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The Alarm must be continuously powered 24 hours a day so it is important that it is not on a
circuit that can be turned off by a switch.
(UK) BS 5839-6: 2013 gives the following recommendations regarding the mains supply to be
used in a Grade D system. The power supply for the Alarms should be derived from the public
electricity supply to the dwelling. The mains supply to the Alarms should take the form of either:
(a) an independent circuit at the dwelling’s main distribution board, in which case no other
electrical equipment should be connected to this circuit (other than a dedicated monitoring
device installed to indicate failure of the mains supply to the Alarms); or
(b) a separately electrically protected, regularly used local lighting circuit.
Alarms should be connected on a single final circuit, unless the means of interconnection is
by radio signals (e.g. RadioLINK). (See BS 5839-6: 2013 for further information)
(IRE) Please refer to ET101: 2008: National Rules for Electrical Installations
2.2 Where to locate the Alarm
The advice here follows the guidance in British Standard BS 5839-Part 6:2013 and IS 3218:2013 in
general (for further information refer to the relevant standards).
The main reason for fitting Smoke/Heat/Multi-Sensor Alarms in dwellings is to ensure that when
there is a fire, sufficient early warning is given so that everybody can escape safely. This means that
the fire Alarms should ideally be located near all potential sources of fires and that the alarm should
be heard throughout the house – particularly in the bedrooms.
It is also important that nuisance/false alarms are minimised to ensure the Alarms are not disabled
or ignored.
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