Be covered.
Get more smoke alarms in more places to make sure you’re covered.
Detect fires with smoke alarms
Smoke alarms save lives, but only if they are in good working order and are in the right places. In more than a third of fires in the home, smoke did not reach a smoke alarm in time to raise the alert and warn the household of the danger. Having more smoke detectors in more places your home increases your protection because if a fire breaks out in your home, every second is crucial. Consider fitting smoke alarm in the most used rooms (including bedrooms) and a heat alarm in the kitchen.
How to choose, fit and test smoke alarms
The easiest way to protect yourself, your home and others from fire is with working smoke alarms. Make sure you have at least one on every level of your home and test them at least monthly.
Get them. Install them. Test them. They could save your life.
Smoke alarm types
Ten-year sealed battery smoke alarms are the best option for most people. Smoke alarms with one-year batteries need a new battery every year, which is easy to forget.
If you live in a larger house, or one over several levels, you could consider mains-powered alarms which are powered by your home power supply. They will need to be installed by a qualified electrician.
Some battery or mains-powered alarms can be interlinked, so that when one alarm detects a fire they all go off together. This ensures the alarm is heard throughout the home.
If you use Telecare, you should ensure that your fire detection system is linked to your Telecare systems.
Look out for one of these symbols, which show the alarm is approved and safe:
If you do not know which smoke alarms to choose, ask your local fire and rescue service. They can help you.
Smoke alarms for people who are hard of hearing
Strobe light and vibrating-pad alarms are available for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Contact the RNID Information Line on 0808 808 0123 or textphone 0808 808 9000.
If you do not know which smoke alarms to choose, ask your local fire and rescue service. They can advise you. Find out more about getting expert advice.
Where to fit smoke alarms
Fit at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home. The ideal position is on the ceiling, in the middle of a room, and on the hallway and landing, so you can hear an alarm throughout your home and so they protect your escape routes.
For extra safety, fit smoke alarms in the bedrooms too – this can help protect you while you sleep – and in other rooms where there are fire hazards. Do not put smoke alarms in or near kitchens or bathrooms where smoke or steam can set them off by accident. Heat alarms can be placed in a kitchen so you may consider installing one there.
You could also consider installing carbon monoxide (CO) alarms, which provide protection against carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer- you cannot see it, taste it or smell it so a CO alarm is the only way to detect it.
Testing smoke alarms
Test your smoke alarms at least monthly, no matter what type of alarm you have. Testing smoke alarms tests the smoke sensor as well as the power supply and/or battery. Test them by pressing the button until the alarm sounds. If it doesn’t sound, you need to replace the battery, or possibly the alarm itself.
If a smoke alarm starts to chirp on a regular basis, you need to replace the battery immediately. Never disconnect or take the batteries out of your alarm if it goes off by mistake unless you are replacing them. If it is a ten-year sealed battery alarm, you will need to replace the alarm itself every ten years.
Replacing smoke alarms
Many smoke alarms will have an expiry date on them showing when you should replace the alarm. Replacing alarms every ten years is generally a good idea, but smoke alarms may need replacing before then, depending on how often they’re activated and the potential build-up of contaminants.
Fire safety advice
Free home fire safety visits
A free home fire safety visit is a good way to get expert fire safety advice, including advice on how to prevent a fire in your home and how to escape if there is a fire. These can be particularly helpful for vulnerable individuals and households where there is a greater risk of fire.
In addition to fire risks, the visit may explore if someone could benefit from other local services such as health and accident prevention services.
If you – or anyone you live with – would benefit from a visit, please contact your local fire and rescue service.
Free online home fire safety check
Alternatively, you can complete an online home fire safety check yourself. After answering a few questions about you and your home, it will provide fire safety advice specific to you and tips on how to keep you and your household safe from fire. The tool can be completed on behalf of someone you care for or are worried about.
Frequently asked questions
What do smoke alarms do?
A smoke detector’s primary function is to detect smoke from a fire and trigger a loud alarm to provide an early warning. This early alert gives you and your family critical time to escape to safety. They are crucial for home safety, as you are around 11 times more likely to die in a fire if you do not have any working smoke alarms.
Why do I need more than one?
Having multiple smoke alarms widens your smoke and fire detection, which is crucial for covering the whole home and for alerting the whole household. This is especially true at night when people are sleeping, or if your home is across multiple floors. The more alarms you have, the safer you will be, if they are working.
Placing alarms in rooms where people sleep or where there are additional hazards, such as electrical equipment is important to improve your detection coverage.
Where can I buy a smoke alarm?
Smoke alarms are produced by a range of companies but are sold through a wide range of third-parties. You can buy smoke alarms from many places including:
- DIY shops
- supermarkets
- home goods shops
- electrical suppliers
- online retailers
Your local fire and rescue service can also offer advice and may even be able to provide alarms.
How do I install them?
Installing an alarm will vary depending on the make and type, and you should always follow the manufacturers’ instructions. Fitting it centrally on the ceiling of a room and hallway often requires a drill and screwdriver, and the alarm may come with a base plate and screws.
Because some alarms are mains-powered, they may require a qualified electrician for installation.
In the event of a fire, get out, stay out and call 999.
For advice specific to you and your home, complete your own home fire safety check.