Smoke alarms should have been installed at all our houses occupied by stipendiary
staff. Where still not in place, the Department will meet the cost of providing
alarms on the basis of one per floor whilst both the fixing and the maintenance
of the alarms (merely changing the batteries) lies with the occupier of the
house. They should also be tested once a month. Most new houses will have electrically
powered alarms installed, with battery back-up, as part of the design specification.
