In a private house you can fit standalone battery smoke alarms yourself. But for businesses and public buildings the fire alarm must be installed by a specialist company with the proper permits — otherwise the system will not be accepted, and after a fire the owner will face questions.
Besides, self-installation without a design almost always leads to mistakes in detector placement and wiring.
Practical tips
- For a flat, choose standalone alarms with a long-life battery and a test button.
- Test standalone alarms with the button once a month.
- For an office, shop or warehouse, use a licensed company.