If your home is on one floor, one smoke alarm, preferably of the optical type, may be enough to provide you with early warning of a fire. Emergency escape lighting is required in bedrooms and along the escape route – this can be provided by plug in torches, although larger properties may need full escape lighting. In a standard smoke alarm, the battery will need to be replaced every 12 months. You can buy alarms fitted with sealed 10 year batteries. The advantage is that you don’t have to replace the battery every year. Some people find their alarms are frequently set off when they are cooking or when the toast burns. An alarm installed inside the kitchen must be a heat alarm rather than a smoke alarm. Just outside a kitchen (eg in hall or dining room) an optical smoke alarm or, even better, a combined smoke and heat alarm should be installed, as these are less sensitive to false alarm. Smart features: Smoke detectors with smartphone connectivity allow you to shut off nuisance alarms without having to climb a ladder. Smart features can also let you know if the alarm goes off while you're not home.

The Expert: Shawn Mahoney P.E. is an Engineer in the Technical Services Division at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). He is a registered professional engineer with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a M.S. in Fire Protection Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Interconnectivity: Interconnected smoke detectors will automatically trigger every alarm if one is activated. If you use hardwired detectors, you need to physically connect them to achieve this. Battery-powered options, on the other hand, connect via a radio frequency, which requires much less effort to set up. Dave Nicholas, professional electrician and founder of SparkyBase.com, considers wireless interlinking one of the most important features to consider. "Having interlinked detectors is a regulation in many areas," Nicholas says, adding that the alternative — trying to hardwire the link — can be incredibly disruptive since it requires lifting carpets and floorboards. Fire and rescue services attended over 150,000 fires last year in England alone, and while the number of fire fatalities dropped to their lowest ever figure, 240 people still lost their lives. Buying a smoke alarm is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your home, your life and the lives of your family and friends. It can give you early warning of a fire before it spreads, and the best chance of getting everyone safely out of the house. The number of smoke alarms to fit in your home depends on your particular circumstances. Fires can start anywhere, so the more that are fitted, the higher the level of protection.Simply said, smoke alarms save lives. When properly installed and working, this invaluable device plays a critical role in protecting you and your family from injuries or death due to a fire. A smoke alarm alerts you to danger to give you the time needed to get out of your home safely. For larger and/or more complex properties, the Fire Safety Risk Assessment: Sleeping Accommodation still applies and is likely to be reviewed in 2024. Smoke alarms should be installed in hallways, corridors, staircases, lounges, dining rooms and bedrooms.

The First Alert PRC710 performed well during my testing on all three days and consistently activated its smoke alarm after two sprays from my aerosol canister. Installation was a breeze as well; it took just a couple of minutes to insert the anchors and screws and twist into place. Fire and Rescue Services have a legal responsibility to make sure you are complying with fire safety law and you are managing the risks of a fire adequately. Your local Fire and Rescue Service may inspect your property to make sure you are complying with the law and are keeping guests safe. At just 40mm in diameter, who wouldn’t mind one of these on their ceiling? What Can These Smoke Alarms Do? Like any battery-powered smoke detector, you should replace the batteries every 6 months (and sooner if the low battery alert sounds). While a front-facing battery compartment would make it easier to change out the batteries, the rear battery door wasn’t overly challenging to access. We like the fact that the battery compartment won’t close unless the batteries are correctly installed, providing a safeguard against improper battery placement and a unit that won’t power up.

Wireless Smoke Detectors

You’re around 8 times more likely to die in a fire if you do not have a working smoke alarm in your home. Meanwhile, a system of colour-coded indicators on the central ring gives you visual alerts and updates, and even a subtle night light if you pass it in the dark. It’s more expensive than other smoke alarms, but if you’re invested in making your home smarter, this is the alarm to buy. Ten-year sealed battery smoke alarms are the best option. They are slightly more expensive, but you save on the cost of replacing batteries. The XS03-WX Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm uses a photoelectric sensor that works with the airflow design of the casing to better detect a variety of fire types. To minimize nuisance alerts, the sensor also analyzes smoke three times before activating the alarm.

Multifunctionality: If possible, try to choose a smoke detector that includes more than one function, like a combination smoke and carbon monoxide model. The best smoke detectors generally have both ionization and photosensitive sensors for greater effectiveness. An extension lead or adaptor will have a limit to how many amps it can take, so be careful not to overload them to reduce the risk of a fire.

Our top picks for the best smoke detectors

Different makes and models will be slower or faster to detect smoke coming through and have different alarms working at different volumes. Some even feature voice alarms or strobing lights. However, any alarms sold in the UK have to meet BS EN 14604:2005, which specifies the requirements, tests and performance criteria for smoke alarms using optical or ionisation sensors. Heat alarms are governed by the separate BS 5446-3:2003 standard.