Safety Alarms
Around 140 house fires occur every day in the United Kingdom, resulting in nearly 500 deaths and over 11,000 injuries each year. Many of these could be prevented with an early warning system in place - such as a smoke alarm. They can detect fire in its early stages and give you a few extra precious minutes to make a safe escape.
There are four types: Ionisation alarms are the cheapest and are very sensitive to small particles of smoke from fast flaming fires (like paper or wood), but they can be over sensitive near kitchens. They are best fitted on landings.
Optical alarms are more effective at detecting large particles of smoke from slow burning fires, such as from foam-filled upholstery and PVC wiring. They are ideal for bedrooms, living rooms and the hall.
Heat alarms are insensitive to smoke, but detect an increase in temperature. They only cover a relatively small area, so you may need several in a large room. They are a good choice for a kitchen or garage.
Combined alarms include an optical and heat alarm which will reduce the occurrence of false alarms and increase the speed of detection. They should be fitted on landings and in bedrooms, living rooms and halls.
Some alarms are interlinked, which means that smoke detected in one room can raise an alarm call elsewhere in the house. Some have a light that comes on when the alarm sounds, which can help
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you find your way out and also alert people with hearing problems.
As a minimum you should fit one alarm on each floor, but the more you have fitted, the more protected you are. Remember – you are twice as likely to die in a house fire where no alarm is fitted.
Smoke alarms do not detect the presence of carbon monoxide (CO), which is a colourless, odourless, tasteless – but highly poisonous – gas, produced when carbon-based fuels like gas, oil, wood and coal do not burn completely. Around fifty people die each year from CO poisoning.
A CO detector should be fitted in every room containing a fuel burning appliance such as a boiler, cooker or fire. Costing between £15 and £35, a detector should have an audible alarm – not just a colour change or back spot indicator – to wake you when you are asleep and at your most vulnerable.
Please ensure that your alarm complies with British Standard EN50291 and that it gives a warning when it reaches the end of its useful life.
In addition to fitting a CO alarm, also make certain you have your gas appliances and flues serviced regularly by a Gas Safe Registered engineer.
Prevention is always better than cure!
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