CO Advice, Fire Safety
How do I ensure compliance with latest regulations in England?
Understand the smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarm regulations required for properties in England to achieve compliance.
CO Advice, Fire Safety
We’ve simplified fire and carbon monoxide (CO) legislation for rented, owner-occupied and new build properties in England, helping you meet and go beyond legislative requirements to keep homeowners and tenants safe.
Grade: D1
Grade requirements: A system of one or more mains powered detectors, each with a tamper‑proof standby supply consisting of a battery or batteries (such as FireAngel’s SM-SN-1 and HM-SN-1 alarm).
Category: LD2
Category requirements: A system incorporating detectors in all circulation areas that form part of the escape routes from the premises, and in all specified rooms or areas that present a high fire risk to occupants, including any kitchen and the principal habitable room.
Any fitted smoke alarms should conform to BS EN 14604:2005 and in accordance with BS 5839-6:2019 at least one smoke alarm should be installed on each storey of a property where there is a room used as living accommodation.
Smoke alarms should be ceiling mounted in a circulation space such as a hall or landing and where more than one smoke alarm is installed, all devices should be interlinked (either hardwired or wireless).
Any heat alarms installed in a socially rented property should conform to BS 5446-2:2003. Under BS 5839-6:2019, heat alarms should be installed in every kitchen.
Under the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022, a CO alarm should be fitted in any room used as living accommodation, which contains a fixed combustion appliance but excluding gas cookers.
Under BS 50292:2013, this includes any rooms that have a fuel-burning appliance or flue running through it, and rooms where people spend the most time or sleep. This will ensure a CO leak can be detected from all potential sources and heard throughout the property.
Where battery alarms are selected, they should be ‘sealed for life’ rather than replaceable such as FireAngel’s FS1326‑T. . CO alarms should be positioned at head height, either on a wall or shelf approximately 1-3 metres away from a potential source of carbon monoxide.
Landlords should seek to install CO alarms that have been manufactured and approved for domestic premises to BS EN 50291-1:2018.
With the Social Housing Bill 2022 set to become law this year with the inclusion of Awaab’s Law, social landlords will have new strict time limits to investigate and fix damp and mould problems reported by tenants in properties.
Grade: D1
Grade requirements: A system of one or more mains powered detectors, each with a tamper‑proof standby supply consisting of a battery or batteries (such as FireAngel’s SM-SN-1 and HM-SN-1 alarm).
Category: LD2
Category requirements: A system incorporating detectors in all circulation areas that form part of the escape routes from the premises, and in all specified rooms or areas that present a high fire risk to occupants, including any kitchen and the principal habitable room.
Any fitted smoke alarms should conform to BS EN 14604:2005 and in accordance with BS 5839-6:2019 at least one smoke alarm should be installed on each storey of a property where there is a room used as living accommodation.
Smoke alarms should be ceiling mounted in a circulation space such as a hall or landing and where more than one smoke alarm is installed, all devices should be interlinked (either hardwired or wireless).
Any heat alarms installed in a private rented property should conform to BS 5446-2:2003. Under BS 5839-6:2019, heat alarms should be installed in every kitchen.
Under the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022, a CO alarm should be fitted in any room used as living accommodation, which contains a fixed combustion appliance but excluding gas cookers.
Under BS 50292:2013, this includes any rooms that have a fuel-burning appliance or flue running through it, and rooms where people spend the most time or sleep. This will ensure a CO leak can be detected from all potential sources and heard throughout the property.
Where battery alarms are selected, these should be ‘sealed for life’ rather than replaceable such as FireAngel’s FS1326‑T. CO alarms should be positioned at head height, either on a wall or shelf approximately 1-3 metres away from a potential source of carbon monoxide.
Landlords should seek to install CO alarms that have been manufactured and approved for domestic premises to BS EN 50291-1:2018.
The Housing Act 2004 places a duty on local councils to take enforcement action against landlords if they identify seriously hazardous conditions in a rented home. The Housing Health and Safety Rating System currently sets out 29 hazards, including fire, damp, cold, trips and falls.
The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 requires all landlords to ensure their property is fit for human habitation at the beginning of the tenancy and throughout. This means that properties must be free of hazards which are so serious that the dwelling is not reasonably suitable for occupation in that condition.
Where a landlord fails to do so, tenants can take action in the courts for breach of contract on the grounds that the property is unfit for human habitation.
Grade: D1
Grade requirements: A system of one or more mains powered detectors, each with a tamper‑proof standby supply consisting of a battery or batteries (such as FireAngel’s SM-SN-1 and HM-SN-1 alarm).
Category: LD2
Category requirements: A system incorporating detectors in all circulation areas that form part of the escape routes from the premises, and in all specified rooms or areas that present a high fire risk to occupants, including any kitchen and the principal habitable room.
Any fitted smoke alarms should conform to BS EN 14604:2005 and in accordance with BS 5839-6:2019 at least one smoke alarm should be installed on each storey of a property where there is a room used as living accommodation.
Smoke alarms should be ceiling mounted in a circulation space such as a hall or landing and where more than one smoke alarm is installed, all devices should be interlinked (either hardwired or wireless).
Any heat alarms installed in a new build property should conform to BS 5446-2:2003. Under BS 5839-6:2019, heat alarms should be installed in every kitchen.
Under BS 50292:2013, a CO alarm should be fitted in any room used as living accommodation, which contains a fixed combustion appliance but excluding gas cookers.
This includes any rooms that have a fuel-burning appliance or flue running through it, and rooms where people spend the most time or sleep. This will ensure a CO leak can be detected from all potential sources and heard throughout the property.
Where battery alarms are selected, these should be ‘sealed for life’ rather than replaceable such as FireAngel’s FS1326‑T. CO alarms should be positioned at head height, either on a wall or shelf approximately 1-3 metres away from a potential source of carbon monoxide.
Any installed CO alarms should have been manufactured and approved for domestic premises to BS EN 50291-1:2018.
A newly-built home will contain a lot of construction moisture. Over time this moisture will gradually disappear and should reach a moisture-balanced state within 18 months to 2 years. The normal operation of heating and ventilation systems should ensure that drying proceeds at the right pace, provided not too much moisture is generated by the occupants.
If during the early months, damp or mould growth is noticed and there are concerns it could become a more serious problem, a home may not be approaching a moisture-balanced state quickly enough.
Once a home has reached moisture balance, the heating and ventilation systems should cope with typical amounts of moisture generated by households, and even short periods of high moisture generation, without any obvious dampness occurring. Devices such FireAngel’s FA3328‑EUT Sync‑It™ (NFC technology) Carbon Monoxide Alarm can help monitor and identify potential damp and mould problems before they occur.
Grade: D2 (<3 storey) / A (<4 storey) / F2 (bungalow)
Grade requirements: A system of one or more mains-powered detectors, each with an integral standby supply consisting of a user‑replaceable battery or batteries (such as FireAngel’s SW1-PF-T and HW1-PF-T alarm).
Category: LD2 / LD3 (bungalow)
Category requirements: A system incorporating detectors in all circulation areas that form part of the escape routes from the premises, and in all specified rooms or areas that present a high fire risk to occupants, including any kitchen and the principal habitable room.
Any fitted smoke alarms should conform to BS EN 14604:2005 and in accordance with BS 5839-6:2019 at least one smoke alarm should be installed on each storey of a property where there is a room used as living accommodation.
Smoke alarms should be ceiling mounted in a circulation space such as a hall or landing and where more than one smoke alarm is installed, all devices should be interlinked (either hardwired or wireless).
Any heat alarms installed in a property should conform to BS 5446-2:2003. Under BS 5839-6:2019, heat alarms should be installed in every kitchen.
Under BS 50292:2013, a CO alarm should be fitted in any room used as living accommodation, which contains a fixed combustion appliance but excluding gas cookers.
This includes any rooms that have a fuel-burning appliance or flue running through it, and rooms where people spend the most time or sleep. This will ensure a CO leak can be detected from all potential sources and heard throughout the property.
Where battery alarms are selected, they should be ‘sealed for life’ rather than replaceable such as FireAngel’s FS1326‑T. CO alarms should be positioned at head height, either on a wall or shelf approximately 1-3 metres away from a potential source of carbon monoxide.
Any installed CO alarms should have been manufactured and approved for domestic premises to BS EN 50291-1:2018.
For more information on how to meet and achieve fire safety and CO compliance in a property, visit FireAngel’s Standards & Regs area or contact your local Specification Manager.
