-
Contact
Sales & Customer Service
0800 612 6537 support@safelincs.co.uk Live ChatDelivery Enquiries
0800 077 6149 - Resources
Permanent protection demands reliable power. Mains smoke alarms connect directly to your property's electrical supply, providing continuous fire detection backed by battery power during outages. Hardwired Reliability Mains powered smoke detectors eliminate concerns about dead batteries leaving you unprotected. These alarms draw power from your home's electrical circuit and maintain battery backup for complete peace of mind. Professional installation ensures proper positioning and electrical connection. An electrician connects the alarms to a lighting circuit or dedicated supply, guaranteeing consistent power and compliance with building regulations. The Kidde Slick series offers sleek, low-profile designs that blend seamlessly with modern interiors. Optical sensors provide excellent detection of smouldering fires, while sealed backup batteries last up to 10 years without replacement. Interlinked systems connect multiple alarms through wiring or radio signals. When one alarm activates, all connected units sound simultaneously, providing whole-house alerts that could save precious seconds during evacuation. Building Standards Compliance New builds and extensions require mains powered alarms meeting Grade D standards. These systems provide superior protection compared to battery-only units and satisfy building control requirements. Rental properties often mandate mains alarms for enhanced tenant safety. Landlords benefit from systems that tenants can't accidentally disable by removing batteries, ensuring continuous protection. Commercial properties utilise addressable systems that pinpoint the exact location of fire detection. These advanced networks integrate with building management systems for comprehensive safety monitoring. Advanced Features Modern mains alarms incorporate smart technology for improved performance. Multi-sensor units combine smoke and heat detection, reducing false alarms and maximising fire detection capabilities. Some models feature wireless modules that enable radio-interlink functionality without additional wiring. This flexibility allows system expansion without extensive electrical modifications. LED indicators provide visual confirmation of alarm status, power supply, and system integrity. These diagnostic features help you quickly identify any issues requiring attention. Our mains alarm selection includes options for every application. Professional guidance ensures you select appropriate systems for your specific requirements. For comprehensive fire protection advice, explore our detection system guides. Understanding the different technologies helps you make informed decisions about your property's safety. Contact our team for expert advice on mains smoke alarm specifications. We'll help you design a system that meets regulations and provide optimal protection for your property and occupants. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) What is the main advantage of mains smoke alarms over battery models? A mains smoke alarm is more reliable than battery models because it receives continuous power from the electrical supply, eliminating the risk of power failure due to dead batteries. Do mains powered smoke alarms still need batteries? Most mains smoke alarms incorporate backup batteries to maintain protection during power cuts, ensuring continuous fire detection even when the electrical supply fails. Can existing battery alarms be upgraded to mains power? Upgrading to mains smoke alarms requires an electrician to connect the units to your home's electrical circuit, which cannot be done as a simple replacement of battery units. How long do mains smoke alarms last? The lifespan of mains smoke alarms is typically 10 years for the detection sensors, though the electrical components may last longer with proper maintenance and testing.
Read more about mains smoke alarms...
These Firehawk mains-powered smoke and heat alarms with hardwire interlink and replaceable AAA alkaline back-up batteries are suitable for Grade D2 systems to warn all occupants of a fire.
These mains-powered alarms from Hispec feature RF10-PRO wireless interlink for whole-house coverage, with a sealed rechargeable lithium back-up battery and 5-year manufacturer's warranty.
With self-charging back-up batteries, these mains-powered smoke and heat alarms from Firehawk won't need new batteries for their full 10 year lifespan. Ideal for Grade D1 and Scottish installations.
Mains smoke alarms or mains powered smoke alarms are powered by the 230V from the mains wiring of the building. While replacement units and batteries can be easily changed, all wiring work should be completed by a competent person, such as an electrician, to ensure that it is safe and has been installed correctly. Mains smoke alarms can be wired into a special alarm wiring loop, which comes directly from the fuse box, or they can be fed from the nearest light fitting.
Retrofitting mains powered smoke alarms in older buildings, means that supply from a light fitting is often recommended and cheaper. However, care must be taken to ensure that the supply is wired correctly, and that the smoke alarm is not supplied by a ‘switched’ electric cable. Being wired to a ‘switched’ cable means that when in the ‘off’ position, the alarm may not function as it should and be only functional on its back-up battery. This is particularly problematic for sealed (Grade D1) smoke and heat alarms, as the battery cannot be changed, so the whole unit will need to be replaced if the battery is over-used.
Mains smoke alarms with any form of interlink (either hard-wired or using radio-interlink) fulfil BS5839-6 Grade D, which is required for extensions, new domestic buildings, let homes, HMOs, and many more applications.
All of our mains powered smoke detectors and heat alarms have back-up batteries, and therefore meet the Grade D requirements. Back-up batteries offer additional protection, by ensuring that the smoke and heat alarms still have a power supply, even if the mains power fails. Alarms with back-up batteries are either tamper proof devices for which the batteries last the lifetime of the alarm, or have and accessible battery compartment for the user to replace the alarms batteries within the alarm’s lifetime.
These back-up batteries are often non-rechargeable, and specified as alkaline by the manufacturer. Usually, these require replacement every year or two, depending on how often they are used.
These back-up batteries are a sealed-in rechargeable lithium cell, also known as a tamper-proof battery, which is designed to last the lifespan of the alarm. This type of back-up batteries are designed to trickle charge while there are connected to mains power and to provide full power, if the mains were to fail. These alarms are often found most useful in rented properties, in order to avoid tampering, deactivation, and the requirement for battery changes falling on the tenant.
Whether purchasing alarms fulfilling to Grade D1 or D2, the lifespan of any smoke or heat detector will usually be up to 10 years; the whole alarm must be replaced at this point. This is due to the sensor becoming less reliable, and more likely to falsely alarm.