OK for HMO? Mains powered optical smoke alarm with backup battery and radio interlink

**premieji** · 10-01-2013 10:41 AM

I have a 3 storey HMO let to students on 12 month contracts. My Landlord License is coming up for renewal. Up to now I have used battery smoke alarms but want to put in a reasonable priced alarm system. Cheapest quote I have received is for mains powered optical smoke alarm system with backup battery and radio interlink. Also installing emergency lighting. Would this be adequate and allowable for an HMO?

**thesaint** · 10-01-2013 11:17 AM

Call your council.

**ram** · 10-01-2013 13:05 PM

Interconnected hard wired smoke alarms, with the radio interlink
should be acceptable, but as suggested, talk to the enviromental
department, ( Council ) as they all semto have slighly,
( very slight ) differences of opinion as to deciphering the law.

but The relevant department will give you info on the laws applying
to your situation.

R.a.M.

**premieji** · 10-01-2013 19:21 PM

What are the best kind of smoke alarms for student bedrooms? I don´t want the students removing the batteries and I don´t want to have to renew batteries every year... Any recommendations and links? Thanks

**red40** · 10-01-2013 19:52 PM

Originally Posted by premieji

What are the best kind of smoke alarms for student bedrooms?

Assuming you have more than 2 students you may well be entering into HMO land and if that is the case you would be starting with mains wired, but to what grade of system you need will really be upto your local authority.