SMOKE ALARMS
SOUND THE ALARM
A fire alarm isn’t just a fire alarm and knowing the different types can make a real difference to merchants’ bottom lines, as BMJ finds out.
W
ith fire safety in domestic properties more newsworthy than ever before, products designed to protect lives and
property from the potentially devastating effects of fire are in demand. Smoke alarms are a well established safety device and, according to the English Housing Survey ‘Smoke Alarms in English Homes Report, 2014-15’, 93% of households in England have at least one smoke alarm; however, that still means around 1.5 million households in England do not. Furthermore, smoke alarms have a finite life and need to be replaced. “Merchants may stock domestic smoke alarms, but do they stock the right types?,” asks Andy Speak, national technical manager, Aico. “Traditionally there have been three alarm types: Optical, Heat and Ionisation. Do merchants really know where these different alarm types should be used? Are they aware of the new types of alarms entering the market?”
Optical Alarms essentially ‘look’ for smoke using a pulsed light beam in the sensing chamber. Speak says they are most effective at detecting smouldering fires with large particles, such as produced by burning furniture, and are less likely to react to the type of invisible smoke produced by cooking fumes. “This means they are ideal for circulation spaces such as hallways close to kitchens and landings.”
Ionisation Alarms use a small radioactive source to detect the invisible smoke particles given off by fast-flaming, clean burning fires such as bedding and clothing. “These are often the default choice because they have been around the longest and generally are priced lower than other alarm types,” Speak explains. “However, ionisation alarms are slowly falling out of favour because they can be over sensitive to cooking fumes and are deemed old technology now. Generally, we’d recommend restricting their use to bedrooms.” Heat Alarm doesn’t detect smoke at all, but instead reacts to temperatures of 58ºC or over. Speak says that a heat alarm should only be used in a kitchen or garage and only as part of a Fire Alarm system that also includes Smoke Alarms. “Furthermore, all of the alarms within that system must be interconnected to meet British Standards (a solo Heat Alarm in a property is not an option).
“That seems very straightforward, but there are instances when it’s not immediately obvious which alarm type to use; for example, where do you place an alarm and what type of alarm in an open plan property?” Multi-Sensor fire alarms are the next step in alarm technology development and use both optical and heat sensors within the same alarm unit, interpreting the signals to get a better understanding of what’s really happening in
the immediate environment. “Due to this, it benefits from a quick response to both slow smouldering and fast flaming fires yet is more tolerant to kitchen fumes and contamination,” he says. Basically, multi-Sensor alarms can help take the guess work out of alarm installation. These types of alarm have tended to be most popular in the social housing sector where their simple specification and low rate of false alarms have made for considerable savings whilst at the same time provided a superior level of fire protection.
“A brand new alarm type, released this year, is the combined Heat / Carbon
Monoxide (CO) Alarm,” Speak says. “Designed specifically for use in the kitchen, the Heat/CO Alarm is actually two alarms in one unit. The Heat Alarm aspect works in exactly the same way as that above. The CO Alarm detects Carbon Monoxide, a potentially lethal gas.” Any household appliance that burns fossil fuels (coal, oil, bottled gas, paraffin, wood, petrol, diesel or charcoal) can be a potential source of CO. Requirements to fit CO Alarms are somewhat lagging and differ across the nations (see the standards and regulations section of
www.aico.co.uk). Despite this, awareness of the dangers of CO poisoning are driving the installation of CO Alarms, with many social housing providers fitting them beyond their legal obligations.
“The kitchen is an obvious potential source of CO, so combining a Heat and CO Alarm in one is a cost-effective, convenient option and should help spread the use of this life saving technology. Only having the one alarm on the ceiling also makes for a more pleasing aesthetic. “The introduction of new alarm types, has made for more effective fire detection in the home, whilst at the same time simplifying the specification aspect. So, if merchants haven’t already, they should consider reviewing the alarms they stock and the advice they give to customers by looking at the full range that’s on offer.” BMJ
March 2018
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
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