Fire alarms

Do I actually need fire alarms in my house?

IT’S THE LAW!

Yes, you are legally required to have fire alarms in the house. Especially if you are renting your house out.
Why wouldn’t you want fire alarms anyway? They could literally save your life.
It is required to have one on every level of your house, and an extra one near the bedrooms. If you’ve got a long house of separate wings, you’ll need one at those locations too. NOT JUST IN YOUR KITCHEN.

How to buy the best fire alarm

There are two main types of smoke alarms for home use: ionisation and photoelectric alarms.

Ionisation alarms

These contain a very small amount of radioactive material, which reacts to particles emitted in a fire and sets off the alarm. Ionisation alarms are best at detecting fast-flaming fires that don't emit much visible smoke. But many house fires tend to be smoky and smouldering long before they flare into flame, and ionisation alarms aren't as quick at detecting these. They can also be prone to nuisance alarms from cooking and steam, so shouldn't be located near your kitchen or bathroom. 

Photoelectric alarms

These contain a photocell and a light beam shining away from the cell. When smoke enters the test chamber, some of the light is scattered by the smoke particles and hits the cell, triggering the alarm. Photoelectric alarms are best at detecting smoky and smouldering fires, which is a common type of house fire. Dust or insects entering the unit can cause false alarms, so they have to be cleaned occasionally.

Dual sensor alarms

These contain both an ionisation sensor and a photoelectric sensor, and so they get the best and worst features of both types. They can be a good option but as with any ionisation alarm, don't install them near a kitchen or bathroom.