Smoke alarm installation BR2

The Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022, in force from 1 October 2022, require every landlord in the BR2 area to install at least one smoke alarm on every storey used as living accommodation. Any floor with a habitable room — not just floors with bedrooms — must have a smoke alarm fitted.

Carbon monoxide alarms are now mandatory in every room containing a gas, oil, or solid fuel appliance. For most BR2 ($Keston & Hayes) properties this means a CO alarm wherever the boiler is sited and wherever there is a gas hob. CO alarms must comply with BS EN 50291 and be tested before handover to tenants.

Non-compliance can result in a civil penalty of up to £5,000 issued by the local authority. HMO properties across the BR2 postcode face additional requirements — typically Grade D Category LD2 as a minimum, covering all bedrooms, escape routes, and kitchen. We survey each property and recommend the compliant system.

All our installations across the BR2 area follow BS 5839-6 for alarm positioning, grades, and categories — ensuring your property exceeds the legal minimum and is protected to best-practice standards.

Standalone alarms are independent units — each detects and sounds on its own. They are suitable for very small properties but BS 5839-6 recommends interlinked alarms for all residential installations because a single triggered alarm may not be heard throughout the property.

Wireless RadioLINK interlinked alarms require no cable between units, making them the ideal choice for occupied BR2 properties. When one alarm detects smoke, heat, or CO, every alarm in the network sounds. Systems can mix optical smoke alarms, heat alarms, and CO alarms on the same wireless network.

Hard-wired Grade D interlinked systems are the premium option for properties under refurbishment, connecting mains-powered alarms with battery backup via communication cable. They require no ongoing radio-frequency management and are the most reliable long-term solution.

Grade D Category LD2 is the legal minimum for most rental homes in BR2 — alarms in all circulation areas and higher-risk rooms. Category LD1 extends to all rooms including bedrooms. We assess each property and recommend the correct specification before installation.