Frequently Asked Questions Mains Powered Smoke, Heat and RF Alarms Aico Ltd , Mile End Business Park, Maesbury Road, Oswestry, Shropshire SY10 8NN Tel: 0870 758 4000 • Fax: 0870 758 4010 • e-mail: enquiries@aico.co.uk • www.aico.co.uk Customer Service Helpline: 0870 758 4000 E & OE As our policy is one of continuous development, we reserve the right to amend designs and specifications without prior notice.
Frequently Asked Questions Mains Powered Smoke, Heat and RF Alarms
SMOKE & HEAT ALARMS Frequently Asked Questions Standards & Regulations for Domestic Fire Alarm Systems 1. What are the fire alarm requirements for New – Build properties? BS 5839: Pt.6: 2004 recommends that a new-build property consisting of no more than 3 storeys (less than 200sqm per storey) should be fitted with a Grade D, LD2 system Building Regulations in England, Wales & Scotland recommend that BS 5839: Pt.6 should be followed, but as a minimum a Grade D, LD3 system should be installed.
SMOKE & HEAT ALARMS Frequently Asked Questions 5. What is a Fire Risk Assessment? This is where each individual property is assessed for the fire risk present. The property itself must of course be assessed, as there may be an unusual layout, or other features that could contribute to the consequences of a fire. However, the occupier is often the greatest factor in firstly whether a fire is likely to occur, and secondly what the consequences of the fire are likely to be.
SMOKE & HEAT ALARMS Frequently Asked Questions 9. How do Ei Ionisation and Optical Smoke Alarms work? Ionisation Smoke Alarms contain a small sealed ionising source which causes a small electrical current to flow through the air in the smoke chamber. Smoke particles entering the chamber reduce the current, this is sensed by the electronics and when a pre-set threshold level is reached the alarm will sound. Optical Smoke Alarms send a pulsed beam of infra red light through the smoke chamber periodically.
SMOKE & HEAT ALARMS Frequently Asked Questions 12. Cont... recommends the use of optical alarms in circulation spaces of a property, such as hallways and landings and areas in which a likely cause of ignition of furniture or bedding is by a cigarette. Ionisation alarms are considered to be more suited for use in rooms where a fast flaming fire may present a greater danger, dining rooms and bedrooms being possibilities.
SMOKE & HEAT ALARMS Frequently Asked Questions 15. Where shouldn’t Smoke Alarms be sited? In summary, they should not be sited in Kitchens, Bathrooms, Shower rooms Garages or other places where there are likely to be excessive nuisance alarms from steam, fumes and high levels of airborne contamination. Heat Alarms are considered more suitable for use in Kitchens and Garages, but not Bathrooms or Shower rooms or places where the normal temperature can exceed 40˚C. 16.
SMOKE & HEAT ALARMS Frequently Asked Questions 20. Can I fit the Smoke or Heat Alarm on the wall? All of the Ei alarms are designed for ceiling mounting and will under most circumstances perform better if sited in this position. If it really is not practical to mount them on the ceiling, a Smoke Alarm can be wall mounted with the top edge 15-30cm from the ceiling. Ensure that it is 30cm away from any corner or obstruction which may impede the movement of smoke to the alarm. Do not wall mount heat alarms.
SMOKE & HEAT ALARMS Frequently Asked Questions Maintenance 24. How often should they be tested? We recommend weekly testing by pressing the test button on the alarm/s for between 5 - 10 seconds, or until all interconnected alarms sound. The use of a low level System Control Switch sited at low level can be used to make this easier for the occupier. 25. Should they be tested with smoke/heat? BS 5839: Pt.6: 2004 recommends that a smoke/heat test is preformed when the system is commissioned.
SMOKE & HEAT ALARMS Frequently Asked Questions 27. How long will the battery last? This will depend on a number of factors that will differ slightly according to the type of alarm in use. The 140 series alarms are supplied with an Alkaline battery which, dependent on conditions, can provide up to 4 years standby supply, up to 2 years without mains power. The 150 series and the 160 series alarms are fitted with rechargeable Lithium power cells which are continuously charged by the alarm circuitry.
SMOKE & HEAT ALARMS Frequently Asked Questions 30. How do I stop nuisance alarms? False alarms are usually a result of incorrect siting of the Smoke Alarm, by contamination as a result of building/redecoration operation, or poor levels of maintenance. For instance, if Ionisation alarms are sited too close to a Kitchen, false alarm will often result due to invisible cooking fumes reaching the alarm.
SMOKE & HEAT ALARMS Frequently Asked Questions 34. Why choose Ei Professional Smoke Alarms? Ei Professional Alarms are designed and manufactured by Europe’s largest producer of Smoke and Heat Alarms, with over 30 years experience in producing quality life safety devices. The latest techniques are used in the manufacturing process, with the highest quality and reliability standards (including BS EN ISO 9001:2000) being practised to ensure trouble-free performance.
RADIOLINK 1. What is RadioLINK? 2. Which alarms can be used with RadioLINK? Frequently Asked Questions It is a totally new concept enabling smoke alarm systems to be interconnected without the need for cabling between the alarms. Instead, a radio signal is used to trigger all the alarms in the system. The Ei141, Ei144, Ei146, Ei161RC, Ei164RC and Ei166RC smoke and heat alarms can all be used with an Ei168 base to make a RadioLINK system. These all require a mains supply to them.
Frequently Asked Questions RADIOLINK 7. Will security systems and car alarms affect the smoke alarm system? Security systems may use the same frequency as the RadioLINK but they will normally be on a different band and/or be restricted to using the channel for 1% of the time, for a maximum of 4 seconds at any one time. Also, the unique code used by RadioLINK units means that interference is a very remote possibility.
RADIOLINK Frequently Asked Questions 11. How will I know if the RF interconnect line has failed? How do you know if a hard wired cable connection has failed or not? There is a much greater chance that damage will occur to a cable than there is that the RF signal will fail. Cables can be disconnected, a nail can be put through them, or rodents gnaw through them. An RF interconnect cannot be affected by any of these.
Frequently Asked Questions RADIOLINK 15. How many alarms can be interconnected using RadioLINK? Technically, up to 30 alarms can be interconnected but the limiting factor is likely to be due to distance between alarms and obstructions that may block the radio signal. In most domestic properties a realistic maximum number of alarms would be 12. 16. Is there any method of controlling a RadioLINK system? A fixed wall switch, Ei411H, is available.
