Edinburgh included in £1.5m fire safety scheme to prevent repeat of Grenfell disaster

NEW high-tech smoke alarms will be fitted in homes across the Capital to prevent a Grenfell-style disaster.

Fire chiefs are forking out nearly £1.5m on interlinked warning devices nationally which mean all are triggered if one detects smoke.

The move comes ahead of a law change aimed at tightening safety measures after 72 residents were killed in London's 2017 Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Alasdair Perry is the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Deputy Assistant Chief Officer for Prevention and Protection welcomed the move.

He said: “As a result of the tragic Grenfell Tower incident, the Scottish Government established a Ministerial Working Group to oversee a review of building and fire safety regulations in Scotland, in order to help ensure that people are safe in Scotland’s buildings and to provide reassurance to residents and communities.

“As part of this work, the group agreed that a consultation on fire and smoke alarms should be prioritised and as a result changes in legislation relating to fire and smoke alarms come into force in February 2021.”

“The tragic events at Grenfell Tower emphasised how important building and fire safety is"

Mr Perry added: “Our home fire safety visits are a cornerstone of our prevention efforts in Scotland, and help to ensure that people can continue to live safely in their own homes.

“Working with the Scottish Government, we are currently in the process of purchasing a significant number of smoke, heat and carbon monoxide detectors which meet the new legislation and can be provided in homes based on a risk based approach, as part of these visits. The SFRS will begin installing these detectors during 2020.”

The detectors are linked either by hard-wiring or radio frequency and are considered particularly well-suited to multi-occupancy homes and high-rise flats.

Firefighters currently carry out about 70,000 home fire safety visits annually, providing fire safety advice and, where required, installing smoke and heat detection.

Community Safety Minister Ash Denham said: “The tragic events at Grenfell Tower emphasised how important building and fire safety is. Although we already have stringent regulations in place, we are determined to do everything we can to strengthen the safety of those living in high-rise buildings.

“The information leaflets for residents will set out clearly and simply the steps they can take to help prevent fires, and the ways people can best ensure their own safety as well as that of relatives and neighbours.

“It is important that those responsible for fire safety in high-rise buildings also have the most relevant, up-to-date information. That is why we are also publishing a single source of guidance covering general fire safety and fire risk assessments.

“We must all play our part in preventing and reducing the impact of fires. I hope these new fire safety guidance documents can help further reduce the risks in order to keep our communities safe.”

* A home fire safety visit can be arranged on 0800 0731 999, texting "FIRE" to 80800, at https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/ or at a fire station