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Do I need a new consumer unit for 3 new smoke alarms?

Stephen Baldry

Hi. I have just had a garage conversion, and in order to get final sign off by building regs, need 3 wired and radio linked smoke alarms. 

Building regs are happy that the wired alarms use the existing downstairs lighting circuit, but I have been given inconsistent advice from the sparks that I have had quotes from. 

The existing consumer unit has a 100 Ma trip protection. Some tell me that I will need 30 Ma trip to comply, others not. Obviously that makes the cost of just 3 smoke alarms quite a bit more expensive, so I wanted to get a view from this forum. 

The alarms would be wired to the local circuit, and in the ceiling bottom and top of stairs, as well as the new room

Help would be really appreciated thanks

Steve

Parents
  • 0

    I presume the garage conversion has it's own consumer unit with 30m/a protection and had an existing suitable sub-main.  Could the smokes be fed from there if you don't want to go wireless ?

    Gary

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  • 0

    I presume the garage conversion has it's own consumer unit with 30m/a protection and had an existing suitable sub-main.  Could the smokes be fed from there if you don't want to go wireless ?

    Gary

Children
  • 0 in reply to aligarjon

    Hi Gary

    the new room in the original garage are using the existing CU and the downstairs lighting circuit. So running off 100. Not allowed completely wireless alarms. Have to be wired to the electrics with radio units 

    cheers, Steve

  • 0 in reply to Stephen Baldry

    So all of the new wiring in the garage conversion is almost certainly non compliant if it's on a 100m/a rcd. 

    Gary

  • 0 in reply to aligarjon

    It’s been signed off. So I’m not worried. It’s the requirement for the smoke alarms I need advice on. 

    thanks for your help, Steve

  • 0 in reply to Stephen Baldry

    So get the same electrician to install the smoke alarms.

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