Great :(

**sprinkles** · 14-06-2012, 02:29 PM

I need to get mains connected smoke alarms in the house and it's going to cost £150 (I've emailed a few electricians and this is one quote I've got back but guessing the rest will be similar). It's totally not worth paying when we're moving in 4-6 months

absolutely gutted as this morning I got my first little one lined up for when I'm registered.

**guest3** · 14-06-2012, 02:35 PM

If you get the local fire brigade round to do a fire safety check, they install the smoke detectors for you for free

**muffins** · 14-06-2012, 02:41 PM

I'm quite sure theres nothing that says they need to be mains connected, who said that?

**~Grasshopper~** · 14-06-2012, 02:43 PM

you dont need mains connected ones??/ who said that.

i have 10year ones from amazon think they were £25 for 2 and you bin them after 10years and replace. xx

**Bridey** · 14-06-2012, 02:43 PM

You're in Scotland aren't you? Are the rules different there? Battery operated smoke alarms have been fine for me for 12 years. I would be surprised if anyone else has mains ones

**sprinkles** · 14-06-2012, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by Wend

If you get the local fire brigade round to do a fire safety check, they install the smoke detectors for you for free

I had the fire officers round today. They put free ones in but only battery ones, not mains connected

**sprinkles** · 14-06-2012, 02:45 PM

Yes, I'm in Scotland.

**Bridey** · 14-06-2012, 02:50 PM

So who says you need mains ones - why didn't you accept the battery ones the firefighters were happy to fit?

**sprinkles** · 14-06-2012, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by Bridey

So who says you need mains ones - why didn't you accept the battery ones the firefighters were happy to fit?

I already have the battery ones. It's a requirement in Scotland that they have to be mains connected.

**sarahjane** · 14-06-2012, 02:59 PM

So what happens if there is a power cut? At least with battery operated ones they work as long as you make sure the batteries are ok. I test mine weekly (usually when my daughter burns her toast

)

**marleymoo** · 14-06-2012, 03:01 PM

are you offering overnight? i have to have mains coz i'm overnight too

**sprinkles** · 14-06-2012, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by sarahjane

So what happens if there is a power cut? At least with battery operated ones they work as long as you make sure the batteries are ok. I test mine weekly (usually when my daughter burns her toast

)

I think they have battery back up. It's supposedly so if one alarm goes off they all go off.

**Bridey** · 14-06-2012, 03:02 PM

Sorry - I saw you had the battery ones already as soon as I had posted but then my teenager decided to turn off my router to reset my internet so I couldn't change what I had written!

**sprinkles** · 14-06-2012, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by marleymoo

are you offering overnight? i have to have mains coz i'm overnight too

Nope, not offering overnight.

**Bridey** · 14-06-2012, 03:13 PM

I've done some googling and yes, its a requirement in Scotland. At least one mains smoke alarm per floor is the minimum requirement for minders not offering overnight care.

I didn't know that

**LauraS** · 14-06-2012, 03:20 PM

Ours are mains - they still operate on battery in a power cut. Harsh that you have to have them, though, I would have thought that battery operated ones would be adequate.

Although £150 is a lot of money (especially when it is an unexpected expense and for something boring and slightly unnecessary) you could potentially earn that in a week or two with your first mindee, so it is worth having it done even if only for six months.

Could your electrician remove the alarms and rewire them at your new place once you move, might save a little in the long run?

**sarah707** · 14-06-2012, 03:27 PM

Yes as Bridey says mains smoke alarms on every floor are required for Scottish childminders - their standards are different from the EYFS.

It might be worth asking around for a better quote. Good luck!

**sprinkles** · 14-06-2012, 04:00 PM

To be honest I don't know what to do. I may not be registered til end of August and then might move in October. Money isn't a problem after we move but I can't justify spending that much for so little time, and I don't have that much spare either. I'll just need to see when everything else happens and judge once I have a better idea of when I'll be registered.