Battery Smoke Alarms

Grade F1 Smoke Alarm

Our range of battery-only powered smoke detectors comply with Grade F requirements under BS 5839-6: 2019. These alarms provide the lowest permissible level of fire protection in the home.

Meeting Grade F1 Requirements

F1 requirements can be met by sealed long-life lithium battery powered smoke and heat alarms. Replaceable 9V alkaline battery-operated units only fulfil F2 criteria. If your building requires F1 coverage, it is therefore essential that you fit sealed units with long-life lithium batteries.

Meeting requirements for higher smoke alarm grades

Some buildings require a higher level of coverage than battery only detectors (F2 & F1) can provide. These higher grades of alarm are mains powered with back-up batteries (replaceable alkaline or sealed lithium), to provide additional protection. These alarms meet the requirements of Grades D1 and D2. If you require to meet this higher Grade, please take a look at our mains powered smoke alarm range.

It is worth noting that you cannot fit a grade of detector which is ‘too high’. The higher the alarm grade, the better protected your home will be. Therefore, even if your property only requires Grade F detectors, you should consider investing in mains powered alarms with back up batteries, and radio or hardwire interlinks to provide the earliest possible warning to a fire and keep your loved ones safe.

Smoke Alarm Battery

All smoke alarms have batteries: low level alarms (Grade F) are powered by batteries only; higher level alarms (Grade D) are mains powered with back-up batteries.

In Grade F alarms and Grade D alarms, there are units available with replaceable alkaline batteries, and long-life sealed lithium batteries. Lithium battery powered units offer a ‘fit and forget’ solution, as they have a tamper proof battery, which does not require replacement throughout the lifespan of the alarm. Whereas alkaline options require the batteries to be replaced every year or so.

All smoke and heat alarms provide audible warnings when the battery requires to be replaced or if the alarm is coming to the end of its life. The audible warning is usually an intermittent beep, which in some cases can be silenced temporarily by the test/hush button, until the battery or alarm is replaced. If a sealed unit beeps like this, this means that it has reached the end of its life, and needs to be replaced. When replacing alkaline batteries, check the ‘replace by’ date on the back of the unit to ensure that it is still within its lifespan, and to be aware that it may be reaching the end of its life. This is important because the sensor of any type of alarm, optical or heat, becomes less effective over time. So, an out-of-date alarm may offer little or no protection in your home. If your unit has reached or is nearing this date, visit our smoke and heat alarm replacement page for a suitable replacement.

If you are sure that your battery or unit is not out of date but find that it is beeping, read our blog for additional support.