smoke alarms - query...

[binker]

Just wanted to know whether smoke alarms could be fitted on the walls (high up)rather than the ceiling ..........

We have one slotted between the rails of our stairs near the top (we have 3 floors). I think that they just need to be placed at a level where they would detect smoke, i.e. there is no point putting them on a low point on a ground floor wall as the smoke would rise above them. Wall should be fine provided it is high enough.

thanks Freckle, - have checked on firekills website and they recommend best place is on ceiling, 30 cm away from the wall or a light fitting...will maybe move ours.

I have trouble just keeping smoke alarms in the house, if we have one in the kitchen, it goes off at least once a week. I see this is a good thing, saves me from having to test it each week! But DH hates it and chucks them outside or far away without me realising.

I have one which lives in the light fitting. It never seems to go off even when I burn the toast badly though. Anyone else got one of these? Can't remember what it's called.

we've got one that goes in the light fighting too i think they are called smoke angels. Its great very neat and hiden under an uplighter lampshade. The best bit is if you do set them off then you just flick the light switch to stop them no need to flap a bit of card underneath to stop the noise.

Freckle, do you just have one? I also have a three-storey house and was advised you need at least two but maybe you've heard different? TBH so paranoid we now have 4 (one for integral garage)!

You should have at least one on each floor (depends how big the house is). It is OK to put them on the wall, as high as possible but not in the "dead area", 30cm from the ceiling - I believe smoke curves away from the join between wall and ceiling.

I would recommend getting one that can also detect carbon monoxide. We have ones from ADT which detects both smoke and carbon monoxide and it is not too bulky.

Eddm, we have two smoke alarms. We have one near the top of the stairs from the ground floor to the first floor (this is the one slotted between the stair rails) and another at the other end of the first floor landing near the ceiling (this is near the stairs leading to the second floor). We would probably put both on the ceiling but we only moved in 16 months ago and haven't got round to it! I feel that they are at least positioned so that they would detect smoke even if not in the "ideal" position.

have relocated them both to ceilings to set my mind at rest...thanks for all the feedback !