Grenfell became a major tragedy due mainly to the unsafe cladding which has still not been removed from many tower blocks even after all this time. There were other reasons, e.g. difficulty evacuating the building. A smoke alarm where the fire started would not have prevented all those deaths.
If alarms were so important why take 3 1/2 years to change the law? Presumably most people had those leaflets (I did) and was pretty annoyed a) by the timing as it would be difficult to get professionals in by the deadline especially with Christmas intervening and b) by the cost quoted in the govt. website at a time when many people are struggling with normal bills and may have extra expense for Christmas. It quotes £220 for self installation; how many elderly and infirm could instal smoke and heat alarms in their ceilings? For safety reasons I don't even change a ceiling light bulb these days! I have two smoke alarms but no heat alarm in the kitchen (both smoke alarms are nearby and were approved by a fire officer years ago).
Usual lack of sensible thought by those in charge who can well afford all this.
The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
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