Wind farm charity set to help homeowners meet fire alarm regulations
Point and Sandwick Trust (PST) has launched a new fire alarm scheme to help households meet Scottish Government alarm regulations in the local area.
The scheme, which will be run through the PST Energy Support Unit, will work with local people to help ensure homes comply with the current Scottish Government regulations for domestic fire alarms including smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms and undertake those installations for free for qualifying homeowners and crofters.
From February 2022, the law in Scotland was changed to state that all homes must have interlinked fire alarms, meaning that if one alarm goes off, all will be activated.
This change is the responsibility of the homeowner to install and not having them fitted can have implications for home insurance cover with the risk of insurance claims being rejected in the event of fire in a home that does not meet the new requirements.
Interlinked, ceiling mounted smoke alarms are required in the living room and all hallways of every home with a heat alarm in the kitchen and a carbon monoxide alarm fitted in every home that has a boiler, fire or non-electric heater.
The scheme is wide ranging and seeks to help supply and fit the correct alarms for those which meet the eligibility markers.
Eligible households are those with an occupant over 60, a child under 16 or those holding a net income less than £35.5k and savings less than £28k.
The ESU will also offer a free fitting service for homes that do not meet the eligibility criteria meaning a homeowner will be charged for the necessary alarms but they will be fitted for free.