Kidde Fyrnetics CO alarms Smoke alarms Heat alarms Fire blankets News 270711

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KIDDE FYRNETICS - Green Deal Alarm Demand

One of the requirements of the government’s ‘Green Deal’ flagship energy-saving plan signals another step towards installation of carbon monoxide alarms as the norm for sustainable homes.

The government has announced that the new Green Deal ‘Installer Standard’ currently being developed will include a requirement for all installers to assess the impact of their work on air-tightness and any associated increased risks of CO poisoning. If there is any increase, a CO alarm must be installed. Installers must also check any existing CO alarms to ensure they are in full working order.

No-one can anticipate all the possible sources of carbon monoxide and with increasingly efficient air-tight construction demanded of low-energy homes, carbon monoxide from any source can build up. This potential risk has already been recognised by housing provider Gentoo on its ground-breaking PassivHaus development of 28 homes in Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear - believed to be the first certified PassivHaus project of this scale in the UK. Here, Kidde Fyrnetics CO alarms were installed, despite the absence of fuel-burning appliances within homes. In each house, the CO alarm is linked by the Smart Interconnect facility to the company’s 10-year guarantee Slick® range of smoke and heat alarms.

A wide choice of different CO alarms is available today. For new buildings and major refurbishment or upgrade, Kidde Fyrnetics mains powered CO alarms are ideal, with sealed-in, rechargeable lithium cells for back-up, preventing tenant access. They can be interlinked and also used as part of Kidde Fyrnetics unique ‘Smart Interconnect’ system for whole-house fire and CO protection, in conjunction with the company’s hard-wired smoke and heat alarms. Where hard-wiring is not viable, battery powered units are also available, as well as plug-in mains CO alarms for transferable protection.

Bearing in mind the unknown dangers involved here, it is also essential that CO alarms work effectively throughout their design lives. The Health and Safety Executive recommends that: “Before purchasing a CO alarm, always ensure it complies with British Standard EN 50291 and carries a British or European approval mark, such as a Kitemark.” This third party approval is essential – just a CE mark is not enough – to demonstrate consistent performance, so ensuring occupant safety and avoiding the legal implications of supplying or fitting unapproved alarms. It is also important to select products that use electrochemical technology with a stable performance over time, proven by independent and accredited laboratories. Manufacturers that produce their own CO cells – the key component – rather than buying them in, can apply tighter quality controls. For example, every Kidde sensor is tested under CO and all products must pass through several key quality testing ‘gates’ before becoming available for sale. The latest information on domestic fire and CO safety is available by email below: