To expect my in laws to put up smoke alarms

[Brillopad78]

My in laws have a large house and only one smoke alarm downstairs near the kitchen. I have an anxiety about fires and we are going to be staying with them for a week. I have a two year old child. They are refusing to put up a second smoke alarm upstairs as it isn't visually pleasing and ruins the decor. Besides , they are not smokers and have an electrical safety certificate so they dont need one. My husband is not backing me on this and thinks I am over reacting. I am trying to insist that a second one is installed and they are saying they will put one up with bluetack and take it down when I leave. Am I mad or are they?

I don't think OPs desire not to be potentially cremated in her bed means she has health anxiety. It just means she has listened to the advice from people who know the results of no smoke alarms.

Those sticky fixers that Sellotape make (other brands are also available) would be better for fixing it up that Blutack. How effective are alarms if placed on shelves? I was always under the (mistaken) impression that they should be ceiling mounted because of the way smoke flows.

I was in a house fire as a child and we escaped thanks to smoke alarms so I am overzealous about them too.

Apparently sticky pads would damage the paintwork

Stick your temporary one up with Command strips - they are awesome, and the DO NOT damage paintwork. I've put up and taken down loads over the years with no trouble at all. And they will 100% hold a smoke alarm without it falling.

Amazing! Off to B@Q to fetch some now!

YANBU. Not following basic safety is appalling, especially when a baby is involved. They are prioritising their paintwork over fore safety?!
Also they need to be fitted to the ceiling. And I wouldn’t trust blue tac.
www.london-fire.gov.uk/safety/the-home/smoke-alarms-and-heat-alarms/

WhatCanIDoNowPlease the OP has said she is having treatment for her anxiety.

Thank You @AuntyElle . I just dont want to take any risk with my child.

GreatDuckCookery yes but I don't think this need for a smoke alarm is a sign of anxiety. It's just a sign that she is a normal person that's all. I don't wear a seat belt because I am anxious, I wear one because professionals who have studied seat belts tell me they are safe.

Wanting a sensible number of functioning fire alarms in a place you are staying is nothing to do with anxiety. One smoke detector for a large house is not enough. The HA fitted one in each room and corridor in my small flat and the last privat rental property I lived in had one in each room. I don’t trust their slapdash products so I also bought a free standing carbon monoxide alarm.

I have two in my house but the point stands it’s entirely their choice how many they have in their own home. The op takes her own and that’s the issue resolved.

I don't think YABU. What ridiculous reasoning that it an alarm won't be ascetically pleasing.

What is it people constantly say here? Their house, their rules.

Nicknacky It's not about OP's liking, it's about common sense. Everyone knows you should have one on each floor, how in this day and age can you not.

You need to stop worrying about everybody your inlaws are grown ups you are not respnsble for their safety, take your smoke alarm even leave it with them but itis up to them what they do? Btw are you not exhausted by the constant wory about everything

I would stay in a hotel.

you cant force them to put up alarms I would leave it and not argue the point but YWNBU to not sleep there overnight with LO

than But they don’t want to have them. It’s as simple as that, and matters nowt why they don’t want another one.

Would I only have one? No I have two plus carbon monoxide detectors but it’s their house so their call.

Wanting a sensible number of functioning fire alarms in a place you are staying is nothing to do with anxiety

No, but the level of insistence that they add more is.

As other people have said, just put one on the shelf or blue tack one up. Job Jobbed....

How many times has their house burnt down since you've known them OP?

If it's a monthly or yearly occurrence then you're right to be concerned.

If it's never however....

You're statistically more likely to crash on the way there..............

Nicknacky Then they are dumb, and OP do not stay there.

The problem is solved anyway as the op is taking her own. There’s no issue for her stay.

Problem solved.
I don't think a burnt down house is visually pleasing but that's just me.

Had similar issue with my FIL at his (mostly wooden) holiday house. He was too tight to buy a battery and we were staying with him in middle of nowhere with no car so couldn't get one ourselves. I now pack one in my suitcase! Can't always put it on ceiling but got to be better than nothing.

You’re very sensible OP and I can’t believe anyone thinks that you are being unreasonable or over reacting. Heaven knows what they’d think of me and my carbon monoxide detectors. I even take them on holiday with me .

Just take one with you and position it up on a cupboard. Do they have a CO monitor? Ours went off the other night and seems to have been triggered by a backflow of fumes, BG took it very seriously. There are smoke alarms which are more discreet and multifunctional which may be more acceptable to them. Maybe your dh could show them some options.