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Disabled Persons Toilet Alarm system, deluxe

Disabled Persons Toilet Alarm system, deluxe

Disabled Persons Toilet Alarm kit includes everything required for a BS8300 clause compliant emergen..

Model: DIS/1

£57.78 Ex. VAT

Spare reset panel for the DIS/1, disabled persons toilet alarm system

Spare reset panel for the DIS/1, disabled persons toilet alarm system

This is a spare reset panel for the DIS/1 system - disabled persons toilet alarm system..

Model: DIS/1RES

£27.38 Ex. VAT

Aico Ei144e Heat Alarm Mains Powered with a 9V Alkaline Battery Back-up and Easi-fit Base (and RadioLINK option)

Aico Ei144e Heat Alarm Mains Powered with a 9V Alkaline Battery Back-up and Easi-fit Base (and RadioLINK option)

This is the Aico Ei144e Heat Alarm Mains Powered with RadioLink, 9V Alkaline Battery Back-up and Eas..

Model: EI144

£29.10 Ex. VAT

Apollo 55000-317 Series 65 Optical Smoke Detector, Conventional Optical Smoke Alarm

Apollo 55000-317 Series 65 Optical Smoke Detector, Conventional Optical Smoke Alarm

This is the Apollo 55000-317 conventional smoke detector - a series 65 optical smoke detector, comin..

Model: FX343

£17.43 Ex. VAT

Apollo Series 65 Heat Detector CS Standard 55000-137, fixed 90 deg set temperature

Apollo Series 65 Heat Detector CS Standard 55000-137, fixed 90 deg set temperature

This is the Apollo 55000-137 (series 65) heat detector CS standard, monitoring temperature temperatu..

Model: FX345

£12.90 Ex. VAT

Apollo Series 65 Heat Detector, A1R Rate of Rise Heat detector Apollo 55000-122

Apollo Series 65 Heat Detector, A1R Rate of Rise Heat detector Apollo 55000-122

This is the Apollo series 65 heat detector, with Rate-of-Rise, MAT 50°C, MSRT 65°C A1R - Standard. ..

Model: FX344

£11.70 Ex. VAT

Apollo Series 65 Diode Base 45681-201 for Conventional Heat / Smoke Detectors

Apollo Series 65 Diode Base 45681-201 for Conventional Heat / Smoke Detectors

This is the Apollo 45681-201 Series 65 Diode Base, designed for use with conventional systems that h..

Model: FX340

£2.73 Ex. VAT

Bardic ZF76 Low Profile Sounder for Mounting Behind the Detector Base

Bardic ZF76 Low Profile Sounder for Mounting Behind the Detector Base

This is the Bardic ZF76 Low Profile Sounder for mounting behind the detector base. Finish: whit..

Model: FX016

£13.21 Ex. VAT

Standard Detector Base with Schottky Diode, System Sensor Conventional Base Vision 2020BSD

Standard Detector Base with Schottky Diode, System Sensor Conventional Base Vision 2020BSD

This is the Vision 2020BSD system sensor conventional (non-addressable) detector base (with Schottky..

Model: ZF07

£3.57 Ex. VAT

Aico EI650RF Battery Powered Smoke Alarm RadioLINK Enabled with 10 year Lithium Battery

Aico EI650RF Battery Powered Smoke Alarm RadioLINK Enabled with 10 year Lithium Battery

This is the Ei Electronics Aico Ei650RF smoke detector complete with solid built-in Lithium 3V batte..

Model: EI650RF

£65.12 Ex. VAT

Aico Ei630RF Battery Heat Alarm with RadioLINK+, Interlinked Heat Detector

Aico Ei630RF Battery Heat Alarm with RadioLINK+, Interlinked Heat Detector

This is the Aico Ei630RF Battery Heat Alarm with RadioLINK+, Interlinked Heat Detector available at ..

Model: EI603RF

£66.21 Ex. VAT

Aico Ei650 Battery-operated Optical Smoke Alarm with Sealed in 10-year Lithium Battery

Aico Ei650 Battery-operated Optical Smoke Alarm with Sealed in 10-year Lithium Battery

The Aico Ei650 Optical Alarm is best for detecting slow, smouldering fires commonly produced by elec..

Model: EI650

£22.75 Ex. VAT

Aico EI100MRF RadioLINK+ RF Wireless Interconnect Module for Aico Ei160E series

Aico EI100MRF RadioLINK+ RF Wireless Interconnect Module for Aico Ei160E series

This is the Aico EI100MRF RadioLINK+ Module ideal for the Aico EI160E Series of heat, smoke, and CO ..

Model: EI100MRF

£35.00 Ex. VAT

Aico Ei630i Heat Alarm Battery Powered (10-yr Lithium Battery) Compatible with AudioLINK+

Aico Ei630i Heat Alarm Battery Powered (10-yr Lithium Battery) Compatible with AudioLINK+

This is the Aico Ei630i Battery Heat Alarm complete with a 10-year Lithium battery. It is activated ..

Model: EI603

£22.75 Ex. VAT

2 Zone Conventional Fire Alarm Panel - FP585 75585-02NMB Control Panel (excluding batteries)

2 Zone Conventional Fire Alarm Panel - FP585 75585-02NMB Control Panel (excluding batteries)

This is a two zone conventional fire alarm panel excluding batteries. The SMS FP585 75585-02NMB pane..

Model: FX2ZONE

£109.99 Ex. VAT

Aico Ei146e Optical Smoke Alarm Mains Powered with a 9V Alkaline Battery Back-up and Easi-fit Base (and RadioLINK option)

Aico Ei146e Optical Smoke Alarm Mains Powered with a 9V Alkaline Battery Back-up and Easi-fit Base (and RadioLINK option)

This is the Aico Ei146e Optical Smoke Alarm Mains Powered with RadioLink, 9V Alkaline Battery Back-u..

Model: EI146

£19.75 Ex. VAT

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Related Articles

Where to Site your Smoke, Heat, and CO 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. 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. Choose the desired Aico Heat Alarm or Aico Smoke Detector on our website. Siting 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. There are different siting requirements depending on where the CO alarm is installed - whether the room has the 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. Aico Carbon Monoxide alarms can be purchased on our website, and for any enquiries do not hesitate to contact us.Siting 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.

How do I Test my Fire Alarm? Video on how to Test your Aico Alarms

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.Step 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. 

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.

Introducing Aico RadioLINK+ (wireless communication) and AudioLINK (data extraction)

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). AudioLink: 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 analyse 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. 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.

Test-it Tuesday: Check your Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Alarms today!

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

How Decibel A-Weighting Works and Why It's Important for Fire Alarms

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. 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?