Aico Ei3024 Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm with Heat and Optical Smoke Sensor, with AudioLINK

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.

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.

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.