Carbon monoxide alarms

New rules on the way for CO and smoke alarms

Aico’s National Technical Manager Andy Speake looks at the requirements of forthcoming updated legislation on CO alarms and how to comply with them.

Last autumn, the government published the results of a consultation proposing an extension to the regulations on smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms, applicable to all rented properties in England.

The consultation proposed to amend the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 and Approved Document J, to extend existing private rented legislation requirements to socially rented properties; it also considered the important question of whether the existing legislation was sufficient.

In addition, the consultation looked to remove the word ‘solid’ from the requirements for CO alarm installation. The change would also be included in the Building Regulations (Approved Document J).

These regulatory updates are the first part of several reforms outlined in the Social Housing white paper.*

Requirements for CO alarms

There are several amendments in the updated Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 to the requirements for CO alarms, aimed at bringing greater protection to residents.

The first requires all private and social landlords to fit a CO alarm in any room of a rented property that contains a fuel-burning appliance, such as gas boilers, fuel-burning stoves, oil burners, biofuels, coal boilers/stoves, wood pellets, etc. Cookers are excluded from this requirement but the use of CO alarms in rooms with fuel-burning cookers is still recommended in BS EN 502921 .

The extended requirements also state that all new-build and materially altered properties in England should have a CO alarm installed wherever a fuel burning appliance is present (excluding cookers), as per the Building Regulations.

Any CO alarm installed must comply with BS EN 50291-12; this standard shows that the alarms have been extensively tested to ensure their quality, including sensor reaction times, minimum alarm sound levels and temperature resistance.

Landlords can use either battery or mains-powered alarms in their properties in order to meet the requirements stated in the updated legislation. There is no requirement for CO alarms to be interconnected with a property’s existing smoke alarms, although this remains an option if the landlord wishes to do so.

Requirements for smoke alarms

The requirements for smoke alarms in social housing are to be aligned with the private rented sector to improve fire safety for all tenants. Social landlords will be required to install at least one smoke alarm on each storey of their property where a room is used for living accommodation. Most social landlords already exceed the proposed requirements by installing smoke alarms as per BS 5839-6:2019+A1:20203 .

Any smoke alarms installed must comply with BS EN 146044 .

Testing and maintenance

All landlords will also be required to repair or replace alarms when they are notified of a fault. Regular alarm testing will remain the residents’ responsibility but the landlord must ensure that every alarm in the property is working correctly at the beginning of each new tenancy.

British standards

For fire alarm installation, it is recommended to follow BS 5839-6:2019+A1:2020. The standard lists three categories of system to describe the level of protection that provide – generally, the higher the category of system, the higher the level of protection.

For CO alarms, it is recommended to follow BS EN 50292 for installation. The standard states that CO alarms should be installed in any room that has any fuel-burning appliances; rooms where people spend the most time (such as a living room); rooms where people sleep; and any room that has a flue running through it. This means that CO can be detected from all potential sources and the alarm will be heard throughout the property.

This new legislation is expected to come into force in England shortly, with no grace period for compliance. n

“New legislation is expected to come into force in England shortly, with no grace period for compliance.”

Bibliography

* www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-charter-for-social-housingresidents-social-housing-white-paper 1 BS EN 50292:2013 – Electrical apparatus for the detection of carbon monoxide in domestic premises, caravans and boats. Guide on the selection, installation, use and maintenance 2 BS EN 50291-1:2018 – Gas detectors. Electrical apparatus for the detection of carbon monoxide in domestic premises. Test methods and performance requirements 3 BS 5839-6:2019+A1:2020 – Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises. 4 BS EN 14604:2005 – Smoke alarm devices