CHOOSING WHICH

ALARMS TO USE

BS 5839: Pt.6 also looks in depth at the different kind of fire alarm sensors on offer. Sensibly, it points out that there is no single type of alarm that is most suitable in all cases and the final choice of which type of alarm to use will depend on individual circumstances.

In general, these circumstances are the desire to afford the earliest possible warning of a fire and the need to minimise false alarms.

This means, in plain English, that the most suitable alarm should always be installed - and not just the cheapest option. This is a point that landlords cannot overlook in meeting their ‘duty

SINGLE STOREY DWELLING

Optical or Ionisation smoke alarm as best suited for the particular circumstances

Optical smoke alarm

Smoke or heat alarm as best suited for the particular circumstances Heat alarm

Do not install smoke or heat alarms in bathrooms, shower rooms or toilets

of care’ obligations.

The Code recommends that optical smoke alarms should be installed in circulation spaces, such as hallways and near kitchens. They should also be considered in areas where a likely cause of fire is ignition of furniture or bedding by a cigarette.

Ionisation alarms are recommended more for use in living rooms or dining rooms, where a fast burning fire may present a greater danger than a slow smouldering one, though due consideration needs to be given to the potential for false alarms. The new 2004 Code does not recommend the use of ionisation types in escape routes.

The Code also looks at a third type of alarm - heat. More emphasis is placed upon the use of heat alarms than previously. The Code recommends that they should comply with BS 5446: Pt.2 and suggests they be used where nuisance alarms from other sensor types are a concern. In new build properties heat alarms are now recommended both in the kitchen and possibly the principal habitable room, such as the living room.

Domestic heat alarms require less maintenance than any other type of unit and aren’t prone to false alarms caused by contamination or smoke caused by cooking. For this reason, heat alarms were originally specifically designed for use in kitchens or garages, where other alarms are less reliable and more likely to go off accidentally. Fire deaths from fires originating in the kitchen are sadly increasing and such fires can often cause extensive property damage and, therefore, landlords might consider them good insurance. Heat alarms are generally less sensitive than smoke alarms and must not be used in circulation areas.

BS 5839: Pt.6 recommends that heat alarms have a role to play in Category LD2 systems.

The Code acknowledges that a mix and match approach to systems is sensible, installing different detector types in areas where they are most effective.

For more information on the different types of detection technology available, please see the product information section towards the back of this guide.

CO and Multi-sensor fire alarms are introduced into the 2004 Code. CO fire alarms are specifically designed for detecting carbon monoxide produced in a fire and can respond quicker than heat detectors, but are almost always slower to respond than a smoke alarm. The type used for detecting CO gas from faulty appliances etc are designed to respond at much higher levels of CO. Consequently, CO alarms conforming to BS 7860 or BS EN 50291 should not be used as CO fire alarms. It is not likely that CO fire alarms have a significant role to play in domestic dwellings at present.

A Multi-sensor alarm is defined in the standard as a “fire detector that monitors more than one physical and/or chemical phenomenon associated with fire”. An alarm consisting of an optical sensor and a heat sensor, or one containing an ionisation sensor and a CO sensor, would fit this definition. The benefit of this type of detector is that a broader response to different fire types can be achieved with, often, a reduction in false alarm problems. At present there are no suitable types available for use with smoke alarm systems.

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Aico RFD manual Choosing Which Alarms to USE, Single Storey Dwelling

RFD specifications

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