Fire Detection & Alarms

Grade A uses an addressable panel — for larger commercial. Grade D uses mains-powered interlinked detectors — for most residential and smaller HMOs. We'll advise which your property needs.

Residential interlinked: £500-£1,500. HMO Grade D: £800-£2,000. Commercial addressable panel: £2,000-£8,000+. All include certificates.

Yes. Every installation includes a completion and design certificate confirming BS 5839 compliance. Essential for landlords and insurers.

BS 5839 recommends weekly testing of at least one detector zone by the occupier, and a full professional service every six months for commercial systems or annually for residential. Weekly testing simply means pressing the test button on one detector to confirm the panel and sounders respond. During a professional service, we check every detector, test battery backup, inspect wiring, clean sensors, and issue updated documentation. TechnoActive offers annual maintenance contracts that cover all of this.

Optical smoke detectors respond to visible smoke particles and are ideal for bedrooms, hallways, and living rooms where early warning of a smouldering fire is critical. Heat detectors respond to rapid temperature rise and are designed for kitchens, garages, and boiler rooms where cooking fumes or exhaust would cause false alarms on a smoke detector. We also install multi-sensor detectors that combine both technologies for areas where you need maximum sensitivity with fewer false alarms. Correct placement of the right detector type is essential for both safety and avoiding nuisance activations.

Yes — it's a legal requirement. All Houses in Multiple Occupation must have a fire detection system compliant with BS 5839 Part 6. Most HMOs require at least an LD2 system, which covers escape routes plus rooms that open onto escape routes. Larger or higher-risk HMOs may need an LD1 system covering all habitable rooms. As a landlord, you must have the correct system installed, certified, and maintained to obtain and keep your HMO licence. We design, install, and certify HMO fire alarm systems across London with full documentation for your local authority.