Anne Fowler
PFD Report
Historic (No Identified Response)
Ref: 2015-0104
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
Smoke alarm covers were left in place after installation, making them inaccessible and ineffective. Legislation should require their removal by builders or landlords prior to occupation.
View full coroner's concerns
The cover was in place. The alarm was as is usual, installed on the ceiling where it would be inaccessible to many elderly or other immobile occupiers.
It was stated that the cover was left in place to protect the alarm from the ingress of dust etc following fitting.
Therefore, you may consider that legislation should be enacted to require builders, landlords and others to remove such covers, cleaning around the alarm where necessary, prior to allowing the occupier to take possession.
It was stated that the cover was left in place to protect the alarm from the ingress of dust etc following fitting.
Therefore, you may consider that legislation should be enacted to require builders, landlords and others to remove such covers, cleaning around the alarm where necessary, prior to allowing the occupier to take possession.
Sent To
- Home Office
Response Status
Linked responses
0 of 1
56-Day Deadline
7 May 2015
About PFD responses
Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.
Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
Report Sections
Investigation and Inquest
On 20 January 2015 at Smethwick Council House I concluded the inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mrs Anne Elizabeth Fowler.
Circumstances of the Death
The deceased died in a house fire. The report of the Fire Investigator stated that there was a dust cover over the smoke alarm nearest to the seat of the fire and to the deceased, and that this would prevent the smoke alarm from sounding as early as it would have had the cover not been there. The cover carried a warning to the installer to place it over the smoke detector to prevent exposure to excessive dust, and a warning to the occupier to remove it once the property had been cleaned. It also stated that the alarm would not function if the cover remained in place.
Copies Sent To
Operations Commander, Head of FRIS/ATF, WMFS HQ
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Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.