Chamber and committees

Petitioner submission of 17 February 2022

PE1910/F - Amend the forthcoming legal requirement to have interlinked fire and smoke alarms in small houses

This is based on common news about the new legislation which suggests that –

1. The public are confused about the precise requirements of the legislation, and that the claimed public consultation does not appear to have been as effective as everyone would have wished;
2. That there appears to be a shortage in the appropriate available equipment required by the legislation due to current demand;
3. That there is also a shortage of skilled trades people to carry out the work, leading to the likelihood of unskilled or even untrustworthy contractors carrying out the work; and
4. There is still confusion about how and what checking of installations will be carried out, and what non-compliance penalties would apply.

I myself bought equipment when I first read about the legislation, had it installed early on, and only subsequently found it did not meet the requirements. Now I have some old alarms that still work adequately, and new equipment that is wirelessly linked but does not meet the new standards.

I feel badly let down by the government and feel the whole issue has been badly handled.

I therefore ask again, that the government review its legislation and in the view of widespread adverse comment either delay, or better still, amend the legislation to better reflect the application of standards and checking, and respond to common sense.