Need help!!

[tamlin]

Do I need to have a "mains operated" carbon monoxide installed, or will a battery operated one be suffice?
Thanks

[Rick]

Mine is battery operated

[rickysmiths]

Mine is battery operated.

[lilac_dragon]

Have I missed something? Are these compulsory now?

[CH1957]

I don't have one, are we supposed to?

[blue bear]

Are you in Scotland, I think it's a mains one only in Scotland but battery is fine in England.

[bunyip]

Our mains alarms were fitted by the electrician who did a complete rewire of the house. He said it was now obligatory for licenced sparkies to fit a linked mains system as part of the job before they could issue the certificate of work. Any such system would have to have a battery back-up, instead of the older mains systems which just went off if the power supply cut out. (No idea if this is correct: if I'd known the first thing about electrics, then we probably wouldn't have needed to get a man in. )

If you have a mains system, do not get lulled into a false sense of security. They still need to be tested, and so does the battery because batteries slowly discharge their power ofver a period of time, even if they are never 'used in anger.'

[Bumble Beez]

I'm in England and have a battery operated one

Sarah x

[bunyip]

I'm in England and have a battery-operated one. I also keep a date record of weekly/monthly tests and checks on it, and keep the manufacturer's handbook filed with my safety case. My inspector said that was all fine.

Out of interest, exactly who wants you to think it has to be mains-operated? I ask because I'm getting an increasing number of communications from my DO and from pacey, saying "Ofsted expects...." this that or the other. I've begun questioning this sort of thing back at them, as I think they should be sticking up for us and asking Ofsted why they think they can create new rules when their remit is to regulate according to the existing rules.

[lizduncan72]

Sorry, just reread your post!! Carbon monoxide detector doesn't have to be mains in Scotland, I read your post as smoke detector!! Been a long weekend lol

[cathtee]

I don't have one, do we have to have one?

[caz3007]

I have one and its battery. I don't think its a requirement but as I have a gas fire in my playroom and my boiler is quite old we got one for our own piece of mind. Mrs O only asked me about smoke alarms the other day and I pointed out my carbon monoxide one to her

[bunyip]

I don't have one, do we have to have one?

Carbon monoxide poisoning - NHS Choices

It's your call.

I choose life.

[Bumble Beez]

Carbon monoxide poisoning - NHS Choices It's your call. I choose life.

Seconded bunyip

Sarah x

[bunyip]

Mine cost less than £20.

Since I can neither breathe carbon monoxide nor detect it any other way, I regard it as money well spent.

[ja-lula-belli]

Mine is battery operated but they didn't ask if I even had one in my inspection. I am in Wales. But I do not have a gas or fire of any sort so maybe That's why?

Ja-Lula-Bell*****minding

[Rick]

Mine is battery operated but they didn't ask if I even had one in my inspection. I am in Wales. But I do not have a gas or fire of any sort so maybe That's why?

Ja-Lula-Bell*****minding

Mine has a little green light telling me if it is working still and it sounds if the battery is running low. If an inspector asked I would tell them it is checked every morning. It should be checked whether it is battery or mains operated as either can fail or the alarm can fail. There's no indication that a mains alarm is better, if anything there is more chance if it accidentally being turned off

[ja-lula-belli]

Yes That's true actually mine flashes green time show it's working and same with firealarms beeps if battery going.

Ja-Lula-Bell*****minding

[FloraDora]

I had my Fire check yesterday....lovely young firemen ...

They gave me new 10 year battery life smoke alarms .. All enclosed ..said that was all I needed - only really big houses ( I have a 4 bed detached) need the mains type ... According to Staffordshire Fire Brigade - I asked him if my fire blanket was positioned ok and he said the latest recommendation is that nobody has fire blankets - they just get out !!

Interesting!

[bunyip]

I had my Fire check yesterday....lovely young firemen ...

They gave me new 10 year battery life smoke alarms .. All enclosed ..said that was all I needed - only really big houses ( I have a 4 bed detached) need the mains type ... According to Staffordshire Fire Brigade - I asked him if my fire blanket was positioned ok and he said the latest recommendation is that nobody has fire blankets - they just get out !!

Interesting!

I can understand your hunky fireman's comment about mains systems for larger houses. The chief benefit is they're linked: one alarm triggered means they all go off together. Obviously more important if your premises has an 'east wing' and not just 2 up 2 down.

I'm more surprised at his take on fire blankets. Simply evacuating is not the greatest help you could give to a lo whose clothes were ablaze.

Whatever the system, all alarms need to be tested regularly. Having just had a mains system fitted, this is a bit of a palava, as I have to turn circuits off and on, and check the back-up battery too (all mains alarms should have battery back-up in case of power cuts.) On the plus side, we have a lot fewer false alarms now. The mains system allowed us to replace the kitchen/dining room smoke alarm with a heat alarm, which knows the difference between a fire and somebody merely making toast or sausages.

Be very wary of guarantees and so-called "long life" battery alarms. We had three 10-year smoke alarms fitted by our local hunky fireman, and they all stopped working within 18 months.