HFSC advice.

[toby14483]

I visited an elderly person recently to perform a HFSC on her property, where she lived alone. She had one single smoke alarm on the upstars landing, positioned on the wall, close to the ceiling (not right up close to it due to some coving).

Having mentioned that the wall is not the best place for it, we offered to fit another on the ceiling of both floors. She refused to allow us to place one on the ceiling, and asked us to put it on the wall.

We nearly did (under protest) reasoning that one on the wall downstairs is better than non at all, checking with the line manager he told us in no uncertain terms DO NOT drill or screw into a wall. Now we did not have any 'sticky pads' there were non around the station either, we are not supplied with them any more, so were just told to ensure the existing alarm was fully functional and leave it, for the HFSC manager.


Does anyone have any advice if I should ever deal with this person or anyone else who is slightly too attached to her artex again?

I feel an obvious answer staring me in the face, but I can't see it.

Thanks in advance.

[Chris Houston]

Tell them that the smoke alarm will not operate properly on the wall and that putting one on the ceiling might save their life.

If that doesn't convince them, then I guess you have to accept that it is their home and ultimatly their decision.

[toby14483]

We did put it to her like that.

The smoke alarm upstairs will probably have been taken down by now. She said she only put a battery in it because we were coming... It keeps going off when shes in the bath or shower or something. Oh the inconvenience.

It makes you wonder why they ask us round...

[kurnal]

Hi Toby
Management will not want you to use screws under any circumstances- for fear of disturbing asbestos (much early artex contained asbestos) or because you could hit a cable. You need some sticky pads- have a word with the good guys at sheepbridge.

As you say a detector on the wall is better than nothing- avoid the dead space at the junction of wall and ceiling, but otherwise as high as possible. You have seen plenty of fires- inagine the path the smoke is likely to take as it rises up the staircase from a fire downstairs or from a first floor room and make your best guess.
As you know- if its giving unwanted signals its the wrong type of alarm or sited in the wrong place. If its cooking equipment giving unwanted signals an optical based alarm will be less of a problem. Bet you dont have any of those though!

[toby14483]

We have been told not to use the sticky pads, as they have been known to fall off. We are told to screw them in to the ceiling only.

[kurnal]

How things change. But screwing to someone elses artex should set alarm bells ringing- especially if its been up a while. Remember the headmaster of that school in Derby- a personal fine of £ thousands for allowing asbestos to be disturbed.

[nearlythere]

Some poeple are very set in their ways and will never be persuaded no matter how hard you try. Just accept that principle and put it where she thinks it should be. As was alluded to, a detector in the wrong place is better than none at all. Don't forget to record fully the whole episode for your protection and move on.

[toby14483]

Oh yes. It's all recorded, I even phone d the sub-officer and the HFSC manager to check that I was doing all I can while at the property.

The artex looks as if it has only just been put up. The whole house looked a fairly new build. Twas a lovely property, it's just a shame she doesn't want to protect it (and herself) as much as possible.

On another note today I was in a different house:

Me "How offen do you have the chimney sweeped madam?"
Nice Lady "Well we had six done last monday, and he's coming back to do the last 3 on Friday."

How the better half live eh?

[kurnal]

That sounds like a place I recognise- on our visit the nice lady was suddenly troubled by an uncomfortable spasm of wind. To avoid her embarrassment she turned to the LFF standing beside her and said "Will you please stop that!" to which he replied "Certainly Ma'am which way did it go?

[jokar]

I am now interested in how sticky pads stick on artex!!!

[nearlythere]

I am now interested in how sticky pads stick on artex!!!

Well you get a sticky pad and stick it to the artex in the required position. Then you get a hammer and nail ...........................

[wee brian]

who told you that you can't fix them to the wall?  You can.

[Dinnertime Dave]

who told you that you can't fix them to the wall?  You can.

I agree wee brian, it isn`t the best place to fit them but if you read the instruction it says 'ceiling is best' but if are fixing to a wall then avoid the dead space.

But then again didn`t the instruction tell people that if they only had one detector to fit in the ground floor hallway? Where it might detect a fire but it won`t wake you up.

[nearlythere]

who told you that you can't fix them to the wall?  You can.

I agree wee brian, it isn`t the best place to fit them but if you read the instruction it says 'ceiling is best' but if are fixing to a wall then avoid the dead space.

But then again didn`t the instruction tell people that if they only had one detector to fit in the ground floor hallway? Where it might detect a fire but it won`t wake you up.

I remember seeing a Home Office glossy leaflet showing a ground floor one on the ceiling and a first floor one on the wall.