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Aico Ei3016 Optical Smoke Alarm with AudioLINK Technology, Intelligent Dust Compensation, and Reduced False Alarms

Model No. EI3016 by: Aico
Availability: Usually 2 - 3 Days

£39.82

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The Ei Electronics Ei3016 is an Optical Smoke Alarm with a proven optical sensor and automatic dust compensation, delivering a fast response to smouldering fires. This optical smoke alarm part of the Aico Ei3000 series is ideal for siting in the hallway, the landing, and the living room areas. It has an intelligent dust compensation and insect mesh shield for reduction of false alarms. 

Please note: this item is non-returnable; due to the nature of this item, it has an electronic component and sensor, and we cannot take this item back for a refund as "unwanted".

Aico Ei3016 Optical Smoke Alarm - Description

  • It contains a high performance optical smoke sensor for detecting slow, smouldering fires. In addition, the smoke chamber design, integrated insect screen, and unique dust compensation reduce the risk of any false alarms.
  • Mains voltage: the Ei3016 runs on 230V AC mains power, and in the event of mains failure, there's a 10 year + built in tamper-proof rechargeable lithium battery, which provides back-up supply and continuous operation. 
  • AudioLINK: this smoke alarm comes with AudioLINK technology, which allows the user to extract real time data from the alarm directly to a smartphone or tablet (you need to download the AudioLINK app)
  • Self-check: the Aico Ei3016 self-checks its sensor, battery, and internal circuitry every 48 seconds, and if there's any fault condition found, there will be a clear indication via a combination of yellow LED flashes and / or audible beeps.
  • Memory: it has a memory feature which allows an alarm that has been activated previously to be easily identified (through the red flashing LED)
  • Test/Silence facility: it comes fitted with a large Test/Silence button which facilitates frequent testing of the alarm and system. The SILENCE function allows you to silence the alarm / system in the case of a false alarm or a nuisance alarm, or in the case of low battery/fault beeps.
  • SmartLINK compatible: if you want this smoke alarm to be wirelessly interconnected into a system with other alarms, you need to purchase and plug in the Aico Ei3000MRF module, which allows wireless interconnection, data extraction, and real time notifications of alarm activations and events via the SmartLINK Gateway and Portal. 

Please note that the 10-year guarantee period is from the year of the manufacture and not from the year of purchase. Therefore, if the alarm is purchased 5 years after the manufacture (for example), the guarantee is only for 5 years.

Aico Ei3016 Optical Smoke Alarm - Technical Specs

  • Sensor Type: Optical
  • Supply Voltage: 230V AC, 50Hz
  • Power Consumption: 0.25W (standby)
  • Battery Back-up: Rechargeable lithium cells
  • Sound Level: 85dB(A) at 3m
  • Button Test: Checks sensor, electronics and sounder
  • Silence Function: Silences alarm for 10 minutes
  • Silence Function: Silences fault beeps for 12 hours
  • AudioLINK: Enabled
  • SmartLINK: Compatible via the Ei3000MRF Module
  • Indicator LED’S: Green – power. Red – alarm/ silence mode/ memory. Yellow – fault event
  • Memory: Records last alarm event
  • Fixing: Supplied with Easi-fit anti-tamper mounting plate with integral terminal block and wiring cover, includes screws and wall plugs
  • Operating Temperature: 0°C to 40°C
  • Humidity Range: 15% to 95% relative humidity
  • Plastic Material: UL 94 V0 flame retardant
  • Dimensions – Product: 150mm x 55mm
  • Dimensions – Boxed: 180mm x 155mm x 62mm
  • Weight: 336g (product only), 402g (boxed)
  • Guarantee: 5 years (limited) warranty
  • Approvals: CE Mark, KM: 522831, BS EN 14604:2005

Note: Some images and pictures are for reference only. The item may differ from the image/picture due to manufacturer's change. Should you require the exact item in the picture, please call or email us to enquire.

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Choosing the Right Smoke / Heat Alarm with Wireless Interconnection

Advanced technology has made innovations in all types of devices possible, and this includes smoke alarms; it is important to choose the right smoke or heat alarm. A modern domestic smoke alarm still performs its fundamental task of detecting smoke, but now comes with a host of additional functions that will enhance the safety of tenants, while adding more flexibility. A good example of the new breed of advanced fire alarms came with Aico’s 3000 Series, which held a range of features never before seen on a fire alarm. With the 3000 Series, Aico combined cutting-edge intelligent design with SmartLink and AudioLINK capabilities, which enabled them to interlink and share data. Clearly, a new dawn of smart fire alarms is upon us. In this article, Sparks will explain why you should upgrade to an advanced wireless alarm system - if you haven’t done so already! Different type of Smoke Alarms It may be confusing to decide which type of alarm will best suit which area of your house. Aico has this detailed guide that gives advice on the placement of different alarm types. Ionisation sensors are recommended for use in bedrooms only, due to their sensitivity and propensity for triggering false alarms. Heat sensors react to fast-flaming, high-intensity fires, without detecting smaller particles from cooking fumes. They are recommended for use in garages and kitchens, where there is a serious risk of high-heat flames caused by grease fires. Optical sensors contain an infrared (IR) beam that detects smoke particles from slow, smouldering fires. They are designed to detect intense, smouldering flames emanating from the kitchen with their intelligent IR beams. It is important that we understand the difference in alarm types before we look at how they interconnect for our protection. Why have modern wireless alarm technology in your household? Building Regulations and BS 5839-6 are examples of British legislation that require landlords and homeowners to have interconnected alarms. This is important as it has made a huge impact on fire alarm manufacturers in recent years. Many have chosen to stick to alarms that are physically wired together, however, there are many problems with these systems. The chief reasons are that they can create significant disruption, interference and material damage. This problem can easily be avoided with the use of wireless systems and Radio Frequency (RF) signals. Installing alarms with wireless interconnection is straightforward once you get your various alarms to ‘talk’ to each other via the RF signals. This can be achieved with the click of a button in the case of Aico’s 3000 Series. Look at this guide on how to ‘House-Code’ Aico’s 3000 range here, to understand how effortless it can be. The advantages of a wireless alarm system Wireless systems have many benefits over hardwired systems, some of which are: Control of large systems from one switch When interconnected alarms became increasingly popular, the average household alarm system expanded in size. The reason is simply that the features made them easier to control from a single location. Make sure whichever system you choose, it includes the Test, Silence and Locate features. These are intrinsic to a large system as you can test and silence all alarms conveniently from a single switch. This means you can quickly identify whatever alarm was triggered. Using more advanced systems, such as Aico’s 3000 Series, you could also generate a RadioLINK+ report that would give you more detailed information about any alarm triggers. The compatibility of RF technology RF technology makes it extremely easy to connect different alarm types e.g a fire alarm to an Aico Ei3018 Carbon Monoxide alarm. However, it also has the advantage of being able to interconnect with completely different devices. Modern fire alarms can be usefully linked to all manner of devices, like sprinkler systems for instance. Having a direct connection between a fire alarm system and a sprinkler system may be life-saver, and is a great example of what modern technology offers to fire alarms. Data extraction Data extraction technology has real benefits for both residents and social housing providers. They can access information on battery back-up or battery life, alarm sensor status, the number of times tested and removed and alarm activations. This is great for landlords as they can ensure they are complying with government regulations. More advanced systems, such as Aico’s 3000 Series, are able to generate an AudioLINK+ report for this comprehensive information. Aico: customer safety and convenience first It is reassuring to know that manufacturers have a responsibility to guarantee that any ‘next-gen’ alarm is easy and intuitive to use (as well as to install). We hope this guide helps you to choose the right smoke or heat alarm. As well as making their alarms simple to use and connect, Aico offers practical training and advice delivered to your home. Their Mobile Training & Demonstration Units deliver detailed smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarm product and technology information, and well-accredited training. Aico have taken their responsibility for consumer safety very seriously.

Aico Alarms Fault Finding - 10 Questions and Answers, Aico Heat, Smoke, CO Alarms

As with most technology, you may experience technical faults with Aico’s range of alarms. Aico has a helpful page for basic fire alarm and cleaning maintenance advice. This Sparks guide goes into more depth concerning Aico alarms fault-finding. We will advise you on how to resolve various issues that may arise, and ten of these questions we try to answer are: Why is my smoke or heat alarm sounding for no reason? Why is there a regular single beep coming from my smoke or heat alarm? Why is there an irregular beep coming from my smoke or heat alarm? Why aren’t my alarms interconnecting via RadioLink+ interconnect? Why aren’t my alarms interconnecting via hard-wired interconnect? How do I fix the test button, if it isn’t working? Why aren’t alarm accessories working with all or some alarms? Why is my Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarm sounding? Why is my Carbon monoxide alarm giving a regular single beep? Why is my CO alarm beeping irregularly? Why is my smoke or heat alarm sounding for no reason? Identify the alarm with the flashing red light. Press the ‘Hush’ button to silence it. If this doesn’t work, clean the alarm using a vacuum. Wait for 10 minutes and the problem should be resolved. After dealing with the errant alarm, take the following steps: If using RadioLINK+, ensure that the alarms have been properly House-Coded. Reset and House-Code the RadioLINK+ system. Check that any old hard-wire interconnection wires have been disposed of. See if there are any cooking fumes or steam around the alarm in question. If this is the case, it may be situated incorrectly for the alarm type. Look into where your alarm should be placed. Sparks sells Aico’s Ei3014 heat alarm, Ei3016 optical smoke alarm, as well as other heat and smoke alarms. We also suggest you read more about the recommended sites for locating these alarms. Why is there a regular single beep coming from my smoke or heat alarm? If the green power light is off, check your fuses and wiring. If the alarm is a 140RC Series, detach the alarm from its base and change the battery. Why is there an irregular beep coming from my smoke or heat alarm? Check the wiring (and connection) of the alarm. Find any gaps where cables enter the base of the alarm. Fill in these gaps so that cold air is unable to enter. Look to see if there is anything on the same circuit that could be causing electrical interference. For instance, a central heating pump on the same circuit may be creating problems. Clean the alarms thoroughly. Why aren’t my alarms interconnecting via RadioLink+ interconnect? Press and hold the ‘Test’ button for 10 seconds. Ensure that your alarms have been House-Coded. See that the earth cable hasn’t been wired into the ‘IC’ terminal. If the wires insulation has been tested with high voltage, replace the alarms and bases. Face the bases of the replacement alarms in the same direction, to maximise signal strength. Why aren’t my alarms interconnecting via hard-wired interconnect? Press and hold the ‘Test’ button for 10 seconds. Examine interconnecting wires to ensure they are wired properly. Check for short circuits. This is a circuit that is allowing current to pass along an unintended path. If the Live and Neutral wires have become entangled, the alarm will be impaired. See the wiring guide for advice on how to fix the wire and replace the alarm. How do I fix the test button, if it isn’t working? Press and hold the ‘Test’ button for 10 seconds. Establish that the alarm is connected to the base. Why aren’t alarm accessories working with all or some alarms? Ensure the alarms and their accessories are compatible. On a RadioLINK+ system, make sure they are House-Coded. If the hard-wired system is interconnected, make sure all the connections and wiring are correctly positioned for alarms and their accessories. See that the units are receiving power and all switches are turned on. Check if the alarms themselves are operational. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHPrviAre_A Why is my Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarm sounding? Be very careful; there are likely to be dangerous levels of carbon monoxide present. Turn off the appliance and open all windows and doors. Then leave your home. Call the emergency number for the gas or fuel supplier. Do not re-enter the property until the alarm has stopped. Use an AudioLINK report to extract details about the incident (if applicable for the alarm). Note: Sparks sells Aico’s Ei3018 CO alarm, along with many other CO alarms. We’d suggest you read over the recommended sites for alarm placement. Why is my Carbon monoxide alarm giving a regular single beep? If the green light is off, examine the fuses and wiring. Use an AudioLINK report to extract details about the incident (if applicable for the alarm). Why is my CO alarm beeping irregularly? Examine the wiring and connections. If the green light has gone out, check the fuses. Check to see if there is any other appliance on the same circuit which could be creating electrical interference. Use an AudioLINK report to extract details about the incident (if applicable for the alarm). We hope this article has given you answers to any questions you may have regarding faults with Aico alarms. As you can gather from this guide, most problems are easy to address and solve in a few steps. Aico’s site has fantastic technical support if you find yourself in need of it.

Keep your Family Safe this Festive Season while Enjoying the Christmas Lights

This festive season we here at Sparks are looking at how to keep you safe from any electrical catastrophes and ensure your safety during this merry time of the year, for Christmas safety is a must. We all know there are plenty of distractions during the holidays - distant relatives come to visit, chattering, clambering children, the big dinner to prepare, and eggnog flowing freely. This is why it is essential to stay on top of electrical-based Christmas tree fires, overloaded circuits and various problems associated with poorly maintained lighting. We at Sparks are at hand to help guide you through Christmas with tips on how to use RCDs and fire alarms to avert a Christmas disaster and ensure everyone has a jolly good time. How to protect yourself from the dangers of circuit overloading this Christmas - exterior lighting People tend to overload on Christmas lights this time of year, and this includes with exterior Christmas lighting. Unfortunately once they are in the festive mood, people are prone to overloading various devices by plugging in Christmas lights into fixtures or using cheap screw-in adapters, which you should definitely avoid doing. Many households put on extravagant outdoor light shows, which can often spell a recipe for disaster. Electrical Safety First advises that all outdoor lights are protected via a 30mA RCD protected socket. We can provide plenty of these potentially life-saving RCDs here at Sparks, built to withstand the harsh outdoor winter elements. If you are running lengthy wires to fashion an attractive outdoor display, it is imperative that you choose an extension cord that is weather resistant and designed to accommodate the necessary amount of wattage. If things do go wrong: the best Fire Alarms for Christmas tree fires and protecting your family According to one report 62% of British households use real Christmas trees, which are prone to drying out and are more susceptible to fire than plastic trees - especially when they go unwatered! A study from CBS News found that 45% of people do not water their Christmas trees daily, even with the knowledge they should do. A pediatric burn surgeon warned that: a dry tree can ignite a room a room in less than a minute and lead to one of the deadliest types of fire that can involve entire families. The most obvious tip for avoiding this type of nasty fast-moving fire is obviously attending to your Christmas tree and observing these safety rules for not overloading your sockets. However, if worse comes to worse, it is essential that you have the best possible fire response plan in place. We would strongly advise installing the RadioLink+ enabled Aico 3000 Series, which are able to wirelessly communicate with each other and sound of an alarm across all attached devices as soon as one is activated. For a fast-flaming fire that would be caused by a Christmas tree fire, we would highly recommend the Aico Ei161e, an Ionisation smoke alarm that is particularly reactive to small smoke particles and speedy fires. The Aico Ei161e is highly responsive and will react quickly enough to ensure that a small disaster doesn't turn into a bigger one. Similarly, the Aico Ei164e Heat Alarm contains a fast-reacting thermistor that will immediately pick up on any sudden rise in temperature. Any of these models come highly recommended for your living room this Christmas; once again it is always important to plan for the worse if other preventative measures don't work. General Tips for ensuring your safety from electrical-based fires this Christmas: Avoid using cheap, screw-in adapters. If you are using an adapter, make sure it is bought from a reputable source. Don't overload adapters with Christmas lights. Ensure all outdoor lights are connected by a RCD-protected socket. Inspect Christmas lights before usage. Check them visually for any cracks or fractures and ensure there are no sign of stretching, that no bare wire is visible and there are no broken bulbs or bulb holders. Invest in LED lighting. The Technical Regulations manager from IET advised that LED Christmas lights have massive advantages to traditional lighting in terms of fire safety and energy efficiency. Even Christmas lights need a break, so switch them off when you’re not there to enjoy them, to avoid energy wastage and overheating.

How Aico 3000 Series offers a Full Circle Protection with Intelligent Design

The Internet of Things (IOT) has many appliances in day-to-day life, but with Aico 3000 Series it could grant you one of the most crucial functions an appliance can: saving lives via the miracle of wireless interconnectivity. With the 3000 Series, Aico fuses cutting-edge intelligent design with SmartLINK and AudioLINK capability to create the most advanced alarm systems ever made. Available for all parties - landlords, contractors and residents alike - this is a comprehensive system that will save time and money, as well as ensuring maximum home fire safety. Intelligent design for intelligent protection: 'Full Circle Protection' offered by the Aico 3000 Series Full Circle Protection combines Fire and CO alarms and offers you all-encompassing protection: both in terms of initial fire protection and the analysis and monitoring of your fire alarm data. In 2018, Aico launched the 3000 Series of Fire and CO alarms, that included their innovative 'full circle' protection. The Managing Director of Aico stated that: The 3000 Series represents one of the most significant advances of the Aico product range in recent years. It's the coming together of the very latest alarm technologies ... we refer to the 3000 Series as having 'intelligent simplicity' - we've built intelligence in to every alarm.A prime example of Full Circle Protection is the Aico 3024 Multi-Sensor alarm from the 3000 Series. The Multi-Sensor technology in the Aico 3024 contains two types of sensors: heat and optical, that guarantee you a complete fire response. The infrared optical sensor is made of a bonded protective mesh which encapsulates the whole sensor to keep out potential contaminants such as dust and insects. This drastically reduces the risk of pesky and disruptive false alarms. The heat sensor includes a new thermistor which gives a quicker alarm response when the monitoring temperature rises, and will trigger at the dangerous temperature of 58 degrees.  The Ei3024 can be easily fitted with an Ei3000MRF module that enables wireless interconnection and data extraction, which brings us to two of the huge selling points of the Ei3024 and the 3000 Series: SmartLINK and AudioLINK. How SmartLINK is integral to Aico 3000 Series 'Full Circle Protection' ethos The SmartLINK is an extension of Aico's brilliant RadioLINK+ functionality, adding a whole new range of functions and features for your convenience in the IoT era. Once you have plugged in the Ei3000MRF module, you will receive all the benefits afforded to you by RadioLINK technology: no need for cable runs and alarms interconnected via Radio Frequency (RF). SmartLINK also offers ‘Remote House Coding’, making House Coding new alarms into the system even easier. House Coding simply ensures that when one alarm in the system is triggered, the rest are too, and a guide on how to set up a House Coding system can be found here.  With Remote House Coding, you can easily expand the reach of your home alarm system, and save time on install as you can enter a unique code for each individual alarm directly onto the alarm itself. Other useful features for the SmartLINK include real-time configurable notifications, forecast alarm replacements, and maintenance and remote alarm learn entry (which allows the installer to reactivate the entire RF system House Code from a single device). How AudioLINK rounds off the 'Full Circle Protection' of the 3000 Series AudioLINK data extraction ensures that you can use data for unit reports, then sends an Alarms Status report delivered directly to your smart phone or tablet via a free app.  This useful Report includes alarms activations, sensor statuses, records of usage, battery and backup cell status, CO levels recorded, background levels of CO and advice on dust contamination levels. The Alarm Status Report provides evidence required for the maintenance of records that is required for private Landlords renting out properties within the UK. Data can be extracted from the AudioLINK alarm repeatedly, and information is stored for life, enabling re-checking of historic records; with report storage and sharing, all of your information can be emailed directly from your device to single or multiple addresses.  For Landlords, UPRN numbers, landlord details and contractor details can be added to the report.  It can also be sent as a PDF report or a .csv file for integration with housing management and maintenance systems; ideal for a Landlord with multiple properties to check in on.Extraction of data can be done in 3 easy steps: press the alarm 3 times, allowing the alarm to emit a number of beeps which your phone will pick up, then the AudioLINK App will generate and display the Alarm Status Report. The Aico 3000 Series is the most intelligent home alarm protection system out there Included in the 3000 Series is the Ei3018 CO alarm, Ei3016 Optical Smoke Alarm, the Ei3028 Heat and CO alarm and the Ei3014 Heat Alarm. The inter-connectivity between the 3000 Series, made so simple by the Ei3000MRF module, means that you can comprehensively protect your property and stay informed at all times. Place an Ei3014 Heat Alarm in your kitchen or garage, an Ei3016 in your landing or hallway and an Ei3028 or Ei3024 in your bedroom, dining room or living room. They will all communicate via RF, and with SmartLINK and AudioLINK, will guarantee you Full Circle Protection. This intelligent IoT system will give you a complete overview of your fire-protection system. With full data extraction reports, underlying RadioLINK connectivity and real-time notifications straight to your mobile you'll be placed at ease, knowing the 3000 Series has you protected.

Fire Safety in Rented Properties: what Alarms do Landlords need to Install?

Fire safety is a must, especially in the case of rented places; it is imperative for landlords and tenants alike to know what alarms landlords need to install. The regulations have been amended and updated in 2022 and can be found via, Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations 2022: guidance for landlords and tenants. Fire kills, and a fire alarm can save your life. The UK government's campaign, Fire Kills, shows that a smoke alarm that works can save your life and that it is important to test your smoke alarms at least once a month to make sure they work properly. Especially when it comes to rented properties, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms (if applicable) need to be fitted. And from 1 October 2022, the regulations have been extended to cover social housing also. In this article, we would like to see what alarms the landlords need to install or provide, how interconnecting the alarms can help, and what are the most common questions related to fire safety in rented properties.Fire Safety: What Alarms are Required in Rented Properties?The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 came into force on 1 October 2022. From this date, all the relevant landlords must ensure three main things:1. At least one smoke alarm is installed on each storey of the rented property where the room is used as living accommodation. Since 2015 this has been a legal requirement in the private rented sector. The rules do not specify what type of alarm (such as a main-powered or battery-powered alarm) should be installed. It only says that each storey of the rented property needs to have one. It is recommended, however, that landlords choose the type of smoke alarms based on the needs of their building and their tenants. All smoke alarms need to be compliant with British Standards BS 5839-6. If a battery-powered alarm is used, they need to come with sealed-for-life batteries rather than alarms coming with replaceable batteries. Both Aico and BG Electrical offer a wide range of smoke alarms for rented dwellings - see them here.2. A Carbon Monoxide alarm needs to be installed in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers). As in the case of the smoke alarms, the regulations don't stipulate what kind of CO alarms (such as mains-powered or battery-powered) should be installed. The landlords are required to make an informed decision and choose the type of carbon monoxide alarms they need to install based on the needs of their building and their tenants. This kind of alarm needs to be compliant with British Standards BS 50291. It is recommended that the battery-powered Carbon Monoxide alarms would be the "sealed for life" kind rather than the alarms with replaceable batteries. Some of the best Carbon Monoxide alarms can be found on this list here.3. All smoke alarms and Carbon Monoxide alarms need to be repaired or replaced once informed and found that they are faulty. It is one thing to have a smoke alarm or a CO alarm installed, but it is something else to make sure they work. Local authorities can impose a fine of up to £5,000 when a landlord fails to comply with a remedial notice. Where do the Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Alarms need to be Located in Rented Properties?The current regulations don't stipulate where the smoke alarms, heat alarms, and Carbon Monoxide Alarms should be located. They only say that at least one smoke alarm should be installed on every storey which is used as living accommodation. Also, a CO alarm needs to be installed in every room used as a living accommodation and contains a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers). Landlords need to follow the individual manufacturer's instructions when installing the alarms. In the case of the smoke alarms, they should be fixed to the ceiling in a circulation space such as a hall or a landing. A Carbon Monoxide alarm generally should be positioned at head height, either on a wall or on the shelf, approx. 1-3 metres away from a potential source of Carbon Monoxide. When you fit a heat alarm in the kitchen, you will have a warning when there's an increase in temperature caused by fire, but it will not be set off by cooking fumes; this reduces the risk of false alarms. However, it is not recommended to install a smoke alarm in the kitchen, as it will lead to frequent false alarms when cooking. Fire Safety in Rented Properties: Interconnected Alarms are SaferLong gone are the days in which you install a smoke alarm here, another CO alarm there, and yet another heat alarm over there. Nowadays most alarms are interconnected, thus offering you a safer way to be protected against fire. When the smoke alarms and the CO alarms are interconnected, what happens is that each alarm tells you when there's smoke or Carbon Monoxide in any room that contains that alarm. We recommend using interlinked alarms in rented properties, such as the Aico RadioLINK alarms or the BG Electrical interconnected alarms. When the smoke alarms, heat alarms, and Carbon Monoxide alarms are interlinked and one goes off, they all go off, so you will always hear it no matter where you are in the house. This makes interconnected smoke alarms safer than standalone smoke alarms. We have written before on the RadioLINK technology from Aico and the AudioLINK newest updates.Frequently Asked Questions on Fire Alarms in Rented PropertiesBoth on the side of the landlord and on the tenants' side there are many questions regarding fire safety, the landlord's responsibility and the tenants' duties regarding the fire alarms. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions on fire alarms in rented properties.Buy Aico Ei3016 at SparksDo we need a Carbon Monoxide Alarm when you have a decorative fireplace?Some homes and rented properties have a decorative fireplace that is not used and doesn't constitute a fixed combustion appliance. The question is, does a CO alarm need to be installed in that room? In such cases, the landlord needs to put in the tenancy agreement that the fireplace must not be used and therefore a CO alarm is not required. Is it OK to disable a fire alarm because it keeps going off?One of the most common practices, unfortunately, is for tenants to simply disable or take off the fire alarm. They may say it keeps going off, or they may just uninstall it for a different reason. Either way, this is not allowed; all smoke alarms and Carbon Monoxide alarms need to be in working condition, especially in rented dwellings. If the alarms keep going off, the battery might need to be changed, or there may be smoke or CO in the surrounding areas, which needs to be dealt with. Should we test the alarms? How often?The landlord or a representative of the landlord is required to test the smoke and CO alarms periodically to make sure they work. On the first day of the tenancy, the alarms need to be tested, and then periodically (once a month is best) they need to be tested to make sure they are in good working order. It is important to check the expiry date printed on the detector and press the TEST button to make sure the audible alarm sounds. The tests need to be recorded and kept in a file safely. Once someone moves into a rented property it is usually the tenant's responsibility to test the smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms. They can test them weekly or at least monthly, and it's good to practice doing this according to a schedule. During interim inspections it is essential to test smoke and CO alarms, keeping records to show when the tests were done. We have written more on testing the alarms here.What to do when an alarm is faulty?Sometimes a smoke alarm or a Carbon Monoxide alarm may be faulty; this may be reported either by the tenant or by the landlord when they do the regular tests. In such cases, from 1 October 2022, the landlord is responsible to repair or replace the defective alarm as soon as reasonably practicable. BG SDMCO Mains Carbon Monoxide DetectorDoes replacing the battery count as repair, and who is responsible for it?Landlords are responsible for repairing or replacing any faulty alarms. If the alarms are not working properly, the landlord needs to fix them either by replacing the battery or by replacing the alarm. If changing the battery doesn't fix the problem, it is the landlord's duty to replace the alarm.Who enforces the rules and where to report illegalities?The local housing authorities in England are responsible to enforce these regulations. And if landlords fail to comply with such requirements, the local authority can serve them a remedial notice by which they require the landlord to fit and/or test the alarms within 28 days. If this does not happen, the local authority can issue the landlord with a civil penalty notice of up to £5,000, and then the local authority must carry out the work specified in the remedial notice to ensure the tenants are safe. The landlords, however, can dispute the civil penalty notice by writing to the council and requesting a review within 28 days of the notice being served. Furthermore, if a landlord remains unhappy with the outcome, he can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal. Are specialist alarms required for people with disabilities?The landlord is responsible to install and provide fire safety for their tenants. If the tenants are deaf or hard of hearing, specialist smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms may be required. These alert by vibration or flashing lights, as opposed to by sound alerts. Landlords should and must consider their duty under the Equality act 2010. Aico has a wide range of disabled fire alarms which can also be interconnected.Can a heat detector replace a smoke alarm?A heat detector cannot replace a smoke alarm. Where a smoke alarm is required, you cannot install a heat detector. What kind of housing do these regulations apply to?The regulations outlined in this article apply to all homes that are rented by private landlords or registered providers of social housing, unless excluded. The excluded tenancies are detailed in the current regulations and includeshared accommodation with a landlord or landlord’s familylong leasesstudent halls of residencehotels and refugescare homeshospitals and hospiceslow-cost ownership homesother accommodation relating to health care provisionDo these regulations apply to live-in private-sector landlords?If the tenant shares the accommodation with the private landlord or his family, these regulations do not apply. They are not aimed at owner-occupied properties. Do these regulations apply to House in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)?Yes, they applied to unlicensed HMOs, and no, licensed HMOs are exempt from parts 1 to 5 of the regulations but only because the regulations also amend the HMO licensing obligations in the Housing Act 2004 so as to impose similar requirements.Do these regs apply to owner-occupiers or shared-ownership homes?No, these regulations do not apply to either owner occupiers or occupiers living in a shared-ownership home. Where can we find the current Fire Safety Rules for Rented Properties?There are many resources online concerning fire safety in rented properties, from the current regulations in the UK to websites that interpret and explain these regulations. Here are some places where you can find out more concerning the current fire safety rules for rented properties. Legislation on the smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms (England) 2015 - see here. Amendment to the smoke and CO alarm regulations for rented properties in 2022 via this link.A helpful guide to the regulations: Guidance for Landlords and Tenants from the Government. View it here.Fire Kills: further advice on fire safety; see the government campaign, via this link.Building safety act 2022. Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms - Understanding the regulations, via, London Property Licensing.Top Ten Landlord Requirements When Letting Out Your Property in 2022, via, National Safety Inspections.Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector Requirements - via National Residential Landlords Association. What do you need to know? On this page, you'll find an overview of the fire safety responsibilities of private rented sector landlords. More at, London Fire Brigade.