Fire Alarm Installation Cost

Want to discover the cost of fitting a fire alarm?

To get a fire alarm installed will usually cost around £100, but there are many cost factors that can change the overall cost, such as electrician prices, and the type you may need, such as interlinking smoke alarms.

Just need a quote?

If so, we can help! We have a range of local fire alarm fitters ready to offer you a free quote!

This detailed guide on fire detectors will show you what you need to consider when installing a fire alarm.

How Much Does Smoke Detector Installation Cost?

The cost of installing a fire alarm is not that high. It mostly depends on the type of alarm and how many you need.

If you are just installing an extra battery-powered alarm, you can buy one for £10 - £15. They are easy to install. If you need to pay for installation, the cost will be £40 - £75.

Mains powered alarms will cost you more as they need to be installed by an electrician. The average cost is £75 - £125. This cost is per alarm.

If you want a smart-enabled fire alarm, then this will cost you more. For a battery-powered alarm, you can expect to pay £80 - £100 with installation. For a mains powered smart alarm, the cost will be in the range £105 - £250.

Installing Fire Alarm Prices

The price to install your fire alarms will depend on the type you choose as well as how many there are. The biggest difference comes from the way they are powered.

Battery Powered

Mains Powered

Supply Only Costs

Buying a fire alarm is usually pretty cheap. Unless it is a more technical smart alarm, they are generally pretty cheap.

Find Tradespeople, compare up to 3 quotes!

It's FREE and there are no obligations

Get started

Additional Costs

If you are getting a mains powered system, then there are other jobs you might want or need to get done while you have an electrician in your home.

Getting An Electrical Safety Certificate

If you plan to rent your property or just have concerns about the wiring, it can be a good idea to get an electrical safety certificate. It’s a good job to combine with fitting a fire alarm as most electricians will be able to do both jobs for you. The average cost of getting a certificate is £120.

Rewire Your Home

If your home is older and hasn't been modernised recently, then it is possible that while fitting a fire alarm you electrician may discover that there are problems with the wiring of your home.

If this is the case, you may need to get your home rewired. Otherwise, you may not be covered by your insurance. This can be a costly job if needed and can be as around £4,000.

Fitting a Security System

While you are thinking about your fire alarms, you may also want to think about your home's security system. It might be time for an upgrade or simply time to install one.

The cost of a new security system for supply and fitting is around £500. However, the size of your home is a big factor in the final cost.

Labour Costs and Timescales

You can probably fit a battery-powered alarm yourself. However, if you don't feel confident in doing so, you can hire any tradesperson who is willing to do the job for you. They will probably charge you for no more than an hour of your time.

So, the cost will vary depending on where you are and the tradesperson you choose. A price of £30 - £50 would be reasonable. The job should take no more than ½ an hour.

Fitting a mains-powered alarm will require an electrician. Most will charge per alarm that needs to be fitted. Prices fall into the range £55 - £100 per alarm.

You should expect the work to take a minimum of 1-2 hours with an extra 30 mins for each alarm after the first one.

Ask a Trade

Got a question that only a tradesperson can answer? We have thousands of trades ready to answer any question you may have.

Ask your question

Cost Factors of Installing a Fire Alarm

When calculating the price for fitting fire alarms in your home, there are a few factors to consider.

Type of Fire Alarm

The type of fire alarm will affect the cost per unit. Assuming that they are mains powered alarms, then the type will make no difference to the installation cost.

If you have battery-powered alarms, you will most likely be able to fit them your self

Location of property

The location of your property will affect the cost of installation. Tradespeople's rates are different in different cities. London usually has the highest rates and prices generally drop as you travel north.

Ease of Access

If it is especially difficult to access your consumer box or to run the wires, this may add to the cost. If you can't run the wires above the ceiling, then you may need to pay extra to have the wires boxed in or just tacked into position along the ceiling.

Number of Fire Alarms

The more alarms you have, the higher the supply costs will be. Most electricians will quote you an installation cost per alarm, so, the more alarms, the higher the fitting cost.

What's Involved in Installing a Fire Alarm?

There is a big difference between installing a battery-powered alarm and a mains powered alarm. Fitting a mains-powered alarm is a job that should only be done by a licensed electrician.

Installing A Battery Powered Alarm

Installing a battery-powered alarm is a simple process. All you need to do is decide where to place it. It should be away from any light fittings and bathroom doors.

You remove the cover and use screws to fix the base of the alarm to the ceiling. Then all that’s left is to pop in the batteries and replace the cover.

Installing A Mains Powered Alarm

The first step will be to make sure there is a dedicated slot on your consumer unit to run your fire alarms off. It will usually be a 6 Amp circuit breaker. With the power off the wires are first run to the consumer unit.

Depending on the location of the alarms and the consumer unit, the smoke alarm wire may be run above the ceiling, or it may have to be boxed in.

Next, the wire from the consumer unit is connected to the smoke alarm. If your alarms will be linked, then a second wire is connected at the same time, which will go to the next alarm in the chain.

The smoke alarm is fixed to the ceiling with screws and the connections checked. Finally, the cover is put back on.

Can I Install a Fire Alarm Myself?

It all depends on the type of fire alarm you have chosen to go for. If you are just installing battery-powered smoke alarms, then it is a quick and simple job. You just need to screw the alarms into place.

If you are replacing mains powered smoke alarms with a similar system, then it is often a simple job. However, you should only take it on if you have experience working with electrics.

If you are installing a new, mains powered fire alarm, then you should leave it to a professional. This type of installation involves working with your mains electrical system and can be dangerous if not completed correctly.

Choosing a Fire Alarm

When choosing the type of fire alarm you want, you need to think about how it will be powered, and which features you want it to have. To have a comprehensive alarm system, you may need more than one type of alarm.

Power Source

The way your alarms are powered is a big decision. It affects the upfront cost and ongoing maintenance.

Mains Fire Alarm Cost

Mains powered alarms are wired directly into your electrical system. They do not need any maintenance, but they must be fitted by an electrician. The average cost for mains powered alarms is £15.

Pros

• ✔ Peace of mind that it is always working
• ✔ No maintenance

Cons

• ✖ More expensive installation

Battery Fire Alarm Cost

Battery-operated alarms can be powered by standard batteries or ten-year battery, although these cost a lot more. The average cost of a battery-powered alarm is £10.

Pros

• ✔ Easy to install
• ✔ Cheaper to install

Cons

• ✖ Batteries need to be replaced
• ✖ Alarm should be tested every week

Features

Another considering in the type of alarm that you choose is how it works and the features it may have. Some alarms may have more than one of these features, while others only offer a single feature.

Ionisation Fire Alarm Cost

In an ionisation alarm, the air inside the alarm is ionised. This allows a current to flow. When smoke gets inside the alarm, it breaks the circuit and sets the alarms off. The average cost for this type of alarm is £20.

Pros

• ✔ Works well in dusty areas
• ✔ Not affected by cigarette smoke

Cons

• ✖ Can give false alarms if placed too near the kitchen

Optical Fire Alarm Cost

Optical alarms contain a light sensor and a red LED. Every few seconds, the light sensor checks how much light it can detect from the LED. The smoke from large fires scatters the light and sets the alarm off. The average cost for an optical alarm is £15.

Pros

• ✔ Works well in kitchens and hallways
• ✔ Does not trigger from cooking

Cons

• ✖ Does not work well in dusty places
• ✖ Bathroom steam can set them off

Smart Fire Alarm Cost

Smart alarms not only sound an alarm when they detect a fire, but they also send an alert to your phone. Depending on the type you choose, this may be via a message, or by making your phone make an alarm sound. The average cost of a smart alarm is £100.

Pros

• ✔ Can alert you to a fire no matter where you are
• ✔ Makes it more likely you will hear the alarm

Cons

• ✖ You get what you pay for – some are better than others

Heat Fire Alarm Cost

Heat alarms are triggered when the air temperature gets higher. This means they are not prone to false alarms when you burn the toast. The average cost for a heat alarm is £20.

Pros

• ✔ No false alarms
• ✔ Can be placed directly in the kitchen or a garage

Cons

• ✖ Does not go off until a fire is established – can be a later alert to a problem

Linked Fire Alarm Cost

Linked alarms can be joined with or without wires. When any of the alarms in the system detects a problem, all of the linked alarms will go off. This is a good option for larger homes or homes with soundproofed rooms. The average cost of linked alarms is £20.

Pros

• ✔ The whole building is alerted if there is a problem

Cons

• ✖ Wireless ones can be a little unreliable

Building Regulation for Fire Alarms

Building regulations now specify that all alarms smoke/heat/fire in a home should be mains powered.

This means that if you are having any other work done on your home that will be subject to building regulations, then you will be required to also fit a mains powered alarm if you do not have one.

If you want to have battery-powered alarms in addition to a mains powered alarm that is absolutely fine. As long as there is one mains powered alarm in your home, you can do whatever else you want.

Since work on the electrics in your home should be carried out by a Part P registered electrician, this will also affect the installation of your alarms.

Building regulations also cover the placement of the alarms. They must be at least one alarm placed in each circulating space. This means that you should have one alarm within each hallway of your home.

That is the minimum requirement, but it may be necessary to have more alarms to make sure you are fully covered and protected. If you are unsure, you can ask for advice from your local fire station.

Cost of Removing a Fire Alarm

If you are changing to a completely new system, then you may want to remove the old one. The cost will depend on the type of alarm system you need to remove.

If the old alarms are battery-powered, then it is very easy to remove them. All you need to do is unscrew them from the ceiling. Then patch the holes. If you are concerned about your budget, then this is a very simple job to DIY, and pretty much anyone should be able to do it.

If the old system was mains wired, then you will be best off getting an electrician in to sort it out. The cost will depend on the amount of time they need to complete the work. Electricians usually charge £50 - £120 per hour, depending on where you are in the country. The more alarms there are to remove, the more it will cost.

There is no cost for disposing of old smoke alarms you can just take them to your local recycling centre or tip. They can be put in the specialist electronics disposal section where they will be disposed of properly.

Hiring Someone to Install a Fire Alarm Checklist

When you are looking for someone to install a fire alarm system in your home, you have two options. You can either use a specialist fire safety company or use an electrician.

You might choose a specialist fire safety company if you home has a complicated or unusual layout, and you are looking for a comprehensive fire safety risk assessment and plan.

Whichever type of specialist you choose to go for there are a few things to look out for.

• Experience – Make sure you choose someone who has experience with the type of alarm you need.
• Part P registered – This means that they can self-certify any work they do on your electrics as being safe in regard to building regulations.
• Reviews – Always check the online reviews of any tradesperson you are considering. It is a good way to get an idea of any potential problems that might arise.

FAQs

Sources

https://www.westyorksfire.gov.uk/safety/smoke-alarms/
https://www.fireangel.co.uk/home/products/?type=smoke
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-approved-document-b