A Guide to British Standards for Smoke Alarms

British Standards play a vital role in ensuring smoke alarms are correctly selected, installed, and maintained to provide effective fire protection in the home. One of the most important standards for domestic properties is BS 5839-6:2019+A1:2020.

This standard sets out best-practice guidance for the planning, design, installation, commissioning, and ongoing maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises. It applies to homes designed to accommodate a single person or family, as well as sheltered housing, helping to ensure a consistent and reliable approach to fire safety across different types of residential buildings.

BS 5839-6 focuses on life safety, outlining how smoke and heat alarms should be positioned, interconnected, and powered to provide early warning in the event of a fire. By following this standard, homeowners, landlords, and installers can reduce the risk of fire-related injury or loss of life and ensure their fire alarm systems meet recognised UK safety expectations.

What areas of the home do you need to protect?

the standard states that the level of protection to the occupants needs to be directly related to the fire risk. however it does list three categories of system to describe the level of protection the systems provide. where and how many alarms are installed will affect how quickly a fire is detected.

LD1 - High Protection

All areas where a fire could start:

• Hallways
• Landings
• Living Room
• Kitchen
• Bedrooms
• Airing Cupboards

LD2 - Medium Protection

Escape routes and high risk areas, such as:

• Hallways
• Landings
• Living Room
• Kitchen

LD3 - Minimum Protection

Escape routes, such as:

• Hallways
• Landings