, but the whole alarm gets binned and replaced after 10 years. For owner occupied homes that aren't being rewired, sealed battery is the practical choice. For rentals and HMOs, hard wired wins.

• How many alarms does my Fraserburgh home need?

  A typical 3 bed semi needs 3 alarms minimum: one smoke in the upstairs landing, one smoke in the downstairs hall, one heat alarm in the kitchen. A 4 bed adds another smoke in the upstairs landing or the largest bedroom. Split level homes (common in granite cottages) need one per actual storey, even if it's a half storey. We confirm count and positions in the survey, takes 5 minutes.

• Do I need a CO alarm too?

  Yes if you have any combustion appliance: gas boiler, gas fire, wood burning stove, oil fired heating, or gas hob. The CO alarm is separate from the smoke and heat alarm system, mounted in the same room as the appliance. Most Fraserburgh properties have at least a gas boiler, so CO is required. We add it to the install for £75.

• How long does the installation take?

  Sealed battery system in a 3 bed: 2 to 3 hours. Hard wired system in a 3 bed: 4 to 5 hours (more time for cable runs, especially in granite cottages). We bring all the kit, drill the mounting points, set up the RF interlink (or run cable for hard wired), test the full system, and hand over with a registration log. Single visit, no return trip.

• What brand of alarms do you install?

  Aico (made in Powys, Wales). They're the dominant choice for Scottish compliance, the brand letting agents recognise, and the brand insurers prefer to see in the install record. We use the Ei3000 series as standard (RF interlink) and the Ei650 series for sealed battery. Both have 10 year warranty and meet BS 5839-6 (the UK fire detection standard).

• Can I fit them myself if it's a sealed battery system?

  Legally, yes for sealed battery alarms in your own home. Practically, most landlords and many homeowners prefer a certified install for the registration log, the warranty, and the peace of mind. We include the BS 5839-6 install record which letting agents, insurers, and councils want to see. Sealed battery DIY meets the law but doesn't give you the documentation.

• What happens if I don't have compliant alarms?

  For owner occupiers: no immediate fine, but home insurance claims can be refused if a fire happens and you don't have compliant alarms. Mortgage lenders increasingly check at remortgage. For landlords: Repairing Standard non compliance, Scottish Landlord Registration suspension, tribunal compensation, civil penalty up to £50,000. For holiday lets: licence refusal under the new October 2023 short term let rules. The cost of compliance (£350 for most Fraserburgh homes) is much smaller than any of the consequences.