THERE will be no further delay to new rules requiring Scots homes to be fitted with interlinked fire alarms, the Cabinet Secretary for Housing has confirmed.
SNP MSP Shona Robison told Holyrood that having “considered the balance of risk” the Scottish Government will push ahead with the February 1 deadline.
It comes after Scottish Labour called for further delays to the interlinked fire alarm roll-out due to problems with the supply chain meaning some homeowners will not be able to get a hold of the alarms by the deadline.
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However, the Scottish Government has said the alarms can be installed within a “reasonable period” after this deadline.
Speaking to MSPs in Holyrood, Robison said: “The law on fire alarms is changing from the 1st of February in Scotland and there have been calls for further delay to this legislation but having considered the balance of risks I’m clear that it's not right to delay the legislation that is designed to protect and save lives.
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“Ensuring people are safe from risk of fire in their homes is a key priority of the Scottish Government. These improved standards will reduce the risk of injury and death in house fires, one death from fires in Scotland’s homes is one death too many.”
The policy was brough in following the Grenfell tragedy where 72 people lost their lives in June 2017.
Scottish Labour and West Lothian Council have called for the roll-out to be paused.
Robison said a consultation brought in by the Scottish Government regarding the fire alarms showed “strong support” for new minimum standards, which will be brought in across all housing regardless of tenure - such as private and social rent.
Homeowners and landlords can expect to pay out around £220 or less for each property to install the new alarms.
Robison said that the system is being put in place to “prevent avoidable death”.
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She said: “From the 1st of February the standard means all houses should have interlinked alarms, with one smoke alarm in the living room, one in each hallway and landing, a heat alarm in the kitchen and a carbon monoxide detector in each room with a carbon fuelled appliance such as a gas boiler or fire.”
Robison added: “An interlinked alarm means that when one alarm goes off in one part of the house the rest also go off, which of course means for example, if someone is sleeping in a bedroom away from the kitchen where a fire starts all the alarms will go off and people are altered to the danger.
“These fire alarms are similar to what people already have, but that important interlinking provides that extra safety.”
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Robison added that she hoped the new fire alarm rules will be seen as a way to protect property and save lives.
She said: “I know, however, people are feeling the cost of living squeeze right now and might feel they do not have that money available.”
A sum of £1.5 million had been provided to the fire service for help with installation, she said, while councils have been told to take a “measured” approach to compliance.
Scottish Labour’s housing spokesman, Mark Griffin, (pictured) said that the party supports the policy but added “if homeowners can’t comply then this measure won’t start saving the lives we hope it will”.
Griffin cited fears over home insurance after being contacted by a constituent.
We previously told how last month one home insurance firm said that claims may not be valid if they do not have the interlinked system in place.
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However, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) pointed out that companies would ask questions about whether the property is fitted with working alarms, but not demand to know the details of the type of alarm.
A spokesman for ABI urged Scots to speak to their home insurance firm.
Robison reiterated the point and said insurers “might” ask about fire alarms, but not standards.
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