Fire and Security

With a new iPhone or games console coming out every year, it’s no secret that children today are growing up with far more gadgets than any generation before them, and there are some risk related to using and charging gadgets at home. But just because kids are using more technology doesn’t necessarily make them ‘tech-savvy’. In fact, they could be unknowingly leaving themselves open to serious dangers, and parents should be aware of the risks. In this guide, Sparks will inform you of the risk involved with using gadgets in the bedroom, and how accidents can be avoided. Risks associated with kids having access to a multitude of devices Children or teenagers could unwittingly be putting their lives (and yours) at risk with irresponsible use of electronics. If they leave their device charging on the bed, use an unbranded charger or sleep with their phone under their pillow, then they are playing a very dangerous game. When a device, such as a phone or a tablet, is left covered by bedding or under a pillow, there is nowhere for the generated heat to dissipate and it will become increasingly hot. The heat caused by the device, combined with flammable materials, has the potential to cause a fire and put your home - or even lives - in danger. Making sure the device is manufactured to the correct safety standards is important. Sparks provides a guide on how to spot if you have purchased a counterfeit electrical device. Fake electrical items are especially dangerous, as they have not been made to meet UK safety regulations. However, even well-made electronics can still become hazardous very quickly, if not charged on a table or similar safe environment.Fire and Security at Sparks Steps to take to ensure your children are using their devices safely Electrical Safety First (ESF) offers brilliant advice regarding electrical safety at home - for people of all ages. Below is a list of safety tips for your children when they are using electronic devices in their bedrooms. Make sure laptops, phones, tablets and any other electrical devices are charged on a stable surface such as a desk or table. Do not charge phones, tablets or any electrical device on your bed, under a pillow or anywhere the device might overheat. Avoid leaving any devices to charge unattended, especially overnight. Don’t let leads from your electrical items trail across the floor. Ensure your children keep their rooms tidy and dust free. Obstructions such as clothes or game consoles, for instance, can cause vents to get blocked. This will cause the device to overheat and catch on fire. Make sure your family gets into the routine of switching off electronic games, computers, TVs and other electric appliances before they go to bed. Don’t use or let children use fake or unbranded chargers. Many of these chargers do not meet UK safety regulations and can cause serious electric shock, injury or fire. Regularly check your plugs, sockets and cables for signs of damage or scorching. Do not stretch cables across distances too long for them. Do not overload electric plug sockets - this could prove dangerous. If you’re not sure if your socket is overloaded you can check on the ESF calculator. Make sure you don’t leave drinks or other liquids on or near electric appliances. After bathing or showering, children should fully dry themselves off before using any electrical device. Water and electricity are a fatal combination. Make sure your children know how to use electricity and electric appliances responsibly and safely. The Electrical Safety First website is a great resource to educate them on these issues.Buy Electrical Items at Sparks How to ensure your kid remains ‘tech-savvy’ in regards to electrical safety Over 30 accidental deaths tragically occur in the UK due to electrical shocks and fires. You will rest more easily if both you and your family have the proper know-how when it comes to safe electrical practice. Watch this informative video from Two Thirty Volts below as a family. It shows a girl named Ali going about her day-to-day life and interacting with her family. See if you can spot any mistakes she makes whilst using electronics at home. As you can see from the video, it was not just Ali making mistakes when it came to electrical safety! Her mother left the cable of the iron stretched across the stove in the kitchen, which of course, could start a fire. So, whatever your age, you need to remain aware of how you handle your electrical appliances. It is far too easy to feel relaxed and safe at home - this is when you could make a fatal mistake. However, there are plenty of resources to keep you well-informed and safe. Electrical Safety First is a great resource for people of all ages. Meanwhile ‘Switched on Kids’ is aimed at younger children, and explains the basics of electrical safety in very simple terms.

The latest ESP device, the GuardCam LED, is a remarkable all-in-one security device that is both compact and cost-effective.Note: this LED GuardCam from ESP is no longer available; here is our latest offering for PIR lighting. Following up on the immensely popular GuardCam with a green alternative, this inexpensive device will keep your property safe while minimizing energy costs. GuardCam LED offers the usual security floodlight features: the GuardCam LED uses an integrated PIR motion detector with a huge 12-meter range (its "cone" 160°). When it detects an unauthorized presence in that range, the sensor switches on the floodlight - but it also has a few more tricks up its sleeve. The New LED Floodlight  First, the floodlight. While the original ("classic") GuardCam uses a halogen bulb, for properties and spaces that involve a lot of security-camera activations, the cost of running that bulb builds up. The 12W LED array in the GuardCam LED has an impressive output of 1100 lumens - about the equivalent of a 150W halogen light. It's enough to illuminate the area - and more than enough to provide the camera with enough light (more on that in a moment). By switching out the halogen lamp for LEDs, ESP has made a maintenance-free security device that could last for 40 years with average estimated usage!LED Floodlights at Sparks The FeaturesAs well as the floodlight, the GuardCam is also capable of recording still images and video with its high-resolution wide-angle camera - then it sends the files straight to a standard SD card that can be read by any computer. A 2GB card is provided which can store up to 60,000 images or 750 video clips, but any SD card can be used (up to a maximum of 64GB). Optionally, an audio warning will also be issued from the built-in speakers. If you want to record a personalized message, you can record using the on-board microphone simply by pressing a button on the underside of the device and speaking. It's possible that hardened intruders won't be scared off, but the audio warning often draws their attention to the device - so that they're looking right into the camera... You'd be forgiven for thinking it's a tricky set-up, but in fact all you need to install the GuardCam LED is a connection to the mains and the time to attach it to a wall. What's more: right now in the store the GuardCam LED is just £120 (+ VAT)! But that last feature is a tricky one: we know it's difficult to come up with a security message on the spot, but we can't think of anything better than "you there! Smile: You're on Camera!" Can our readers think of anything better? What could you say to deter a potential criminal?Note: this system is no longer available with us at Sparks; see all the Fire and Security systems we currently have on offer.

There are many good reasons to install a wireless alarm system like the Infinite Prime, but it is important to think about how to use it. So why might one purchase and install a wireless system? Are there any reasons not to install a modern interconnected system? There are some very good arguments for and against these systems, and we'll take a brief look at just a few of them here.Note: this wireless intruder alarms may not be available at Sparks anymore; see the current offering of wireless intruder alarms here. The Pros of Wireless Intruder Alarms It's very easy to install and later re-fit the system if you decide to redecorate - or even move home. Great for renters! Because the Infinite Prime alarm system is wireless, it is unintrusive: there's hardly even a need to tear the wallpaper, let alone rip the walls apart. Fully customisable: the system can be expanded with modules that detect smoke or flooding as well as motion and shock for full home protection. With this product there is little chance of interference with the unique secure transmission setup. So even if your next-door neighbor also installs Infinite Prime, the two systems won't activate one another / interfere with one another. With the GSM module, the alarm can be connected to a mobile phone network so it can alert a call station, or even call an ambulance when the panic pendant is activated. Wireless Alarms: Cons It represents a higher initial cost than a hard-wired alarm system (but the savings over time are much higher). Because the system is battery-operated, the batteries will need to be changed fairly regularly; the Infinite Prime system has an estimated battery lifespan of around four years. The wireless protocol isn't really suited for larger properties; for the highest degree of safety in industrial or commercial builds, a hard-wired intruder alarm system is best. A wireless alarm setup isn't a one-size-fits-all security solution; there are pros and cons to them. This is just a brief guide to the main points; for more guidance, feel free to drop by our showroom in Archway.Full range of Fire and Security Systems