(plus a rapid delivery service to wholesale distributors) is a further demonstration of Aico’s total commitment to the fire safety industry. Aico Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ei Electronics, Europe's leading manufacturer of residential smoke alarms and accessories.
INTRODUCTION When first introduced in 1995, the BS 5839: Pt.6 Code of Practice became the most important set of recommendations ever made on fire safety in the home. It had an immediate impact on architects, system designers, installers and landlords in the private or public sector, all of whom were required to familiarise themselves with these important recommendations.
FIRE SAFETY - THE STATISTICS According to the latest UK figures the majority - over three quarters - of all fire casualties occur in the home. Until the introduction of BS 5839: Pt.6, business and commercial premises were the subject of far more stringent fire safety regulations than residential dwellings.
THE ESSENTIAL CHANGES TO BS 5839: Pt.6: 2004 – AT A GLANCE THE DOCUMENT ITSELF Each clause of the document is now split into 2 parts. Firstly, there is the commentary – in italics – this sets out the reasoning behind what at first sight may appear to be arbitrary recommendations.
OTHER ALARM TYPES For the first time, BS 5839: Pt.6 now covers CO fire alarms and multi-sensor alarms. Heat alarms are given far more importance, as you will have noted from the New Build changes above, for example. Heat Alarms should always comply with BS 5446: Pt.2.
BS 5839: Pt.6 - AN INTRODUCTION BS 5839: Pt.6 is not intended for householders themselves, but to provide guidance and recommendations for architects and other building professionals, enforcing authorities, contractors and others responsible for implementing fire precautions in buildings. The Code of Practice should not be quoted as if it was a specification and the standard itself warns that particular care should be taken to...
SYSTEM DESIGN - FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT How can a system be designed to meet the latest standards? The Code recommends that a system is designed – where reasonably practicable - based on a fire risk assessment of the property. This needs to take into account: •...
FIRE RISK - WHERE DO FIRES START? ust over half of all fatalities occur in the room where the fire breaks out; in HMOs, this rises to 60%. The Code notes that, in the United Kingdom, some 40% of all fatal fires start in living rooms or dining rooms, whereas 30% of fatal fires start in bedrooms.
Interestingly, the Code acknowledges that people on a low income are more at risk than other groups, which is borne out by statistics from the British Crime Survey. They may not be able to afford to replace batteries in smoke alarms and the Code consequently points out that ‘a more reliable power supply for the fire detection and alarm system is...
MAINS POWERED SMOKE ALARMS - GRADE E The Code states that mains powered smoke alarms are potentially more reliable and are recommended to be installed in existing dwellings occupied by people who are unlikely to be able to change a smoke alarm’s battery.
QUALITY & COMPATIBILITY The quality of equipment installed is a factor that needs to be carefully considered. The Code states that, in general, all components should conform to relevant British Standards and should have undergone type testing to those Standards. Suppliers should preferably have approval to a recognised quality approval scheme such as the relevant BS EN ISO 9000 series standard.
SELECTING THE RIGHT SYSTEM How do you choose which grade of system to install? The Code states that the grade of system that should be installed depends “on the nature of the dwelling, the level of the fire risk and the characteristics of the occupants.”...
CHOOSING WHICH ALARMS TO USE BS 5839: Pt.6 also looks in depth at the different kind of fire alarm sensors on offer. Sensibly, it points out that there is no single type of alarm that is most suitable in all cases and the final choice of which type of alarm to use will depend on individual circumstances.
Bedroom Garage Living Room AVERAGE TWO STOREY HOUSE Optical or ionisation smoke alarm as best suited for the particular circumstances Optical smoke alarm Smoke or heat alarm as best suited for the particular circumstances Heat alarm Do not install smoke or heat alarms in bathrooms, shower rooms or toilets SITING OF SMOKE ALARMS Siting alarms in hallways and landings Correct ceiling siting position for alarms...
AUDIBILITY Audibility is another factor to be considered. The Code comments that ideally, an alarm system should be capable of producing a sound level of 75dB(A) at the bedhead, but that this is unlikely to be achieved unless there is a sounder/smoke alarm in the bedroom itself.
A convenient and reliable alternative to hard wired interconnection is now readily available in the form of RadioLINK from Aico (see page 22). CERTIFICATION AND PAPERWORK The installer should certify that the installation conforms to BS 5839: Pt.6 for the correct Category and Grade of system.
Where the smoke alarm is defective in manufacture Where the smoke alarm is located where it cannot operate When there are not enough smoke alarms Where the source of power fails Where the source of power for the smoke alarm is removed When the smoke alarm has been incorrectly installed Where the smoke alarm has been...
• Do not locate unit within 1m of dimmer controlled lights and wiring - some dimmers can cause interference • Do not wire into the same circuit as a dimmer • Do not locate unit within 1.5m, or route wiring within 1m of fluorescent light fittings as electrical “noise”...
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Easi-fit DESIGN TECHNOLOGY One of the most significant developments in the design of smoke alarms since the introduction of BS 5839: Pt.6 has been the introduction of new ‘Easi-fit’ design technology. Easi-fit alarms are exceptionally quick and simple to install, helping to reduce installation costs.
Ei161 Ionisation With Hush • Responds quickly to fast flaming fires • Advanced suppression and calibration technology • Unique and proven long life ionisation smoke chamber • Hush button for false alarm control • Separate mains and warning LEDs • 10 year+ rechargeable lithium cells back-up designed to outlast the alarm - life expectancy of cells endorsed by Panasonic...
FOUNDATION OF THE COMPLETE SOLUTION TO RESIDENTIAL FIRE DETECTION The use of radio interconnection in Grade D alarm systems means that it is much easier to comply with the extended alarm coverage recommended in BS 5839: Pt.6: 2004. With no interconnect wiring required, the contractor and specifier can agree fixed costs, allowing a quicker, simpler and more cost effective solution to smoke and...
ANCILLARY FIRE DETECTION PRODUCTS ALARM SYSTEMS FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED Residents with hearing difficulties require a different approach to fire protection. The Ei Professional Alarm for the hearing impaired is currently the only unit on the market made by an experienced smoke alarm manufacturer.
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MODIFIRE A Modifire system is exceptionally simple to design and install, thanks to its modular design and unique Easi-fit technology. Just tailor the system to meet the needs of the premises. The Ei161R ionisation or Ei166R optical alarm with rechargeable back-up provides the starting point.
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SAB300 Remote Strobe Xenon Beacon • Mains powered • For internal or external use • Flash energy of 3 watts and flash frequency of .9Hz • Clear or red lens options • For operation via an Ei158R or Ei128R relay •...
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SAT332 Smoke Alarm Tester This useful device - used in conjunction with an SAA300 aerosol of synthetic smoke - is the only reliable method of testing the smoke chamber on ionisation and optical alarms. • Safe and easy to use •...
AICO ON THE WEB If you haven’t already looked us up, you’ll find that the Aico web site at www.aico.co.uk is well worth a visit, with detailed technical information on our unrivalled range of products and guidance on the installation of key products.
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Residential Fire Detection With Reference to BS 5839: Pt. 6: 2004 Aico Ltd, Mile End Business Park, Maesbury Road, Oswestry, Shropshire SY10 8NN Tel: 0870 758 4000 Fax: 0870 758 4010 • Sales - Tel: 0870 758 4001 Fax: 0870 758 4011 e-mail: enquiries@aico.co.uk •...
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