Smoke and heat alarms

The short answer

Every home in Scotland must have interlinked smoke alarms in the main living room and in hallways and landings on each storey, an interlinked heat alarm in the kitchen, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fuel-burning appliance or flue. Interlinked means that when one sounds, they all sound. Alarms can be sealed-battery tamper-proof units or mains-wired.

What the work involves

Fitting the correct alarm type in each location, interlinking them by radio or wiring, and testing them together. Sealed long-life battery alarms are the simplest retrofit; mains-wired systems are common in new build and rewires.

Rules and consents in Scotland

The standard applies to all homes in Scotland, owned and rented. Alarms must be ceiling mounted and interlinked. Carbon monoxide alarms must be fitted where there is a boiler, fire, heater or flue, though they do not need to be interlinked.

What commonly goes wrong

Fitting standalone alarms that are not interlinked, or placing a smoke alarm rather than a heat alarm in the kitchen, which leads to constant false alarms.

What it usually costs

Indicative ranges only, to help you judge a quote. They are not an estimate for your property — only the business doing the work can give you that.

• Sealed-battery interlinked alarms are inexpensive per unit and can be self-fitted by a competent person.
• Mains-wired interlinked systems cost more and need an electrician.
• A typical two-bedroom flat needs two or three alarms plus a heat alarm and a CO alarm where applicable.
• Landlords should budget for replacement at the end of the ten-year sealed unit life.

What to do, in order

1. 1Map which rooms need a smoke alarm, a heat alarm and a CO alarm.
2. 2Choose sealed ten-year battery or mains-wired units.
3. 3Mount on the ceiling, not the wall, away from corners and vents.
4. 4Interlink and test all units together.
5. 5Note the expiry date on each unit.
6. 6Test monthly.

Local detail for the Lothians

• The standard applies across Edinburgh and the Lothians as elsewhere in Scotland, and letting agents check compliance before a tenancy starts.
• Open-plan tenement conversions can need careful alarm placement where the kitchen opens into the living space.
• Listed interiors are usually best served by radio-interlinked sealed units to avoid cutting into original cornices and lath and plaster.
• HMO properties carry additional fire safety requirements above the domestic standard.

When you need a professional

An electrician for mains-wired systems; a fire safety adviser or the council's HMO team for licensed properties.

Common questions

Does the alarm standard apply to owner-occupiers?

Yes — it applies to every home in Scotland, not just rented property.

Can I fit the alarms myself?

Sealed-battery interlinked alarms can be fitted by a competent person. Mains-wired units need an electrician.

Related pages

• Electrical safety checks

  EICRs, consumer unit upgrades and the certification landlords must hold.

• Boiler servicing and repairs

  Annual servicing, common faults and when replacement makes more sense.

• Ventilation and airbricks

  Extract fans, trickle vents, airbricks and underfloor ventilation.