Smoke Detectors

If a smoke detector appears to be faulty, please report the fault to the Contact Centre (01942) 705040 and we will promptly arrange for the detector to be repaired or replaced.

If your smoke detectors have not been tested within the last 12 months, please advise the Contact Centre and we will arrange an appointment for the service to be carried out.

Please carefully read the information below and ask the Contact Centre if there is anything you do not understand.

Information on Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors have been installed in all Council properties in the interests of safety of tenants. The Council cannot in any circumstances be held responsible if the detectors fail to activate.

You must: test the detectors weekly to ensure that they continue to work. Report any faults you find to the Contact Centre. Do not relocate or paint a smoke detector.

Wigan and Leigh Housing will:

• clean and test each alarm once a year and fit a new battery. We will normally combine this with other annual safety checks
• investigate promptly any faults you report
• repair or replace any detector which is found to be faulty

Smoke detectors can:

• sense smoke
• sense invisible, odourless fumes from fire
• raise the alarm
• provide early warning of developing fires so allowing precious minutes for you to escape

Battery-powered smoke detectors cannot:

• work without a battery
• detect heat – only smoke
• work satisfactorily unless correctly positioned so you should NOT relocate detectors from their present position
• tell the difference between smoke and steam
• tell the difference between smoke and some kinds of cooking

If you get a false alarm due to steam or cooking, do not remove the battery - you might forget to put it back! If you are quite sure it is only a false alarm, close bathroom and kitchen doors. Open windows and other doors until the alarm resets itself. It is normal to get occasional false alarms. If they happen regularly (e.g. every time you have a shower or make toast) please tell the Contact Centre. We will investigate, replace the alarm if it is faulty and suggest actions you can take to reduce false alarms.

Remember – never remove the battery to silence an alarm!

Testing your detector

You must test your detector every week by pressing the test button (see diagram below) until the alarm sounds.

• Smoke detector diagram (.pdf, 24KB)

If the alarm sounds, the detector is working correctly.

If the alarm does not sound or bleeps regularly each minute, the battery must be replaced urgently. Please advise the Contact Centre immediately.