Required Smoke Alarms for Garage Conversion

[JackRusselll]

Hello, I'm in the process of having my garage converted. We're knocking through the kitchen to make the existing kitchen larger, adding a front bedroom/study and a shower room. (Please see attached before/after plans to show the rough outline).

I currently have no mains alarms in the house (plenty of battery ones), but understand I need a mains heat detector in the kitchen as part of the works. My electrician suggested this is all that would be required.

However, building control inspector suggested I would need a mains heat detector in the kitchen, a mains smoke alarm in the hallway and a mains smoke alarm upstairs on the landing - all of which should be interconnected.

Does this sound correct?

 

[jj4091]

Not 100% sure but I think the building inspector is correct and given he is the one who will sign it off as habitable I would tend to do what he suggests.

 

[JackRusselll]

I guess I'm a bit unsure as to why I would need to put one upstairs too as this work has no impact on anything above ground level - means of escape don't change (if anything they improve).

 

[wessex101]

Extract from the approved document -

Extensions and material alterations
1.8 A fire detection and alarm system should be installed where either of the following applies.
a. A new habitable room is provided above or below the ground storey.
b. A new habitable room is provided at the ground storey, without a final exit.
1.9 Smoke alarms should be provided in the circulation spaces of the dwelling in accordance with paragraphs 1.1 to 1.4.

As the new bedroom/office seems to discharge in to the ground floor hallway and the kitchen has a door directly to the outside I would say this requirement does not therefore apply in your case.

Having said that personally I would install the interlinked mains smoke/heat alarms even if they are not technically a statutory requirement.

 

[Murdochcat]

Don’t pick a fight with a building inspector is my advice

 

[noseall]

However, building control inspector suggested I would need a mains heat detector in the kitchen, a mains smoke alarm in the hallway and a mains smoke alarm upstairs on the landing - all of which should be interconnected.

Does this sound correct?

Yes.

Our leccy fits a hard wired detector in say the kitchen, then the rest run remotely (in sync) of the hard wired one.