Smoke alarms that go beep in the night

The smoke alarm Business Bob Marshall from Springhead with alarm.

PERPLEXED householders are complaining smoke alarms fitted by the fire service are ruining their sleep.

Locals in Springhead were delighted when they received letters from Greater Manchester Fire Service inviting them to have new alarms fitted free in their homes.

Instructions on the plastic casing said the alarms had a guaranteed battery life until 2022 and would not need replacing.

But after firefighters installed them, residents say they are being repeatedly woken by the alarms bleeping.

Businessman Robert Marshall, of Springhead, said: “We were delighted when the fire service offered to install the smoke alarms — even though we already had alarms of our own.

“They brought a fire engine with them and a firefighter duly screwed two new alarms at strategic points on ceilings in the house.

“However, the alarms have started bleeping in the middle of the night as if the battery was running down. I am inconvenienced with having to get up, press the reset button, and then hope I can get some more sleep.

“It’s a terrible nuisance because you can’t physically remove the batteries as they are encased in a sealed unit. Consequently, we just have to put up with it.

“I am tempted to take the unit off the ceiling completely,” he added.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue, Service director of prevention and protection, Peter O’Reilly, thanked the Chronicle for highlighting the problems.

“Without such valuable feedback it is difficult for us to take the appropriate action,” he said. “The batteries are 10-year sealed units so occupiers do not take the batteries out leaving them without protection.”

He said reasons for an alarm beeping is if they are fitted in areas where the ambient temperature is not controlled and may regularly drift below 4°C (40°F) or above 38°C (100°F).

He said: “The product we supply contains technology which combines the very latest in optical sensing with a thermal enhancement providing a fast reaction to both fast-flaming and slow smouldering fires in a single alarm.

“It constantly monitors for temperature change. If a rate of rise is detected the sensitivity of the alarm is increased.

He added: “We would remind the public having working smoke alarms is extremely important — and they should test their alarms once a week.”

* Householders experiencing smoke alarm problems should call 0800-555 815 to book an appointment to have them replaced.

For a full version of this story read the Chronicle in print or via the digital iChron and eChron editions on mobile and laptop.