Carbon monoxide kills around 60 people in the UK every year and sends another 4,000 to A&E. It is invisible, odourless and binds to haemoglobin faster than oxygen — the early symptoms (headache, nausea, confusion) are easily mistaken for flu. A working CO alarm is the only reliable warning before unconsciousness.
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 originally required a CO alarm in any room with a solid-fuel appliance in a rented home. The October 2022 amendment extended this to every room with any fixed combustion appliance (gas boiler, gas fire, log burner, oil boiler) in every English rental property, including social housing. Gas cookers are technically excluded because the regulations target fixed appliances, but a CO alarm in the kitchen is best practice for any London home with gas hob and oven.
Electrician London installs EN 50291-1 certified CO alarms at £140 per point — alarm, fitting, placement check and BS 5839-6 entry in the logbook. Sealed-battery models (10-year life) are the standard choice; mains-powered alarms with interconnect to the smoke alarm system are available for HMOs that want a single integrated detection scheme.
Why Electrician London
EN 50291-1 certified
European standard for residential CO detection. Every alarm we fit carries the EN 50291-1 mark and the manufacturer's ten-year head warranty.
2022 regulations compliance
Every room with a fixed combustion appliance — boiler cupboard, lounge with gas fire, kitchen with hob. Schedule designed to the property.
10-year sealed battery or mains
Sealed-battery (FireAngel CO-9X-10) for retrofit, mains-powered with interconnect (Aico Ei3018) for HMO integrated systems.
Placement to manufacturer + BS standard
1-3m horizontal of the appliance, 150mm below the ceiling (or above the door if wall-mounted), never directly above the appliance.
Carbon monoxide alarm pricing
Per-point pricing covers alarm, fitting and logbook entry.
CO alarm install (mains-powered)
Interlink-capable with smoke alarm system
£140 / point
10-year sealed battery CO alarm
FireAngel CO-9X-10 or equivalent
£85 / unit supplied + fit
CO alarm replacement (existing wiring)
End-of-life swap on existing mains base
£140 / point
Combined smoke + CO multi-sensor
Aico Ei3030 or Kidde combined sensor
£195 / point
Annual inspection (CO alarms only)
Test, alarm log, certificate update
£65
What's included
- Appliance audit — every combustion source identified
- EN 50291-1 certified CO alarm head
- Placement to manufacturer + BS 5839-6 guidance
- Sealed-battery or mains install (your choice)
- Interconnect with smoke alarm system (if mains)
- Commissioning test on every alarm
- Logbook entry and install photographs
- Tenant briefing on CO alarm signals
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly does a CO alarm need to go?
One in every room with a fixed combustion appliance. Mounted 1-3m horizontally from the appliance, 150mm below the ceiling (or above the door if wall-mounted), never directly above the appliance, never in a sealed boiler cupboard if the boiler is room-sealed. Manufacturer instructions take precedence in the few cases they conflict with the general rule.
Does my kitchen with a gas hob need a CO alarm?
Strictly the law only requires a CO alarm where there is a fixed combustion appliance — a gas hob is technically a moveable appliance and is excluded. In practice every London HMO licensing audit we have seen recommends a CO alarm in any kitchen with gas, and best practice is to fit one. £85 supplied-and-fit is cheap insurance.
What is the 2022 amendment to the CO regs?
Until October 2022 the CO alarm duty in rented homes applied only to solid-fuel appliances. The amendment extended it to all fixed combustion appliances (gas, oil, log burner) in every English rental property including social housing. Council enforcement uplifted enforcement teams to match — CO alarm failure is now a top-three enforcement trigger.
How long do CO alarms last?
Ten years from manufacture date stamped on the head. The internal electrochemical sensor cell has a finite lifespan and degrades whether the alarm has triggered or not. At ten years the head chirps end-of-life and must be replaced.
Can I interlink CO with smoke alarms?
Yes — mains-powered CO alarms (Aico Ei3018) interlink with the smoke alarm system on the same 3-core+E or radio loop. A CO event sounds every smoke alarm in the property (with a distinctive CO signal pattern). Useful in HMOs where one detection scheme covers everything.
What is the difference between a smoke alarm and a CO alarm?
A smoke alarm detects combustion particles or photoelectric obscuration — it warns of fire. A CO alarm detects carbon monoxide gas at parts-per-million concentrations — it warns of incomplete combustion (a blocked flue, a faulty boiler, a poorly-ventilated log burner). The two threats are different and you need both.
How does the CO alarm signal differ from a smoke alarm?
CO alarms sound a distinctive 4-pulse pattern (BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP, pause, repeat) where smoke alarms sound a continuous tone or 3-pulse pattern. The patterns are codified in EN 50291 so occupants can distinguish — and react differently. CO calls for ventilation and evacuation; fire calls for evacuation only.
Do you also test the gas appliance?
No — gas appliance testing is a Gas Safe job. We install and certify the CO detection. We do refer to Gas Safe partners for the Gas Safety Record (CP12) that landlords need annually, and we coordinate the two visits where it saves you a separate trip.
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