Fire and smoke alarms: the law

Every home in Scotland must have interlinked fire alarms.   

Interlinked alarms means if one goes off, they all go off, so you will always hear an alarm wherever you are in your home.   

It is the property owner’s responsibility for meeting the standard. If you’re not sure what the fire and smoke alarm requirements mean for your home insurance, speak to your insurance company directly.   

What each home needs 

Every home must have: 

• one smoke alarm in the living room or the room you use most 

• one smoke alarm in every hallway and landing 

• one heat alarm in the kitchen 

All smoke and heat alarms should be attached to the ceiling and be interlinked.   

If you have an open plan area, for example a combined hall and living room, you only need one alarm – but it should be no more than 7.5 metres from any point in the room. If the area includes a kitchen, then it should be a heat alarm.  

When you need a carbon monoxide detector  

If you have a carbon-fuelled appliance like a boiler, open fire or wood burner, you must also have a carbon monoxide detector in the same room. This does not need to be linked to the smoke alarms.   Gas cookers and hobs do not need a carbon monoxide detector.  

Specialist alarms 

Specialist alarms – for example if you are deaf or have a Telecare system – must be fitted in addition to any smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms.   

Do not remove any existing Telecare alarms.  

For more information read our guidance on fire alarms for deaf and deafblind people. This is also available as a BSL version.  

Book a home fire safety visit   

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) offer free fire safety visits to everyone in Scotland. To find out more about booking a home fire safety visit the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service website.