The short answer—10 years.
The long answer—it really depends on your alarms.
New Scottish Government legislation states that all alarms fitted in properties now need 10-year, tamper-proof sealed lithium batteries that last the entire life of the alarm. Replaceable battery-powered alarms are no longer appropriate for use in Scotland.
What Type of Alarm do I Have?
If you can easily remove the battery from your alarm and the battery is one you could buy in a shop, it needs to be replaced with a new compliant alarm.
If you cannot easily access/remove the battery from your alarm then it has a sealed battery that likely lasts the entire life of the unit. If you know when the alarm was installed, you’ll know how long it will work until it needs to be replaced.
Replaceable battery alarms also have a 10-year use life but are often used long past that, due to the replaceable nature of the batteries. With a sealed battery, tenants cannot keep using the alarm after it has reached the end of its use-life and will need to replace it. This is a far safer option for landlords.
It is also recommended that you or your tenants test the alarms weekly and gently clean the area around them every three months, to prevent dust or dirt from blocking their sensors.
If you are still unsure about whether or not your alarm system needs upgrading, please contact us and one of our electricians will advise.