With just the press of a button, you can help keep yourself safe by testing your smoke alarm.
Between, April 2025 and March 2026, fire alarms failed to operate properly during 25 percent of domestic fires in England. That’s more than 5,000 smoke alarm failures in homes across the country.
That’s why Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is encouraging people to press to test and ensure their smoke alarms will work in the event of a fire.
Nicola Smith, Prevention Manager at RBFRS, says: “Simply having a smoke alarm installed in your home is not enough – you have to make sure they will work in an emergency.
“The first step to ensure your house is covered is to have at least one smoke alarm installed on every level of your home. Once they are in place, you will need to test their batteries regularly. Simply press the button on each alarm to test them once a week to make sure your alarms are working as intended.
“Remember, never purposely disconnect your alarms, take out the batteries or cover them up. The simple act of looking after your smoke alarms could provide you and your loved ones additional time to safely escape a fire in your home. Test yours today.”
Follow our safety advice to check that your smoke alarms are working effectively.
Installing Your Alarms
- Do you have enough smoke alarms? Install one on every level of your home.
- Fit one at the bottom of the stairs, with further alarms on each stair landing.
- The ideal position to install your alarms is on the ceiling, as close to the centre of the room, hallway or landing as possible.
- Avoid placing your smoke alarms in kitchens and bathrooms where steam can set them off easily. Instead, place heat alarms in your kitchen.
- Carbon monoxide alarms must also be fitted when appliances such as gas boilers or fires are installed in any home.
Looking After Your Alarms
- Press to test the batteries once a week.
- Twice a year, gently vacuum around the alarms to remove excess dust.
- Once a year, change the batteries (unless it is a ten-year alarm or a mains-wired alarm).
- Replace the entire alarm every ten years.
Information for People Living in Rented Accommodation or Social Housing
- Landlords and housing providers are required by law to fit smoke alarms in all rented accommodation.
- Carbon monoxide alarms must also be fitted in rented properties with fixed appliances such as gas boilers or fires.
- Carbon monoxide alarms must also be fitted when appliances such as gas boilers or fires are installed in any home.
- Landlords and housing providers in social and private rented sectors are responsible for repairing or replacing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms once they are told they are faulty.