Smoke, Fire & Gas Detection FAQs
Should I buy smoke alarms or heat alarms for my thatched property?
For most rooms including
bedrooms, living rooms, downstairs hallways and
even the loft space we recommend using
optical smoke alarms. They are designed to quickly detect smoke from all sources and are particularly quick to detect smouldering fires, as well as being less prone to false alarms caused by steam and fumes created by everyday cooking and fireplaces under normal, safe circumstances.
Previously,
ionisation smoke alarms were recommended for some rooms, but
this older technology utilising radioactive material has been phased out of production globally in favour of optical detection.
For
kitchens and garages, we recommend using
heat alarms as they detect heat and not smoke, making them ideal for rooms where smoke fumes, vapours, dust, and damp are common.
View all smoke, fire & gas detection FAQs
Reviewed: 14/09/2023 (doc:536 V1.0). Our articles are reviewed regularly. However, any changes made to standards or legislation following the review date will not have been considered. Please note that we provide abridged, easy-to-understand guidance. To make detailed decisions about your fire safety provisions, you might require further advice or need to consult the full standards and legislation.
