Replacing "expired" and discontinued wired smoke alarm

DB_SamX · 14 Jan 2023 at 16:16

There is a wired smoke alarm in my flat which was built in 2012. The smoke alarm is a BRK670MBX, with a replacement date of July 2020. It consists of a base which is screwed into my ceiling, and the unit itself, which twists-locks into the base. https://www.safelincs.co.uk/brk670mbx-replacement-smoke-alarm/

As it needed its backup battery replacing this morning, I took the unit off, and only just noticed the replacement date. Searching online, this model has been discontinued as the manufacturer has pulled out of Europe. https://www.safelincs.co.uk/replacing-brk-600-and-700-series-smoke-alarms/

I have three options:
1. Buy a BRK670MBX replacement on Ebay where they are available, with estimated replacement date of 2026-2028. Cost £75-£100, which is at a premium compared to a generic new smoke alarm £25-50.
2. Replace the smoke alarm with a wired one + labout cost of electrician, which looks like it could cost me upwards of £200 total!! Seems excessive!
3. Replace the smoke alarm with a battery one for under £50. I would have to unscrew the existing alarm unit + base from the ceiling. Maybe I could fit the new alarm to the celing using screws or just some 3m pads literally over the hole for the cables?

My one concern is whether the smoke alarms are interlinked between flats, in which case, option 3 is a non-starter. So, I am tempted to go for option 1 for now.

Any electricians on here, or someone "in the know" could give me some advice please?

DB_SamX · 14 Jan 2023 at 16:59

Jokester said:
Yeah, able to take a picture of your base plate to see what's wired to it?

Is this a flat you own or rent? (I'm guessing you're the owner aye?)

smallstool said:
Are there 3 or 4 wires connected to it?

I am the owner (leasehold) and it has 3 wired.

DB_SamX · 14 Jan 2023 at 22:56

Derek W said:
You mentioned possibly replacing it with a battery one. A plain battery one up here now shouldn't be used and I'm sure insurance companies may invalidate any claim if there is one.

Ta,

What's the reason for that? Is that reliability?

I'll unscrew the base tomorrow and have a look at the mounting underneath in the ceiling.

DB_SamX · 15 Jan 2023 at 12:51

See photo of wiring. What's the white whire for? And shouldn't the ground wire extend to the smoke alarm, unless that's somehow what the white wire is.

Having through about it, a 4th option is to leave this smoke alarm as it is, with a new battery, but add a second smoke alarm nearby, battery-operated.

DB_SamX · 17 Jan 2023 at 12:55

By way of update, and being a pedant, I did a couple of checks before I chose a solution.

My home insurance provider, Admiral, don't even have a requirement for smoke alarms, so I can do what I want.
My freeholder, Sovereign Living, have a requirement as part of my lease, that all electrical work needs doing by a qualified, certified electrician.

Now, I could change the alarm and rewire it myself, but given that I don't want to pay an electrician o do it, I will leave it as it is (with a new battery), and just add a second battery-operated smoke alarm nearby. I know there are placement rules to follow.