CO Advice, Fire Safety
How do I ensure compliance with latest regulations in Wales?
Understand the smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarm regulations required for properties in Wales 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 Wales, 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 smoke alarms should be ceiling mounted in a circulation space such as a hall or landing.
Under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, one hardwired smoke alarm (mains powered) must be installed on each level of a home. The alarm must also be connected to the electrical supply and be linked to any other smoke alarms that have to be fitted under the regulations.
More than one smoke alarm may be fitted on each storey. If so, it is good to have all alarms interlinked and hardwired into the electrical supply. However, if the landlord has met the minimum requirement of one hardwired and interlinked smoke alarm on each storey, any additional alarms do not have to be interlinked and can be battery powered.
Any heat alarms installed in a property should conform to BS 5446-2:2003. Under BS 5839-6:2019, heat alarms should also be installed in every kitchen.
Under the Fitness for Human Habitation Regulations (FFHH), landlords are required to ensure that a CO alarm is present in any room which has a gas, oil or solid fuel burning appliance installed by the landlord.
A landlord is not required to install a CO alarm in any room which only contains an appliance installed by the contract-holder. However, the landlord and contract-holder can agree for the landlord to provide an alarm in such instances. Any installed CO alarms should have been manufactured and approved for domestic premises to BS EN 50291-1:2018.
Under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 and FFHH regulations, there are 29 matters and circumstances which determine whether a rental property is fit for human habitation. This includes damp and mould growth, excessive cold or heat, and electrical hazards.
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 property should conform to BS 5446-2:2003. Under BS 5839-6:2019, heat alarms should also 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.
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 also 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.
