Electrical Contracting News (ECN) August 2017 | Page 25

PROJECT
FOCUS
Categories indicate the level of
protection afforded by the smoke alarm
system, generally dictated by a risk
assessment of the property and its
occupants. Category LD2 offers a medium
protection level, which is suitable for the
majority of installations and this, in turn,
will dictate the number of rooms to be
protected with an alarm, as laid out in BS
5839-6:2013.
Grades indicate the type of alarm
system to be fitted. Grade D, as being
adhered to by Harrow Council, is the most
common for domestic properties and
requires one or more interlinked mains
powered smoke alarms, and heat alarms
if required, each with an integral stand-by
supply. The back-up supply can be from a
rechargeable lithium or alkaline battery.
Upgrades in the Harrow project
are taking take place during major
refurbishments or during property rewiring,
covering 200 to 300 homes per year. In line
with category LD2, Grade D systems, the
properties will be fitted with the Ei2110e in
the main living room, landing and hallway,
plus a heat alarm in the kitchen. Further
alarms will be fitted where installers
highlight additional risks.
Smart sensors
AudioLink enables
real time data to be
extracted directly
to a smartphone
or tablet.
The Ei2110e multi-sensor fire alarm
contains two sensor types: Optical and
heat. It constantly monitors smoke and heat
levels, sending and receiving information via
intelligent detection software. This sensor
information alters the alarm’s sensitivity and
trigger points, automatically providing the
best response to all fire types and reducing
potential false alarms.
Mechanical and electrical clerk of
works at Harrow Council, Michael L,
explains the decision to install this alarm
solution: ‘The Aico Ei2110e multi-sensor
met our requirements on functionality,
cost, availability, proven reliability and
simplicity to install, with added features for
support and maintenance.’
These added features include
data extraction technology in the
form of AudioLinkand RadioLink+.
AudioLinkenables real time data to be
extracted from each alarm, directly to a
smartphone or tablet, via a free App. It
creates an alarm status report, which
displays information such as battery life,
alarm sensor status and the number of
times tested and removed, plus any alarm
activations, with details of when they
occurred. RadioLink+ enables system data
to be extracted, such as the number and
location of alarms, with data accessed
securely from within the property, or from
outside, if access is an issue.
Both technologies not only enable
issues to be identified and dealt with on
site, but can also help with maintenance
and asset management records. Michael
continues: ‘Our maintenance support
team will be able to make use of the data
retrieval technology as an extra tool, to help
diagnose problems and give support and
advice at properties.’
RadioLink+ can also be used to
interconnect alarms on the system without
the need to hard wire them together. When
one alarm goes off, all the other alarms on
the system activate to improve the chances
of escape. RadioLink+ wireless alarm
interconnection has proven invaluable for
the council during refurbishments to avoid
unnecessary disruption. In properties that
are being rewired, the alarms are instead
hard wired together in the standard way.
Taking control
In addition to the Ei2110e multi-sensor fire
alarm, Harrow Council is also installing
Aico alarm controllers and other devices,
such as carbon monoxide alarms,
where recommended. The wall mounted
alarm controller provides tenants with a
convenient method of controlling alarms on
the system from a safe, accessible location.
It allows them to test and silence alarms on
the system and to locate the trigger alarm,
which is essential if carbon monoxide
alarms are included.
Aico’s Ei261ENRC mains powered,
battery back-up carbon monoxide (CO)
alarms have been fitted by Harrow
Council in properties where any new
or replacement solid fuel appliance is
installed, in compliance with Building
Regulations Document J.
The Ei261ENRC CO alarm comes
with a 10-year life and is fitted with
an electrochemical CO sensor. Each
alarm is tested multiple times during
manufacture, including a test in real CO
gas to ensure accuracy. It too comes with
AudioLinkdata extraction technology,
whereby it can identify detection levels of
CO, including background CO, with details
of when it occurred.
As a long standing Aico customer,
Harrow Council is not only impressed
with the product, but also the back-
up. Michael says: ‘The service and
support we receive from Aico has been
excellent. Aico is proactive in ensuring
our installers are trained on products
and that suppliers are kept up to date on
the type of systems we install and the
estimated volumes; this ensures that
specified products are correctly installed
with minimum supervision.’
Aico is proactive in
ensuring installers
are trained on
products.
Without a shadow of doubt, the uptake
of smoke alarms can reduce the number
of fire related fatalities, with social housing
providers playing a vital role in adopting
best practice when it comes to smoke
alarm provision. Councils naturally have a
duty of care to their tenants, but some go
further than their minimum obligations,
fitting more alarms per property and
using mains powered alarms that can be
relied upon. Those that do, understand the
importance of smoke alarms, which really
do save lives.
August 2017 | 25