topic Re: Heat Detectors to meet new legislation in Nest Protect

Heat Detectors to meet new legislation

Theswallowspd — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 10:28:20 GMT

Issue on the agenda for ever) but any advances with producing a heat detector to meet regulations?

I currently have 3 nest smoke alarms and was intending to purchase 5 more including a single heat detector but I've found that Nest not currently provide a Heat Only detector which links into the other detectors which means that their product does not meet the new legislation in Scotland. The following link explains the legislation in more detail.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/fire-and-smoke-alarms-in-scottish-homes/

Although it was expected this law would come into force earlier this year in February 2021, because of the Covid pandemic, it has been delayed to 2022. Yet current customers have had no contact from this company to say they will not be able to meet the new rules until they can produce a suitable product.

I also note that their products are being sold through various outlets without any warning that they will not meet the delayed new safety law when it is implemented in a few months time. I hope this will not result in a terrible accident in future because of a lack of willingness on their part to advise people about this matter.

Does anyone know if and when Nest intends to provide a suitable heat detector which will satisfy the new safety law and if not, will they notify current and any future customers that they will not be able to use their product to satisfy the new legislation and are better looking for another supplier?

Re: Heat Detectors to meet new legislation

alastairr — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 09:02:25 GMT

I am a supporter of the Nest family of products however I am pisssed that the Smoke/heat alarm does not meet current Scottish Gov legislation. It appears the legislatuion is well thought out so a product like Nest Smoke and heat alarms are deficient here and no wornings given when purchased that these products do not meet the requirements.

Re: Heat Detectors to meet new legislation

GarrettDS — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 15:19:15 GMT

Hey there,

Thanks for writing into us about this, I definitely understand the concerns on this and am happy to review this. I appreciate you bringing this to our attention and I'm happy to pass this along to our team.

We definitely want to improve and take any feedback into account as well.

Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.

Best regards,
Garrett DS

Re: Heat Detectors to meet new legislation

Robbo1975 — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 21:22:47 GMT

This needs to be looked at by google ? Are there any plans to release a compliant heat detector that will meet the new legislation in the UK. I have 4 detectors in my home and the system is now redundant as there is no compliant interlinked heat detector that will to make the system compliant to the new regulations.

it clearly states on the government website link above that nest is not compliant due to the heat detector not meeting British standard. Can google come out with a statement on this and their intention.

Thanks

Re: Heat Detectors to meet new legislation

neeb — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 08:36:16 GMT

Google, this was "brought to your attention" ages ago - when are you going to make nest protect complaint with the law?

Re: Heat Detectors to meet new legislation

neeb — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 08:37:28 GMT

Google now have only 4 months to provide us with products that will make our nest protect systems compliant with the law.

Re: Heat Detectors to meet new legislation

coolju — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 16:26:45 GMT

I have just gone around in circles with Google Nest Support on this same topic, and they couldn't offer any solution at all!! Very frustrated,

We have 9x Google Nest Protects (wired) installed, so was quite an investment!! I've just been getting a new home insurance quote and insurers asked if we were compliant with new legislation. So this is a really serious issue that Google needs to solve ASAP. I'm really stuck what to do now. I really don't want to remove them all and replace - that would be such a waste (& expensive!!!).

Unlawful in Scotland

neilmacleod — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 11:59:05 GMT

Come February 2022 the law in Scotland is changing to require an interlinked heat sensor to be fitted in the kitchen and smoke detectors in all living areas. Having invested close on £500 on 5 Nest Protect smoke detectors I now discover that I will have to remove them all and replace with a system that includes a heat sensor. I am unsure if the law extends to the whole of the UK but buyers need to be aware that all Nest Protect smoke detectors will be unlawful in Scotland as there is no interlinked heat sensor that can be installed in a kitchen. At the very least Nest need to make this clear in their advertising. Come on Nest you should do better.

Re: Heat Detectors to meet new legislation

Dougie — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 15:47:47 GMT

Google have been advised about this for 2 years now and we're still getting the same stock answer:-

"I appreciate you bringing this to our attention and I'm happy to pass this along to our team."

Re: Heat Detectors to meet new legislation

Theswallowspd — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 16:33:38 GMT

Sorry GarrettDS, but your team needs a kick up the proverbial as they have, according to the amount of previous postings, been sitting on this for over a year now. Unless I hear from your organisation soon I will be taking this to the UK media to request they do what your company's should be doing and say your products is not fit for purpose. There are many other UK companies with products which confirm to the new legislation and I advise people to consider these.

Re: Heat Detectors to meet new legislation

neeb — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 16:39:36 GMT

Maybe someone should do a YouTube video on this, explaining exactly why the Nest system isn't compliant with the new legislation and how Google have consistently ignored feedback while continuing to market the products. Another avenue would be the Consumer Association (Which? magazine). I'm a member, so I'll contact them about it.

Re: Unlawful in Scotland

Ashepherdson — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 17:29:20 GMT

While I understand your annoyance , you need to realize that this isn't "Nest needs to do better", this is a building code that changed and the old products will no longer be allowed.

SAYING THIS - I do not live in Scotland, I live in Canada, and the rules here are very clear. New building codes only affect New construction, or substantial renovations. Old homes can stay with the older building codes. Is that the case in Scotland?

Re: Unlawful in Scotland

neilmacleod — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 17:40:25 GMT

The law in Scotland requires all properties regardless of age to have interlinked heat and smoke detector. The absence of a Nest heat sensor has long been a criticism and now all property owners in Scotland who have invested in Nest Protect products must now have them removed. I stand by my original post.

Re: Heat Detectors to meet new legislation

Dougie — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 17:42:27 GMT

Apparently BBC Rip off Britain programme is looking into this.

Re: Unlawful in Scotland

Ashepherdson — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 17:49:24 GMT

Did some googling, I think both sides are in the wrong here. Nest \ Google should create a "Heat Only" alarm product for areas that have this issue such as Scotland. The Scottish government shouldnt have made such a stupid law, as Nest Protects DO have heat alarms, but the issue is the kitchen must be Heat ONLY.. which makes no sense.

You aren't wrong, but I think the blame is 50/50 here(Google \ Scotland). Sad thing is, coming from a smaller country (population wise) myself (Canada), our laws and rules tend to get ignored , as our base of buyers is much smaller than the rest of the world.

Re: Unlawful in Scotland

neilmacleod — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 17:55:41 GMT

I believe the whole of the UK may follow suit so that is a major market for Nest. As for the law being stupid the current Nest Protect cannot be installed in a kitchen so quite reasonably any fire in there will spread before being detected. I can see the logic in the new legislation requiring a heat sensor located in the kitchen linked to smoke detectors elsewhere in the house.

Re: Heat Detectors to meet new legislation

coolju — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 17:57:37 GMT

I originally bought into the Nest Protect System because 'Which?' awarded it a 'best buy', not sure if it still is?

Re: Unlawful in Scotland

Ashepherdson — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 17:58:14 GMT

What I mean is, If you have a Nest Protect in your kitchen, it would be interlocked, and would signal to the rest of the house. The stupid part is not the law in general, but the fact that the kitchen must be Heat ONLY.. as the Nest Protects do have heat sensors, and would qualify if the law said "Heat detector (at minimum) in kitchen interlocked with rest of house", instead of "Heat detector only"

Re: Unlawful in Scotland

neilmacleod — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 18:16:04 GMT

We don't install smoke detectors in our kitchens over here (in general they are probably smaller than in Canada) Even the toaster sets them off so its heat sensors only and there are many other companies that sell interlinked heat and smoke detectors, so in Scotland the Nest products will be redundant. Its a shame but the reality is that we all face dumping them.

Re: Unlawful in Scotland

Valo — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 14:35:55 GMT

I'm glad I'm not the only person who is seriously annoyed by this situation. I have 2x Nest Protect Gen 2 hardwired (1x Hall and 1x Kitchen). The Protect in the Hall is mounted in centrally in the middle of my home (single storey bungalow) and my Protect in the Kitchen at the far end, closer to my internal door to my Garage where my Gas Boiler is located, giving me fire/smoke warning in my Kitchen and CO warning from my Garage.

I've had them for several years in which they've both worked flawlessly since their installation. I'm also now left with no option but to remove them as well as they don't meet the new requirements as this will effect my home insurance policies.

I'm concerned that Google Nest haven't issued a statement on this situation as it's been mentioned already both the hardwired and battery versions of the Protect are still available for sale in Scotland both of which will be Illegal come February 2022 as any batteries within a smoke alarm must be sealed and non-user replaceable.