Fire safety if you own your home
You’re responsible for installing fire alarms if you own your home in Scotland.
If you rent your home, it’s your landlord’s responsibility. Check information on:
- fire safety standards if you’re a private tenant
- fire safety standards if you live in a council or housing association home
Rules about fire alarms
Your home must have:
- one smoke alarm in the living room or the room you use most
- one smoke alarm in every hallway and landing
- one heat alarm in the kitchen
All smoke and heat alarms should be mounted on the ceiling and be interlinked.
Check the manufacturer’s guidance for instructions on where each alarm should be placed.
If you have an open plan area
If you have an open plan area, such as a combined hall and living room, you only need one alarm.
If the area includes a kitchen, it should be a heat alarm.
The alarm should be no more than 7.5 metres from any point in the room.
If you’re deaf or deafblind
If you’re deaf or deafblind, your home must have additional specialist alarms.
Get guidance on fire and smoke alarms for deaf and deafblind people on gov.scot.
Carbon monoxide detectors
You must have a carbon monoxide detector if you have a carbon-fuelled appliance. For example:
- a boiler
- a fire
- a flue
- a non-electric heater
The carbon monoxide detector does not need to be linked to the fire alarms.
If you have a carbon monoxide detector, you must still correctly install and service any carbon-fuelled appliance.
Gas cookers and hobs
Gas cookers and hobs do not need a carbon monoxide detector.
Any carbon monoxide detector should not be installed right next to a gas cooking appliance. If you do, it could lead to a false alarm.
Types of alarm
You can either use:
- sealed battery alarms – you can fit these alarms yourself
- mains-wired alarms – these should be installed by a qualified electrician and replaced every 10 years
Both types of alarm are interlinked by radio frequency. This means they do not use wifi.
Sealed battery alarms should use tamper-proof long-life batteries.
If a carbon monoxide alarm uses batteries, it must have a sealed battery for the duration of its lifespan. This can be up to 10 years.
Alarm standards
When buying alarms, check that each alarm meets the following standards:
- smoke alarms – BS EN14604:2005
- heat alarms – BS 5446-2:2003
- carbon monoxide detectors – British Kitemark EN 50291-1
Fire alarms in new build homes
Houses built since 2010 should already meet the new fire alarms standard.
If you own a new build home and are concerned about its fire safety, there are steps you can take.
Check your warranty
Most new build homes in Scotland have a warranty for around 10 years.
Check your title deeds and your warranty policy to see how long you're covered for.
Get information on checking your title deeds.
If your home is covered by the warranty
Ask your builder or developer to set up a fire safety survey and fix any problems.
If they refuse to do this, you can contact your warranty provider and ask if they'll pay to have the work done.
Getting advice on making your home fire safe
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has information on making your home fire safe.
This includes:
- fitting and maintaining smoke alarms
- staying safe in the kitchen
- what to do if a fire starts
Read about home fire safety on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service website.
Getting a home fire safety visit
People at a high risk of fires at home can get a home fire safety visit from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Check if you can get a home fire safety visit on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service website.
If you’re doing building work
If you’re planning to do building work, you must follow building regulations and ensure any work meets fire alarm standards.
Get information on building work and fire alarm standards on gov.scot.