Aico Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Home is where we tend to feel safest, but becoming too comfortable and familiar with our environment can unfortunately be fatal. In the UK, carbon monoxide poisoning (CO poisoning) in the home accounts for roughly 50 deaths per year, as well as 4,000 medical visits. An independent study by Electrical Safety First found that in fact the most dangerous time to be at home is on a Saturday at 6:30 pm: just when you feel at your most relaxed. There are multiple reasons for CO poisoning that are explained here. Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning So what are the causes of these fatalities in the place where we should feel safest? The simple answer is that people underestimate the dangers of carbon monoxide and do not recognise the symptoms which include: Headaches Dizziness Nausea Breathlessness Collapse Loss of consciousness Carbon monoxide is a very conspicuous enemy. It has come to be nicknamed ‘the silent killer’ for a variety of reasons: colourless, odourless and tasteless, there are few warning signs that your home and lives could be at risk. Even actions that can seem insignificant can lead to devastating results, so we at Sparks wish to advise on important precautions and recommend the best carbon monoxide detectors we have to offer. Above all other products, these life-saving devices have to be a priority when thinking about setting up your home fixtures. Preventing Carbon Monoxide deaths with CO detectors Take the story of Emma Jackson, whose father tragically died of CO poisoning on a business trip when she was a young girl. It's extremely important that there is an awareness of the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning.... if my story encourages just one person to get a carbon monoxide alarm it will have been worthwhile. That is why having a working carbon monoxide detector in your home is absolutely essential: it really is your first and last line of defence against carbon monoxide poisoning. Roughly 250,000 homes are likely to experience dangerous levels of carbon monoxide rates. There is a highly helpful Twitter campaign called ‘Press to Test’, which encourages people to test their carbon monoxide alarms on a regular basis. Remember also that it is important to be able to instantly recognise the tone of your CO alarm, and taking part in the 'Press to Test' campaign ensures you will. However, first things first: have you got a quality carbon monoxide detector with potential life-saving abilities? Sparks sell a brilliant range of Aico monoxide detectors, which come with a variety of ranges and power sources, as well as battery back-ups.Carbon Monoxide isn't the only killer: other dangers at home It’s easy to get complacent at home. Haven't most of us been guilty of overloading sockets to appliances that are still plugged in? When you take out your power tool for a bit of home DIY, is your first thought about ensuring you have proper Residual Current Device (RCD) protection?  Electrical fires caused by these mistakes are a major killer and should also be considered as seriously as Carbon Monoxide death prevention. We at Sparks sell a range of top-end RCD devices that can stop these easy-to-make mistakes disastrously fatal. Further references Information on deaths and hospitalisation caused by carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning  (via the Telegraph) Information on when carbon monoxide poisoning is most likely to happen and preventative measures (via Electrical Safety First) Social media efforts to raise awareness (via Twitter) Tips on preventing electrical fires (via Electrical Safety First) Explaining home-based electrical deaths (via Explain That Stuff)

Every Tuesday there's a great reminder hashtag via Twitter, which is #TestitTuesday. From the different local fire departments to the responsible electricians and the Electrical Safety First, everyone reminds you: test your fire alarm, smoke alarm, or Carbon Monoxide alarm! We all follow quite a wide range of people on twitter or on Facebook, but what is warmly recommended is to follow your local police department, your local fire department, and the Electrical Safety First, all of which inform you of emergency and useful information you need to know. A regular testing of your alarm or those of family and friends will provide you with the peace of mind that, should a fire start, you will be warned ahead of time and you can escape. This is the basic idea behind the #TestitTuesday, and every Tuesday we test the alarms and we spread the word! Test-it Tuesday - It's time to Check your Smoke Alarms! It only takes a minute (or less) to test your smoke alarm, fire alarm, or carbon monoxide alarm: you simply have to press the button on the surface of the alarm for peace of mind! Most smoke alarms and CO alarms come with a 10 year battery back-up, and it will take quite a while until these need to be changed; what is needed, though is the periodical testing of the alarm to make sure it works. It is good to test your Carbon Monoxide alarm and Smoke alarm today, for the working alarms can save lives - and the life they could save can be your own! Simply by pushing the button on the smoke alarm could double your chances of survival, and it is recommended to do it every week. Since today is Tuesday - why not make it #TestitTuesday and test your alarm today! If the smoke alarm works, it saves lives; but if it doesn't work, lives may be in danger. How do I Test my Alarms? Advice from Aico A very frequently asked question is, I want to test my alarm, but how do I do it? Aico has a very helpful video explaining what needs to be done when you test your smoke alarm or CO alarm. Simply put, you can press the button in the middle for 10 seconds with your finger, or if you have an alarm controller, you can press the Test button. Similarly, you can test your alarms via the Aico Ei529RC/Ei410 fire alarm control switch by pressing the appropriate button. Tips for Testing the Smoke Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Every smoke alarm, fire alarm, and CO alarm has to be tested regularly to make sure they work properly. There has to be a working smoke alarm on every level in the house. Don't put it off: why not setting up a reminder on your phone that, when you know you're home, you test your alarm - and do it #TestitTuesday Be safe when you test the alarm: make sure you use a solid ladder or chair to reach the smoke alarm or CO alarm and test it. A smoke alarm will alert you at the earliest stage of a fire, giving you vital extra time to escape. Make sure you have one fitted on every floor of your home and test it every Tuesday! A carbon monoxide alarm will detect the colorless, odorless, and tasteless CO which may leak, and it will let you know when there's a risk. Test your CO alarm weekly! Clean the CO alarm / smoke alarm by gently wiping them with a cloth or with a soft vacuum brush, as dust can clog the alarms. Better safe than sorry! TestitTuesday for your elderly relatives or friends: why not make sure that they are safe too? If you don't have a smoke alarm, we recommend the RadioLINK enabled Aico smoke alarms which can wirelessly interconnect with similar alarms around the house. Find them here. What is a Carbon Monoxide alarm, what is Carbon Monoxide, and how can we get one? - read here more. Photo credit: ElecSafetyFirst here.

When it comes to home life safety, you can never be too careful; in this article, we are compiling some of the best home life safety tips from Aico to keep you safe at home. Read the questions, answers, and tips below in order to be safe at home regarding electrical and fire safety. Tips on home life safety (by Aico)Fire alarms and CO alarms FAQCarbon Monoxide: dangers and symptomsTips to reduce damp and mold at homeHome Life Safety Tips by AicoMake sure your alarms work!First of all, in regards to your fire alarms and CO alarms, you need to make sure that your alarms work properly! It is essential to protect your home by having working smoke alarms installed throughout. Smoke alarms are the first responder in the event of a fire, so it is vital that you have adequate protection that is working properly. Check your electrical appliances!With technology and electrical devices now playing a large part in our lives, our homes are more at risk from electrical fires. Please mind the fire safety advice. Plan an escape route!Establishing a clear fire escape plan is important, so you know how to evacuate your home in the event of a fire. Make sure that you keep all exits clear. Cook safelyAround half of house fires are caused by cooking accidents. Cooking can be a pleasant and fun activity, but you need to make sure you cook safely. Which alarm where?It is good to know where to install the alarms and which ones should be where. Smoke alarms are suitable for hallways, landing, living room, dining room, and bedroom. Heat alarms are ideal for kitchens, as they are activated by heat from a fire, not smoke. Carbon monoxide alarms are suitable for rooms with fuel-burning appliances, main living areas, and bedrooms. Fire Alarms and CO Alarms: FAQWith regard to the fire alarms, smoke alarms, heat alarms, and carbon monoxide alarms, there are a few questions everyone has. Here are the most frequently asked questions regarding fire alarms and CO alarms at home. When do I test my alarm? The fire alarms, smoke alarms, heat alarms, and CO alarms should be tested once a month to make sure they are working correctly. It is sometimes good to set up a monthly reminder at a time you know you're home in order to make sure the testing is done. How do I test my alarm? This is a very good question. First, you need to check that the green light on the alarm is on; this means that the alarm can be tested. Then, press the "Test" button for 10 seconds. The alarm will sound loudly so that you know that it is functioning. Why is my alarm beeping? If your alarm is beeping, you should not ignore it. Many times it is a warning sign of either a danger in the home (such as high levels of smoke, heat, or Carbon Monoxide levels being detected) or that the alarm needs maintenance. How do I clean my alarm? Before you can clean the alarm, it is best to turn off the mains power to the alarm, and the green light should go out. Then, with the thin nozzle attachment, vacuum around the vents of the alarm. Using a damp cloth, clean the cover of the alarm, then dry it with a lint-free cloth. You can then turn on the main power and ensure that the green light is on. Carbon Monoxide - know the Dangers of Carbon Monoxide (CO)Do you know the dangers of Carbon Monoxide (CO), also called "the silent killer"? Carbon monoxide is an extremely poisonous gas that is tasteless, odourless, and colourless. The incomplete burning of fossil fuels, such as gas, wood, and coal produces CO. The best way to stay protected from CO poisoning is with a Carbon Monoxide Alarm. At Sparks, we sell a wide range of Carbon Monoxide Alarms here. The 6 Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide PoisoningIt is good to know what are the six main symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. You do not see, taste, or smell the carbon monoxide, but if you have the following symptoms, there is a high chance you experience Carbon Monoxide poisoning. UnconsciousnessCollapseDizzinessBreathlessnessHeadacheNauseaWhat do do in the event of a Carbon Monoxide Emergency?In the event of a Carbon Monoxide emergency, you need to do the following:Open all nearby windows and doors to allow fresh air to ventilate the property. Evacuate your home and leave all the windows and doors open.If safe to do so, turn off all fuel-burning appliances.Alert the National Gas Service and call 0800 111 999.Tips to Reduce Damp and Mould at HomeEspecially during the wet months of the year and when it is cold outside, it is easy to just close the windows and not ventilate, and therefore dampness and mould can appear. Dampness cannot be avoided, but mould can and should be avoided at all times. Here are some tips to reduce damp and mould at home:Provide ventilation when possible, opening windows even for short periods can have a big effect. Open the window or use an extractor fan while showering to let out the steam and increase airflow. Cover pots and pans with lids whilst cooking to help contain the steam. Turn on the extractor fan or the oven hood while cooking in order to extract and eliminate some of the steam, vapours, and smell.If possible, use a tumble dryer or heated rack when drying clothes inside, in order to reduce moisture. Try to maintain a constant indoor temperature in the home, since rapid changes in temperatures can cause condensation. The above guide and tips can be found via Aico's Home Life Safety Tips Pocket Guide, to be downloaded via their website.Buy Domestic Fire and CO Alarms At Sparks, we sell a wide range of Aico Domestic alarms, and via Ventilation, you can find a good selection of bathroom extractor fans and whole-home ventilation solutions. 

The matter of siting the alarms at home is very important, and Aico is kind enough to provide a great guide on where to site your Aico smoke, heat, and CO alarms. It is crucial to site the alarm correctly in a property to ensure they provide life-saving detection and respond as quickly as possible in the event of a fire or a CO leak. When there is a Carbon Monoxide leak or a fire in a property, properly sited smoke, heat, and CO alarms prove to be life-saving. Of course, every property is different, but there are some basic rules to follow when considering where to locate your alarm. The best place to Position the Aico Smoke and Heat AlarmsWhere should we site the smoke alarm or the heat alarm? This kind of alarm needs to be positioned on the ceiling, as centrally as possible within the room or area where they are installed. The alarms should be located 300mm from walls, light fittings, or any other obstructions. This is so that you make sure they are outside of any "dead air" spaces that occur in corners and spaces where the airflow may be blocked. Furthermore, there should be an alarm within 3m of every bedroom door to ensure it is heard - audibility is very important. If there are high-risk rooms, it is recommended to position alarms between such rooms and bedrooms. However, it is not recommended to locate smoke and heat alarms in the bathroom or shower or too close to a bathroom or shower door, since the steam and moisture can affect them. Buy Aico Heat Alarm or Smoke DetectorsSiting Smoke and Heat Alarms - in BriefAlarms should be on the ceiling, central location300mm from walls, light fittings, or obstructionsThere should be an alarm within 3m of every bedroom doorPosition the alarm between high-risk rooms and bedroomsDo not locate alarms within bathrooms or too close to a bathroom door.Siting Smoke and Heat Alarms near Staircases, Sloped Ceilings, and BeamsIf there are stairways, it is best to site the alarms on the flat ceilings at the top and bottom of the stairs. We do not recommend siting fire, smoke, or heat alarms on the sloped ceiling directly above the stairs. If there are peaked and sloped ceilings, it is recommended that the smoke alarms are positioned at max. 600mm vertically down from the apex, while the heat alarms at max. 150mm vertically down from the apex on the slope. If there are beams present, where the depth of the beam is less than 10% of the room height, it's best to site the alarm at twice the depth of the beam or 500mm, whichever is less. If the depth of the mean is more than 10% of the room height, you should treat the beam as a wall, and you can fit alarms on both sides of the beam. If the beam is less than 600mm deep, you can locate an alarm on the underside of the beam. Positioning Fire Alarms near Staircases, Sloped Ceilings, and Beams - In briefIn stairways: locate the alarm on the flat ceiling at the top and bottom of the stairsPeaked and Sloped Ceilings: Smoke alarms sited at max. 600mm vertically down from apex, heat alarms at max. 150mm vertically down from the apex on the slopeBeams with depth <10% of the room height: alarm sited at twice the depth of the beam or 500mmBeams with depth >10% of the room height: fit alarms on both sides of the beam, or if the beam is less than 600mm deep, on the underside of the beam.Best Place to Position the Aico Carbon Monoxide AlarmsThere are a few considerations to pay attention to before siting Carbon Monoxide alarms (CO alarms), depending upon if the alarm is installed in the room with the fuel-burning appliance or not. Different siting requirements are depending on where the CO alarm is installed - whether the room has a fuel-burning appliance or not. If the room has a fuel-burning appliance, the CO alarm should be installed on the ceiling, and it should be fitted between 1-3m from all potential sources of Carbon Monoxide. Also, the CO alarm needs to be positioned 30mm from walls, light fittings or any other obstructions. In this way, you ensure that the CO alarms are outside of any "dead air" spaces that occur in corners and spaces where the airflow may be blocked. If the fuel-burning appliance is in a confined space (such as the boiler room), the CO alarm should be located on the ceiling just outside the room. If you want to install a CO alarm in a room that does not have a fuel-burning appliance, it should be sited at breathing height. And if you want to install the alarm within a bedroom, this could be at the height of the bed. Buy Aico Carbon Monoxide AlarmsSiting Carbon Monoxide Alarms - in BriefIn a room WITH the fuel-burning appliance: The CO alarm should be on the ceiling, 1-3m from all potential sources of COThe CO Alarm needs to be 300mm from walls, light fittings, or obstructionsIf the room is small/confined, the CO alarm should be on the ceiling outside the roomIn a room WITHOUT a fuel-burning appliance:The CO Alarm needs to be positioned at breathing heightIn a bedroom, the CO alarm needs to be at the height of the bed.You can find the full guide to installing Aico Alarms and where to Site your Aico alarms via their website. To purchase fire detectors, smoke detectors, Carbon Monoxide alarms, and heat alarms, head over to the Domestic fire alarms section on our website.