Help! Smoke alarms for loft conversion? Post Reply

[moo moo]

We're undertaking a loft conversion on a three storey terraced house, which means that we'll be four storeys after completion. The builder has advised we need a smoke alarm in every room in the house which will run off the mains. (Rather than replacing internal doors with fire doors). However, reading info on various sites, we're lead to believe that you only need smoke alarms on each level of the stairwell.

If anyone has any experience or knowledge of smoke alarm regs in relation to loft conversions, I'd be very grateful if you could share any info.

Many thanks in advance,

Moo moo

[Dearsir]

Yes you are correct only on the landings, not every room. Sounds like he's not sure what he's doing. What company is he from?

[nuttymummy]

They are required only on the landings if you put in/have fire doors... If you don't have/aren't putting in the fire doors it is entirely possible they might insist on an alarm in every room...I'd put a quick call in to building regs (you can ask a general question without giving your name if you don't want to) to check. Apparently there is a new fire proof paint some inspectors are accepting....looking into it shortly ourselves as we don't want to replace our period doors.

[moo moo]

Many thanks for helpful replies. It seems like building regs are open to interpretation by each loft company and their building contractors. If anyone has any recent experience, it would be great to hear from you.

Thanks a million,
Moo moo

[twobusyboys]

We had our loft done about 10 months ago, taking us to a four floor house. The loft company advised that we may have to install fire alarms in every room, as our doors aren't fire doors, but said the decision was ultimately with the building regs inspector.

He inspected the house and sure enough, said that a fire alarm had to be installed in every habitable room and in the main hallway on the ground floor. We had the option of having them wired into the mains or radio linked. We went for the mains option. Was a bit of a faff and there was a bit of damage to some of the walls where they had to channel in the cables, but easy enough to make good. Fairly expensive exercise but now its done, it does give extra peace of mind.

I have no idea if there are other ways round it, we didn't really fight the decision. Hope that helps.

[Goldhawk]

The fire brigade told me a escape ladder was a waste of money and not to bother

[supermummy]

We've nearly finished our loft and were also told by our builder that we need mains alarms in every room or fire doors. We are going with the alarms, it's a bit of disruption to drop cables through but not that bad. I also didn't fancy changing all our period doors. We are using a reputable builder so to be honest I didn't query it.

[Sabine101]

We had ours done 2 years ago and just got fire alarms on the landings and the doors painted with special fire retardant paint. Had to use a company approved by the planning people and got a certificate for it.