Domestic Fire Alarms

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.

Sometimes the simplest of things can be very complicated if you don't know how to begin. It is the same with testing the fire alarms in the house: if you don't know how to do it, it is very complicated, but if you learn the simple way of testing the fire alarms, it is so simple. Aico is keeping you and your family safe from Fire and Carbon Monoxide since 1990. They make both fire alarms, smoke alarms, heat alarms, and Carbon Monoxide alarms - home life safety products - that your household can rely on. With their cutting-edge technology incorporated into their alarms, Aico leads the way in domestic fire and Carbon Monoxide (CO) protection; they are here to protect your loved ones and make sure your home is equipped with the highest quality smoke alarms. If you own an Aico fire alarm - a heat detector, a smoke detector, or a CO detector - you need to know how to test it from time to time. How do I test my Fire Alarm? How do we test our fire alarm? How can we make sure the fire alarm we have is working properly? These are valid questions and there's a very simple way to answer them: press that button to test your alarm! Aico put out a small video detailing the main steps to take in order to make sure that you test your fire alarm properly. There's always confusion about how to test the fire alarms, but we always recommend a button test. Whether you have a smoke, heat, multi-sensor, or CO detector, we recommend a button test to make sure the alarm is working properly. For a guide on what kind of fire alarms you need for your property, see this guide via London Fire.Step 1. Check the green light of the alarm is onFirst of all, you need to look at the fire alarm and make sure the green light is on. The light closer to the edge of the fire alarm should be green, showing that the alarm is ON and ready. If the green light of the alarm is on, you can proceed to the second step.Step 2. Press and hold the TEST buttonSecond, if the green light of the alarm is green, you simply need to press the TEST button. Depending on the model of the alarm - fire alarm, heat detector, smoke detector, CO detector, or multi-sensor fire alarm - the button is round and right in the middle of the fire alarm. Once you press the TEST button, there will be a loud beep from the alarm you're testing and also from the interconnected alarms. All the interconnected alarms will sound loud. The Aico fire alarms - especially the Aico 3000 range - are interconnected throughout the home, and once one fire alarm is tested, all the others will sound loud.Buy the Aico Fire Alarms at SparksStep 3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 with each alarm on the propertyAfter testing the first fire alarm, you can move on to the second alarm, then the third, then the fourth, etc until you have tested each alarm on the property. Testing a fire alarm is very simple; it is as simple as pressing a button because all you do is press that TEST button. In other words, simply put, testing a fire alarm from Aico is as simple as pushing that button. Push that TEST button to test your alarm and make sure you are safe! Video on how to Test your Aico AlarmsHere are a couple of videos detailing how to test your Aico Alarms - whether it is a smoke alarm, a heat alarm, a multi-sensor alarm, or a Carbon Monoxide Alarm. 

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, and 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.Buy Aico Domestic Fire Alarms 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 wire insulation has been tested with high voltage, replace the alarms and bases. Face the bases of the replacement alarms in the same direction, to maximize 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 allows 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_AWhy 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 to 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.Buy Carbon Monoxide Alarms 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 to 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 that could be creating electrical interference. Use an AudioLINK report to extract details about the incident (if applicable to 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.

With the advent of wireless technology, Aico saw a way to fundamentally change and improve the way home domestic heat alarms, fire alarms, smoke alarms, and CO alarms systems operate, especially via their RadioLINK+ and AudioLINK technologies. How Aico sees IoT as an opportunity to improve the fire alarm systems via wireless communication The Internet Of Things (IoT) radicalised the market, with devices transferring information over wireless networks with no need for human-to-computer interaction. Aico saw this as a golden opportunity to bring forth advanced wireless-interconnected fire protection systems. They are committed to the highest possible standards in terms of quality and responsiveness in their products, retaining the status as the market leader in fire and CO protection. Revolutionary RadioLINK and RadioLINK+ allows for easy wireless communication between alarms In the late 2000's Aico delved into the world of IoT, and this led to the interconnection of their fire alarm systems. They first began by connecting their heat and smoke alarms via radio frequency (RF), meaning that when one alarm in the system was alerted, they all sounded off. All this took was fitting a base or module directly onto the alarm, such as the RadioLINK base EI168RC, which complies with all alarms in the 140RC Series.  Once you have fitted all your bases and alarms you will need to connect them via ‘House-Coding’ upon install, to confirm they are communicating properly. If you already have an existing hard-wired system, RadioLINK alarms can be added in via what's called 'a hybrid system'. The advantages of a wirelessly connected network for alarms is obvious. RadioLINK integration uses a wireless connection that eliminates the need for burdensome wiring runs, salvages time at installation, reduces disruption time at installation, saves you money and makes it more straightforward to add new alarms and accessories. Next up would be RadioLINK+ -  a step up in alarm interconnection evolution. Setting up a RadioLink+ system requires control from a desktop appliance, which is demonstrated in the video below. Introduction to Aico RadioLink+ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K-I0wqZff4&feature=youtu.be With the introduction of RadioLink+ and its module for connection, the slot for House Coding was shifted onto the actual alarm, allowing for far easier access without having to detach the alarm. The Aico Ei100MRF module connected a comprehensive number of newer Aico alarms - any number of the alarms - in the Ei160e Series system.  The Remote Alarm Interconnection meant only a single alarm in the RadioLINK+ system would need the Remote House Code inputting. From here, the RadioLINK+ just needed the new alarm or accessory to be added to allow for remote control, test and asset management. The RadioLINK+ data extraction system allows for entire system reports: this can help prevent instances of alarm tampering, and give you information about all your alarms activities. This information includes the RF signal strength between alarms, the age of alarms and CO levels (if there is a CO alarm in the system).Buy Aico RadioLINK+ Fire AlarmsAudioLink: extra convenience and analytical feedback straight to your mobile device Aico is serious about supplying the users of its alarms with up-to-date feedback, also offering AudioLINK functionality into many of its alarms, including all of their CO alarms. AudioLINK can be added as an App on your smartphone or tablet and will offer you a wide variety of useful functions including: Alarm activations Sensor status Record of testing Battery and backup cell status Carbon Monoxide (CO) levels recorded – in CO alarms only Background levels of CO – in CO alarms only Advice on dust contamination levels – Ei2110e only AudioLINK is available on all Aico CO alarms, including the Ei208 and Ei262, as well as other fire alarm types such as the Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm Ei2110e.  The remote nature of the data extraction technology granted by AudioLINK is that the extraction itself can be done without any need for removal of the alarm. This ensures the alarm will continue to detect even as you analyze your report. The report generated is easy to read and gives details of any incident immediately, meaning the feedback is instant. Data recorded by the AudioLINK technology can be extracted an infinite number of times and is also historic, meaning that all information is stored for life. Any information from the Alarm Status Report can be emailed directly from your device to multiple addresses, in the form of a PDF report. It is highly useful for easy integration with a housing management or maintenance system.Buy Aico Smart Fire Alarms For instance, Adactus Housing, who own and manage over 13,000 properties across England have fitted all their houses with Aico Ei208 due to the convenient and practical features that AudioLINK affords them. Ivan Meredith, Group Gas Compliance Manager at Adactus Housing, explained that: The added ability to provide us with historic data regarding the presence of CO is a fantastic benefit, helping us to take the right action when ensuring the safety of our tenants AudioLINK is also a godsend for Landlords, as it provides all the evidence necessary for the maintenance of a complete record that private Landlords need to retain by law. Aico's forward-thinking philosophy has resulted in a comprehensive fire alarm protection system that is completely wireless; RadioLINK+ and AudioLINK have both been embraced by housing management, landlords and members of the public alike.

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.Buy life-saving RCDs 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 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.Buy Aico 3000 Fire Alarms at Sparks 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.

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 backup, 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.Buy Aico Firee Alarms at Sparks 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 that 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 Aico came out with their 3000 series, they also came with the Aico SmartLINK next-generation Radio Frequency Wireless Interconnection. Now their latest fire alarms, heat alarms, Carbon Monoxide alarms, and multi-sensor alarms can be interconnected wirelessly! They made it smarter, easier, and future-proof. They basically took their renowned RadioLINK+ technology and added a new range of functions and features to obtain the Aico SmartLINK RF wireless interconnection. In this article, we would like to introduce the SmartLINK technology from Aico - award-winning Radio Frequency (RF) Wireless Interconnection and Data Monitoring technology: About the technology, Aico on SmartLINK gateway, house coding the alarm system, and the SmartLINK gateway.About the Aico SmartLINK RF Wireless InterconnectionConstantly being at the forefront of the interconnection technology for the fire alarm system, Aico continues its development in this realm from RadioLINK to RadioLINK+ and now with Aico SmartLINK. This new SmartLINK technology provides the same proven wireless interconnection technology as RadioLINK and RadioLINK+. It uses Radio Frequency signals and is completely compatible with both existing systems. Here are its most interesting features:RF Signals - no more tricky cable runs to interconnect the alarms, for the Aico SmartLINK RF Wireless Interconnection is cable-free!Wireless Interconnection: when one of the alarms is triggered, all the others sound loud for everyone around the property to hear.Expandable System you can simply expand an existing system by easily adding in Aico SmartLINK technology. Remote Monitoring and Data Extraction: with Aico SmartLINK you can now achieve remote whole-system data monitoring and extraction even when access is not possible. Tip: add the Aico SmartLINK technology to your system simply by plugging in the Ei3000MRF SmartLINK module into any Aico 3000 Series alarm head. Buy the Aico SmartLINK moduleAico on SmartLINK GatewayHere's what Aico has to say on their SmartLINK Gateway:"Aico has launched the SmartLINK Gateway to provide a groundbreaking solution for Registered Social Landlords to have access to real time data insight into the status of the Smoke, Heat and Carbon Monoxide alarm systems across their entire housing stock. Using its built-in GSM data connection, the Ei1000G utilises Aico’s next generation of wireless technology to report events including Fire/CO activations and alarm head removals as they happen to the SmartLINK cloud portal, for full visibility and remote monitoring. The Ei1000G SmartLINK Gateway aims to improve efficiency, reduce costs, aid with forecasting and compliance and enable smart asset management. The SmartLINK Gateway will revolutionise the way in which alarm systems are managed, paving the way to a solution-focused approach to asset management."Watch the full video via, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vRXcQhNzpcAico SmartLINK RF Wireless Interconnection - House Coding the Alarm SystemIf you want to make sure that all alarms in your system sound when one of them is triggered, they must be interconnected; this means they must be house-coded together. When they are house-coded in this way, the alarms will learn each other as a system, and they will ensure a secure interconnection, having no cross-signals with any neighbouring systems. Aico made House Coding very simple to reduce time at installation; at the same time, it is secure and reliable. Visit this link to learn How to set up a SmartLINK, RadioLINK+ and RadioLINK interconnected system (House Coding). If you want to expand a system with extra alarms in the 3000 range from Aico so that you get increased coverage, this is very easy. With Remote House Coding you eliminate the disruption of running new cables to interconnect the fire alarms and you also save time at installation. It is now easy to add alarms to an existing system with Aico House Coding. Buy the Aico SmartLINK GatewayThe SmartLINK Gateway - Real-Time Notifications, Alarms, and EventsThe Aico Ei1000G SmartLINK Gateway enables real-time configurable notifications of alarm activations and events. When you install the Gateway and portal system, you have full visibility of your connected SmartLINK system. The Gateway and Cloud portal use Aico’s SmartLINK technology to bring together data from all SmartLINK-enabled alarms in a property in a simple, online dashboard format – so viewing and managing them is easier and more effective. Connected devices’ events are processed by the Gateway as they occur and cover events such as:Fire AlarmCO level detected (High, Medium, Low)Button TestMains Absent FaultHead OKHead RemovedEnd of lifeNote: Reportable events are model-dependent.Full details about the Aico SmartLINK technology can be found on their dedicated page, and you can purchase the Aico 3000 series on our website here. Plus, the Ei3000MRF SmartLINK module is here. 

If you've taken alook through our Fire Alarms and Ventilation systems (maybe it's a slow afternoon at the office), you might have noticed that sometimes we give a dB(A) value in the technical information, under something like "sound output." This fire alarm sounder has a sound output of 101 dB(A); on the other hand, there's an extractor fan with less than a quarter of the sound output, at 25 dB(A). Measuring Noise dB(A) stands for Decibel A-weighting - it's a measurement of the level of sound pressure in the air. That measurement is modified so that the measured loudness matches the loudness that is perceived by the human ear as closely as possible. This is opposed to a straight, physical measurement of the sound pressure in the air; the people in charge of taking the measurements try to ensure that the perceived sound stays reasonably constant in all environments. (Strictly speaking, this isn't always possible for a huge number of reasons, but it's close.) Our examples are human-centric applications, after all; workplace noise measurements are also expressed in dB(A) in order to comply with regulations. An A-weighting filter de-emphasises the lower frequencies (pitches) of a sound and emphasises those around 3000-6000 Hertz where the human ear is more sensitive. For the physics geeks in our readership (and we assume there must be a few), Wikipedia has a good primer on the subject of decibel A-weighting, with curves and equations. This gives an easy, single-number measurement of noise level that we can compare with the noise level in the environment. When we need to install a fire alarm, to carry on with our examples, it should be louder than the ambient noise.Silent Ventilation fans at Sparks Using Noise The alarm sounder we mentioned above has a sound output of about 101 dB(A), which is a little bit louder than a newspaper press. The "ultra-quiet" ventilation fan is about as loud as a person whispering to themselves in an art gallery. The measurement in dB(A) allows a contractor to compare the sound output of a thing with the environmental noise level: if the sound output of an alarm sounder is higher than the general level of noise, then the alarm will be heard. If the source output is lower, then it will be masked. Sometimes, the distance from the source is also given. This is useful - even essential - for larger environments, where an alarm sounder might be installed far away from someone working at a factory machine, for instance. Generally, as the distance doubles, the sound level in dB(A) is halved. This should be taken into account when installing an industrial alarm system. Broadly: you'll want to go as loud as possible with the fire alarms (ideally without damaging anybody's hearing!), and as quiet as possible with ventilation fans and other such appliances. It's an interesting experiment and it opens up a whole new can of worms (as if we didn't have enough already) - how loud is your office? Your house? Are you using the right appliances for the noise level?

Recently, Sky News reported a carbon monoxide leak in a US school which hospitalised 42 children. Here in the UK, the Department of Health estimates that around 4,000 people are hospitalised each year due to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO leaks are relatively common, but there is a real need for information. The Be Alarmed! campaign aims to raise awareness of the issues and help people protect themselves against harm. Picture source: here Know the Signs Carbon monoxide leaks can arise from poorly-fitted and ill-maintained appliances such as ovens and heating. So you could be making a sandwich one day when all of a sudden you feel a headache coming on, or even worse. Watch out for the symptoms, including: Headaches Dizziness Nausea Breathlessness Collapse Loss of consciousness Unfortunately, carbon monoxide is odourless and colourless, which means it's undetectable without a detector. Picture source: here Install the Right AlarmSparks Electrical stocks CO and gas detectors. The lithium battery in the Ei208 model will power the unit for up to 7 years, which is about the useful lifespan of the sensor.For additional functions such as a digital display and a memory function that records the level of carbon monoxide when the alarm was last triggered, consider the Aico Ei3018 model. There are also more in the online store. A lot of people don't have them installed - in a recent survey, only 39% of the respondents had a CO detector in their home. There seems to be some confusion between CO and smoke alarms - many people think they're the same thing. They aren't. A carbon monoxide detector needs to be audible and installed at head-height (that is, your breathing level) - not on the ceiling like a smoke alarm. The batteries and sensor should be tested at regular intervals. The Be Alarmed! website has a thorough guide to protecting yourself against carbon monoxide poisoning, which is well worth a read. Stay safe!  Best Fire Alarms for Home

This guide is a part of the Aico "How do I Test / Commission?" help - Aico guide to testing/commissioning hard-wired alarms/relays/switches/call points, RadioLINK alarms, bases, switches, call points, etc. Also, this article is a continuation of the, How do I Test / Commission my Aico Smoke / Heat Alarms? Consult this article to find out more about the simple steps you need to take in testing or commissioning the Aico Smoke / Heat Alarms. How do I test/commission the RadioLINK Remote Control Switch? Slide the yellow battery switch on the back of the switch to 'ON'; Press the red House-Code button; The red light on the front of the switch should come on; As soon as it does, release the switch; The red light on the front of the switch should start flashing. Put all other RadioLINK units into House Code. Check that the number of flashes equals the number of RadioLINK units. For example, 3 units = 3 flashes, 4 units = 4 flashes etc; After 15 minutes the switch will automatically stop flashing (showing it has 'sealed' the codes of the other units). Alternatively, the whole system can be sealed before this 15 minutes has passed by pressing the House-Code button again until the red light comes on solidly, then release. Finally, test the switch by flicking the 'Test' switch ON and checking that all alarms sound. How do I test/commission the RadioLINK Manual Call Point? Push the black key into the bottom of the call point until it clicks; Pull off the bottom half of the cover and unclip the white plate; Slide the yellow battery switch on the back to 'ON'; Press the red House-Code button; The red light on the front should come on, then go out; Screw the call point to the back box. Clip the white plate in and slide the bottom half of the cover back on; The red light on the front of the call point should start flashing once a second. Put all other RadioLINK units into House-Code. After 15 minutes the red light will automatically stop flashing (showing it has 'sealed' the codes of the other units). Test the call point by pressing the black dot until it clicks in and checking that all alarms sound. Reset the front plate using the key. Other articles introducing the different Aico Fire Alarms or Aico Heat Alarms - via the Fire Alarms section.Buy Aico Domestic Fire Alarms

Via Aico's new website you can find a lot of useful information! We are weekly discovering new interesting and helpful tips concerning the Aico Fire Alarms, the maintenance and testing of the alarms, and even the installing / wiring of the heat or smoke alarms. Below we have compiled the information they presented at How do I test/commission? via, Tips for the Electrical Contractor. Find the answer below to questions like, How do I test my hard wired Alarms? How do I test my Hard Wired Relays? How do I test my Hard Wired Switches and Call Points? How do I test my RadioLINK Alarms and Bases? How do I test my hard wired Alarms? [Aico Smoke and CO Alarms] Step 1: Checking the battery back-up # Turn off the mains power to the alarm circuit and check that the green light is off # Listen for a couple of minutes. Check that the alarm does not beep (if it does beep, go to the troubleshooting section) # Press and hold the test button for up to 10 seconds and check that the alarm sounds. Also check that this triggers all interconnected alarms Step 2: Checking on mains power # Turn the mains power to the alarm circuit back on. Check that the green power light is on (if it is off, check circuit breakers, fuses, wiring etc.) # Press and hold the test button for up to 10 seconds and check that the alarm sounds. Also check that this triggers any other interconnected alarms How do I test my Hard Wired Relays? [Aico Hard Wired Relays] Make sure the mains power to the circuit is on. Check the green light on the alarms is on (if it is off, check circuit breakers, fuses, wiring etc.) Press and hold the test button on the alarm for around 10 seconds Check the relay switches and the devices connected to it are activated (e.g. strobe flashes) How do I test my Hard Wired Switches and Call Points? The Remote Control Switch # Make sure the mains power to the circuit is on. Check the green light on the alarms is on (if it is off, check circuit breakers, fuses, wiring etc.) # Flick the white test switch on the Remote Control Switch to 'ON' # Check all the alarms on the system sound # Flick the white test switch to 'OFF' The Manual Call Point # Make sure the mains power to the circuit is on. Check that the green light on the alarms is on (if it is off, check circuit breakers, fuses, wiring etc.) # Press the black dot on the Manual Call Point until it clicks in # Check that the alarms sound # Reset the Manual Call Point by inserting the key into the hole in the bottom and twisting it anti-clockwise until the cover clicks back out How do I test my RadioLINK Alarms and Bases? [Aico RadioLINK Alarms/Bases] Step 1: Checking the battery Back-up # Turn off the mains power to the alarm circuit and check that the green light is off # Listen for a couple of minutes. Check that the alarm does not beep (if it does beep, go to the troubleshooting section) # Press and hold the test button for up to 10 seconds and check that the alarm sounds. Also check that this triggers all interconnected alarms Step 2: Checking on Mains Power # Turn off the mains power to the alarm circuit back on. Check that the green power light is on (if it is off, check circuit breakers, fuses, wiring etc.) # Press and hold the test button for up to 10 seconds and check that the alarm sounds. Also check that this triggers any other interconnected alarms For more details and tips on how to test your fire alarms, components of the system, bases, relays, etc - via the How Do I Test my Aico Fire / Smoke / CO / Heat alarms?Buy Aico Domestic Fire Alarms