Do building control regulations require hard-wired inter-linked smoke alarms for every ROOM that doesn't have fire doors in residential property (Standard 2 Storey Victorian house)?

[SNM007]

No basement/loft conversion, no renting, no HMO.

No usually just in the central areas (hall, stairs) and a heat detector in the kitchen. Only implemented if you're doing work to add/change bedrooms as far as I know.

Generally just in the main areas.
Heat detector In the kitchen.
Smoke detector ground floor hallway and upstairs landing.
Carbon monoxide in a room if their a log burner.
Depending on your layout you may need an additional smoke detector on the ground floor in the utility etc.

I thought it was only for more than 3 storeys (or maybe 3 storeys plus). We had to have them as have basement and loft conversion. And as PP posters have said not in all rooms - we have kitchen and hallways/landings. The annoying part was ours have to have at least 72hrs battery backup which restricted the ones we could have.

I will already have 4 smoke detectors (2 x ground floor hallway, 2 x first floor landing). First floor has fir doors because I found some cheap ones. Ground floor will have 15 panel glazed non-fire doors. This is where builder/electrician is arguing that he wants to charge more to install additional smoke alarms in each of the 2 ground floor receptions with non-fire doors before they can give electric certificate. Building regs not involved as electrician in qualified to give a certificate. I think he is out of his scope to require new smoke alarms in the 2 reception rooms.

Have you got a building inspector for the other works?
If not ring your local building control inspectors, they will (probably) be happy to advise you. I would say no they don’t need them in the reception rooms on the ground floor. As PP fire doors are usually requested when it is more than 2 storeys.

Thanks! Other works only included painting, decorating, replacing some old plasterboard walls, and fitting new kitchen and bathroom. So building inspector wasn't needed.

When we had a loft conversion, building regs stipulated a hardwired smoke alarm on each floor. So we have three one on each landing/hallway.

We did also have to have either fire doors or door closers on every door though.

It depends on your council. Mine want a hard wired smoke alarm in every room (excl bathroom).

Roses2 - Hard wired even if you had only 2 floors (no loft or basement conversion)?

Is that for a new build, or what?

Why is the council involved?

Mine is a 3 storey house (the 3rd storey is a loft conversion). It's a Victorian terraced in London. I don't know if the number of storey's makes a difference. I also think keeping the original Victorian wood doors made an imact on this requirement. I think if you replace all internal doors to fire retardent then you might not require hard wired smoke detectors. Of course all depends on your local council - your builder should hopefully be able to advise you

The council is required for building control sign off in any structural work.

Ah yes, a loft conversion needs BRs approval and usually fire doors and stuff because it takes you from a 2-storey dwelling to 3-storeyes.

But I don't see what SNM007 has done that requires such approval.

and of course nobody is required to rebuild their old house to modern standards every time standards change.

It would be interesting to know if the builder is relying on something he thinks he knows, or if he can point to a regulation that you can go and look up.

For example there are lots of builders and plumbers who think there is an electrical regulation requiring kitchen sinks to be earthed. There isn't, and there never has been.

Just standard refurbishment at the moment, so no building control. But in a few months, I will do a side lean extension which will require a building control approval. The side lean will have a bathroom and a gym. Does such a side lean to extension count as garage with internal doors?

Actually side extension within weeks.. instead of few months..

We are having a full renovation in an old house, no structural changes, and have been told we need a heat detector in the kitchen and a smoke detector in the hallways (one upstairs, one downstairs) to get it signed off.

"Have been told"

By whom?

By my fully certified electrician.

That's interesting. Smoke alarms are not demanded by Electrical regulations, the rules are in Building Regulations. I wonder where they demand fitting in an ordinary, pre-existing house.

I don't see it in B1.3 or B1.8

B1
1.3
Or
B1
1.8

that should be

And I don't see it in the December 2018 amendments.

I wonder where it can be?

Perhaps some better-informed person can help me?

Part B is a nightmare, I had a BCO give me different advice on different days.

OP do you have fire escape compliant windows in all the rooms?