It will probably come as no surprise to hear that the kitchen is the most dangerous room in a home. According to ‘Detailed analysis of fires attended by fire and rescue services, England, April 2017 to March 2018’, issued by the government, cooking appliances were by far the largest ignition category in accidental dwelling fires and non-fatal casualties from accidental dwelling fires, accounting for 48 per cent of these incidents respectively.
But appliances in the kitchen also pose another potential danger: Carbon Monoxide (CO). CO is a potentially lethal gas that you can’t see, smell or taste. Any household appliance that burns fossil fuels can be a potential source of CO; in the kitchen this is most likely to be gas cookers and boilers.
Two Alarms in One
To provide protection against both risks has traditionally meant fitting two separate alarms – a Heat Alarm and a CO Alarm. Not only is this relatively costly in terms of outlay and installation but is also aesthetically unappealing to most residents who don’t welcome two alarms – often mismatched in design style – on their kitchen ceiling.
But the good news is, now they can have both…in one! Aico’s mains powered Ei3028 Multi-Sensor detects both Fire and CO in a single, attractive alarm.
Part of the new 3000 Series of Fire and CO Alarms launched in 2018, the Ei3028 Multi-Sensor Heat & CO Alarm has been much anticipated by installers and landlords in the Social Housing sector as a convenient, cost-effective, efficient solution to protecting residents from both Fire and CO.
The Ei3028 Alarm contains Aico’s proven electrochemical CO sensor and its tried and tested thermistor heat sensor which reacts to temperatures of 58ºC or over (and not to smoke, so it won’t alarm at cooking vapours). To distinguish between the two events – fire or CO – the alarm has a different sound for each, plus there are clear flashing Fire and CO indicators on the unit itself.
The new alarm uses Aico’s industry favourite, the easi-fit base, so the alarm simply slides on making it even easier to install. In response to customer feedback, all alarms in the 3000 Series use the same easi-fit base, including the CO Alarms, future proofing new installations and replacements.
The Most Technologically Advanced Alarms Yet
As with all alarms in the new 3000 Series, the Ei3028 Multi-Sensor Heat & CO Alarm features Aico’s award winning AudioLINK data extraction and SmartLINK wireless interconnection and whole system data monitoring capability.
AudioLINK data extraction technology enables real time alarm data (e.g. number of times tested and details of alarm activations) to be extracted directly to a smartphone or tablet via an App which creates an Alarm Status Report. It identifies any issues enabling action to be taken immediately, which is effective for tenant safety and in reducing the cost of return visits to a property. It’s also worth noting that if your customer is fitting the alarm for a landlord, AudioLINK aids compliance by providing proof that alarms are working at the start of a new tenancy and with annual Gas Safety Checks.
AudioLINK was only available in Aico CO Alarms and its Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm before but has now been extended to all 3000 Series alarms, including the Ei3028 Heat & CO Alarm.
Next generation Radio Frequency (RF) technology, SmartLINK enables alarms and system accessories to be quickly and easily interconnected, with minimal disruption, using RF signals rather than hard wiring. The new SmartLINK technology is smarter and easier to use than its predecessors and is future-proof.
Where and When to Use
The Ei3028 does not detect smoke but, as with all heat detectors, reacts purely to temperatures of 58ºC or over. It has been designed for use in kitchens and garages and must not be used in a stand-alone capacity, i.e. it must form part of a Fire Alarm system that also includes Smoke Alarms, such as the Ei3014 Multi-Sensor, which contains the same heat sensor and also an optical sensor for detecting smoke particles. Furthermore, all of the alarms within that system must be interconnected to meet British Standards. Any customer who regularly fits Fire Alarms should be well aware of where and how Heat Alarms can be used and the same rules apply to the Ei3028.
Requirements to fit CO Alarms are somewhat lagging and differ across the nations (see www.aico.co.uk/standards-and-regulations/carbon-monoxide-building-regulations/).
Despite this, awareness of the dangers of CO poisoning are driving the installation of CO Alarms well beyond the legal obligations.
The Ei3028 Multi-Sensor Heat & CO Alarm is part of the new Aico 3000 Series which includes a mains powered Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm and single sensor Optical, Heat & CO Alarms. They are all backwards compatible with existing Aico products.