Home safety & alarms
Mains-linked smoke & heat alarms, fire alarms, BS 5266 emergency lighting and surge protection — designed, installed and tested for homes, landlords and businesses.
TrustMark
Part P
BS 7671
Compliance made simple
Whether it’s a landlord’s smoke-alarm duty or emergency lighting for a commercial unit, we specify to the right standard and hand over the log book and certificate.
What we fit
Interlinked mains alarms with sealed 10-year backup.
SPDs at the board to protect against surges and strikes.
BS 5266 escape lighting with annual duration tests.
Everything tested and handed over with a log book.
How it works
FAQ
Rented homes need a smoke alarm on every storey by law. We fit interlinked mains Grade D (the LACORS benchmark for single lets is Grade D, LD3), with a heat alarm in the kitchen. We fit compliant Aico/Kidde systems and certify them.
BS 5266 escape-route lighting that stays on if the power fails. We design, install and carry out the annual 3-hour duration test with a full log book.
The 18th Edition recommends SPDs in most installations. We can add surge protection at your consumer unit to protect appliances and systems.
All non-domestic premises in England & Wales are covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which requires a fire risk assessment. That assessment determines whether a BS 5839-1 automatic fire detection system is needed. Rented homes fall under the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations (a smoke alarm on every storey and CO alarms where needed); licensed HMOs are covered by their licence conditions instead.
BS 5839-1 systems need a weekly user test and servicing by a competent person at least every six months. We offer this as a contracted package with certificates issued after every visit for your fire risk assessment file.
Conventional fire alarm systems divide the building into zones and identify the triggered zone but not the exact device. Addressable systems identify the exact device that has activated, which saves time during evacuation and fault finding. Addressable is recommended for larger buildings, multi-storey premises, and anywhere rapid response matters.
Yes. We install wireless and hybrid addressable systems (Hochiki EKHO, Apollo MultiPoint Pro, Hyfire) that require no cabling between devices -- ideal for listed buildings where chasing cables is prohibited. We liaise with conservation officers where heritage consent is required.
Yes. Most false alarms are caused by incorrect detector choice (smoke detectors near kitchens), environmental factors, or ageing devices. We survey the system, replace unsuitable detectors with multi-sensors or rate-of-rise heat detection where appropriate, and configure panel delays per BS 5839-1 Section 37.
More from DS
Fire alarm systems
Fire alarm systems save lives — when they are designed, installed and serviced properly. We design and install BS 5839-1 compliant commercial fire alarm systems across Mid Somerset, from simple single-zone domestic systems through to multi-loop addressable panels for large commercial premises. Every system certified, every panel commissioned, every service visit logged.
The standard for fire detection and alarm systems in non-domestic premises. Covers everything from the initial fire risk assessment and system category (M, L1–L5, P1–P2) through to design, installation, commissioning, certification and ongoing service. We design to BS 5839-1:2025 and issue design, installation and commissioning certificates at each stage.
Conventional systems split the premises into zones and a triggered device activates the whole zone. Ideal for smaller sites up to around 1,500m² — shops, small offices, single-storey premises. Typically 2–8 zones, lower cost, simpler commissioning.
Addressable systems report the exact device that has activated. Essential for larger buildings, multi-storey premises, and anywhere fast fault finding matters. Panels from Advanced MxPro, Kentec Syncro, C-Tec, Morley-IAS and Apollo. Scalable from 1 to multiple loops with hundreds of devices per loop.
Hochiki EKHO, Apollo MultiPoint Pro and Hyfire Taurus wireless systems let us install addressable fire detection in listed buildings, period properties and operating premises where cable runs are impossible or prohibitively disruptive. Full BS 5839-1 compliance, 10-year sealed battery life, and signal redundancy with mesh repeaters. We also deploy hybrid systems — wireless expansion onto existing wired loops for phased upgrades.
The domestic standard, covering everything from single-dwelling smoke alarms through to Grade A interconnected systems in HMOs and student housing. Interlinked mains-powered smoke and heat detectors with 10-year sealed battery backup from Aico and FireAngel. HMO licence holders must keep alarms working and give the council a declaration on their condition and position on demand. LACORS recommends an annual detector test with a certificate, which we provide.
Resettable manual call points (MCPs) with protective covers to prevent accidental activation. Conventional and addressable sounders and sounder/beacons to BS EN 54-3 and 54-23 respectively — with output levels calculated to reach at least 65 dB(A) in every part of the premises (or 75 dB(A) at the bedhead in sleeping accommodation). Voice-sounder (VAD) systems available for high-occupancy premises and premises where standard tone sounders are inadequate.
Optical smoke detectors for general fire detection, ionisation detectors for fast-flaming fires, heat detectors for kitchens and dirty environments, beam detectors for large open spaces, aspirating smoke detection (Wagner, Vesda) for server rooms and archives, and multi-sensor detectors that combine optical and heat for lower false-alarm rates. Every detector sited per BS 5839-1 Annex B.
BS 5839-1 systems need a weekly user test and servicing by a competent person at least every six months. We deliver this as a contracted service: every device tested, every sounder level verified, every call point operated, batteries tested under load, logbook updated, and a certificate issued for your fire risk assessment and insurance file. If anything fails we fix it the same day where practical.
Somerset Fire & Rescue now charge for repeated false alarm call-outs, and it is worth checking what your insurance policy says about them. We reduce false alarms by reviewing detector siting (removing smoke detectors from steam-prone kitchens and replacing with rate-of-rise heat detectors), fitting multi-sensor detectors in marginal environments, adding delay-to-confirm on panels, and implementing staff verification procedures compliant with BS 5839-1 Section 37.
Fire-rated FP200 Gold, Firetuff or Prysmian FP PLUS cable for all fire alarm wiring — BS EN 50200 PH30/PH60/PH120 survivability to match the category of system. Containment in galvanised steel conduit or tray where required, fire-rated intumescent seals at all compartment wall and floor penetrations, and proper segregation from other services per BS 5839-1 Section 26. We do not use standard twin-and-earth for fire alarm cabling. Ever.
Every installation comes with a full set of certificates:
All documentation logged and available to your insurer and local fire authority on request.
On the wall, on the certificate
Commercial fire alarm install: panel, manual call point, red beacon and compliant signage. BS 5839-1 commissioning certificate issued on handover.
See our work →The certification ladder
Every project follows the same five-step process. No surprises, no scope creep.
Areas we cover
What customers say
“I had a brilliant experience using Dan for a full revamp of the electrics ready for the new kitchen. It was a large project and he explained things clearly and gave me options.”
“Dan and his team did a fantastic job upgrading everything in my flat. Professional, tidy, and excellent quality work throughout.”
“Dan arrived on time, completed the job in a professional and speedy way. There was no mess to clean up. I would highly recommend.”
Get a quote
Alarms, emergency lighting or surge protection — tell us the property and we’ll advise.
DS Electrical Installations (SW) Ltd will call you back to talk through the job.
