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Better CO protection Pressure is also building on the government to extend outdated regulations for carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in housing to cover all types of combustion appliance – for cooking as well as heating. Current Building Regulations are clear but non-specific. In England and Wales, Building Regulation J3 states simply that: “Where a fixed combustion appliance is provided, appropriate provision shall be made to detect and give warning of the release of carbon monoxide.” This sounds eminently sensible, offering protection alongside both heating and cooking appliances, irrespective of fuel type. But Approved Document J (AD J), providing more specific guidance on compliance, only recommends installation of a CO alarm in the same room as a new or replacement fixed solid fuel appliance.


England reviews Kidde believes that this recommendation does not fulfil the requirements of Regulation J3. It may not detect CO from other appliances or sources (for example gas/oil boilers or cookers). But there is pressure for this outdated approach to be reviewed, alongside similar requirements for private rented housing in England which are currently under scrutiny. If so, requirements should cover appliances for both heating and cooking, in line with BS EN 50292:2013, which offers guidance on the selection, installation, use and maintenance of CO alarms. The various Building Regulation guidance documents applying to Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are already generally more onerous than AD J. But they specifically exclude appliances for cooking – something that now needs to be reviewed. Of course, kitchen and utility rooms with boilers


Thakeham heat alarm in kitchen. Heat alarms are essential in all kitchens and


utility rooms, for housing of all types, new or old. They can also be used in garages, loſts and other areas where smoke alarms may not be


appropriate. And don’t forget that they must always be interlinked with smoke alarms


elsewhere in the property so that all the alarms sound when one is triggered.


should have CO alarms anyway. But combustion cooking appliances present potential dangers as well. For example, annual gas safety checks may exclude the tenant’s cooker where it is not the landlord’s property, posing an increasing risk, and there have been several instances of faulty grills on almost new cookers causing death and injury. Oversized pans and interference with burners using foil, associated with particular styles of cooking, have also caused CO problems.


Heat alarm in kitchen. 30 | electrical wholesalerNovember 2018


Comprehensive protection The Scottish Government’s recent consultation suggests: “…it makes practical sense to combine installation programmes for fire and smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms together”. Mains CO alarms are easily installed together with hard-wired smoke and heat alarms. But considered as a system, they can offer extra safety features too. For example, Kidde’s mains CO alarms can not only be interlinked with each other but also with the company’s Firex range of cost-effective smoke and heat alarms, using the unique ‘Smart Interconnect’ feature. Here, all the interconnected alarms can act as sounders to alert of either risk, forming comprehensive systems. Crucially, the alarms have different, distinct alarm sounder patterns for carbon monoxide and fire, as required by BS


5839-6. They can automatically alert occupants of the specific hazard allowing them to respond quickly and make the right choice from the very different alternative actions for either fire or carbon monoxide.


Quality and confidence In some situations, fitting a battery-only CO alarm may be simpler and, of course, quality is key to long term, problem-free performance, addressed by the latest generation of alarms. Manufacturers that produce their own CO cells rather than buying them in can apply tighter quality controls, giving the confidence that the CO sensor will work effectively throughout the alarm’s design life. Here, Kidde’s 10LLCO is the only range of 10-year guaranteed alarms with CO sensors – the key component – actually tested throughout a 10-year period or longer. Smoke, heat and CO alarms offer a straightforward, low cost early warning, to make all housing safer. By adding heat and CO alarms to their kitchen offers, stockists can not only help save lives but also increase business. To request an accredited CPD presentation on smoke, heat or CO alarm provision in housing, email: Alan.Dick@kiddesafety.co.uk.


www.kiddesafetyeurope.co.uk www.ewnews.co.uk


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