Fire & CO Alarms The fundamental
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question is whether current guidance ensures that all
occupants can clearly hear interconnected alarms sounding.
Essential audibility The Code does acknowledge the substantial reduction in sound level resulting from closed doors – for example at least 20dB at the bedhead from a landing-located alarm generating 85dB, despite BS 5839 Part 1 recommending at least 75dB at the bedhead. And this sound reduction could be even more with modern doorsets, fire doors or smoke seals. But the Code then dismisses the need for alarms or sounders in bedrooms, justified by an assertion that: “There appears to be no evidence to show that lives are being lost…”. This reactive justification of a recommendation that fails to meet another standard should be challenged. Interestingly, the Irish Standard I.S. 3218:2013, which refers substantially to the BS 5839-6 Code, differs by recommending only Category LD1 or LD2 (excluding Category LD3) when applied to a Grade D system. It also recommends smoke alarms inside ‘all bedrooms’ within its definition of Category LD2. There are convincing arguments in favour of alarms or sounders in at least the principle
bedroom, if not all of them, to make sure that adult occupants are awoken. There are also dangers in omitting heat
alarms from kitchens with Category LD3. A kitchen fire could again take hold and affect gas services or building fabric before smoke reaches the hall smoke alarm, via a closed door. And, again, will room occupants hear and be awoken by hall/landing alarm anyway? Over 60% of domestic fires start in kitchens. Despite this, AD B requires heat alarms only in some kitchens. Adopting this approach is pure folly and heat alarms should be a priority in all homes.
A fresh approach Encouragingly, wide-ranging new proposals recently confirmed by the Scottish Government call for a consistent, high level of smoke and heat alarm provision to be applied across all types of housing. They herald a fresh, straightforward approach to fire and also carbon monoxide safety, recognising the key role of alarms as the first line of defence to provide critical early warning at low costs. Based on the BS 5839-6:2013 Code of Practice ‘Category LD2’ level of protection and Scottish Building Regulations, the minimum standard will now be extended to all types and tenures of housing.
But in addition, the proposals call for “CO
alarms in all homes” – although this is likely to mean all dwellings with a fixed combustion heating appliance – commenting that: “it makes practical sense to combine installation programmes for… smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms together”. There is growing
Kidde CO Alarm with Smart Interconnect.
interest in combining smoke, heat and CO alarms to provide more coverage to ensure that occupiers are awoken and alerted wherever they are in the property, whatever the risk. And, of course, this offers fresh opportunities for wholesalers.
Detection and audibility One example of this holistic approach is Kidde’s well-established Smart Interconnect facility. It simply enables all Kidde Firex smoke and heat alarms, and also the company’s mains CO alarms to operate as a comprehensive domestic system. Here, all the alarms sound when one is triggered with different, distinct alarm sounder patterns for carbon monoxide or fire – an essential facility. So, without the need for any further operation of the system (such as remote switches or panels), Smart Interconnect automatically alerts occupants to the specific hazard that confronts them. This allows them to respond quickly, making the right choice from the very different alternative actions for either fire or the presence of carbon monoxide. In one application of Smart Interconnect, Kidde CO alarms in bedrooms can act as sounders for the smoke/heat alarm system, as well as alerting sleeping occupants of carbon monoxide.
Proactive approach Today, all those involved with housing safety should take a proactive approach and treat current guidelines as an absolute minimum base to work up from. As a straightforward, low cost early warning, smarter installation of smoke, heat and CO alarms is an essential first step, whatever else is done to make housing safer. An accredited CPD presentation and guidance document is available on this topic. For more information, email:
sales@kiddesafety.co.uk or call 03337 722 227.
More than 60% of domestic fires start in kitchens but despite this, AD B requires heat alarms only in some kitchens.
24 | electrical wholesalerAugust 2018
www.kidde.com www.ewnews.co.uk
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