Cannock Chase Council maximises tenant safety with Aico CO alarms

Long standing Aico customer Cannock Chase District Council in Staffordshire is in the process of replacing existing Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms across its 5500 properties as they reach their end of life. For speed and efficiency the Council is using Aico’s AudioLINK™ mains powered, battery back-up CO alarm (Ei261ENRC) and the standalone lithium battery powered CO alarm (Ei208), enabling both electricians and gas service engineers to fit the alarms during their planned visits.

Steve Taylor, Electrical Manager at Cannock Chase District Council, comments on this use of mixed powered alarms: “We have used Aico mains powered CO alarms for many years and we will continue to fit these as standard in our properties every time we do an electrical upgrade. However, properties that are not due for an electrical upgrade will not be ignored as our gas service engineers will fit the Ei208 battery alarms where appropriate when they service equipment. The Ei208 is ideal in this instance as it doesn’t require an electrician to fit it, making it a quick fix, plus with a ten year life we know our tenants are well protected.”

Aico’s AudioLINK CO alarms are being used in properties containing gas and solid fuel appliances and open fireplaces.

In bungalows, which are home to older and vulnerable people, the CO alarms are being interconnected with the existing Aico smoke and Multi-Sensor alarms and a wall-mounted Alarm Control Switch, the Ei1529RC. Interconnecting the alarms means that if one alarm on the system is triggered, all other alarms in the same property sound. This ensures the alarm is heard throughout the property, providing the earliest warning – particularly important for older and less mobile occupants.

Interconnection is achieved through Aico’s award winning RadioLINK technology, which allows alarms on the system to communicate with each other using RF signals rather than hard wiring. “RadioLINK is a great, easy fix” states Steve. “We used to experience friction with tenants as they understandably didn’t want us lifting up their carpets and floorboards and disrupting them in order to lay interconnecting cables. With RadioLINK we don’t need to do any of that. It’s also convenient for contractors; they are in and out of a property much quicker.”

The Alarm Control Switch plays an important role here as it allows residents to quickly locate the exact alarm which has detected the fire or CO leak and take appropriate action. The wall mounted Switch is also used to test and silence all the alarms on the system from one safe, convenient location. As Steve Taylor remarks: “We don’t want an 80 year old resident standing on a chair to test their alarm! Being able to access the key features of alarms from a safe height is very important.”

All Aico CO alarms now come with a 10 year life and are fitted with a highly sophisticated electrochemical CO sensor. Each alarm is tested multiple times during manufacture, which includes a test in real CO gas to ensure accuracy. They also come with Aico’s award winning AudioLINK technology. AudioLINK allows for invaluable real time data to be extracted via the alarm’s sounder – all you need is an AudioLINK enabled CO alarm, a tablet or smartphone and the free AudioLINK App. This data is converted into a simple to review and store Alarm Status Report, providing useful information such as any alarm activations – with details of when it occurred, if any background CO has been detected, battery life, alarm sensors status, number of times tested and removed.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Ei Electronics, Aico are market leaders in residential fire and CO protection in the UK. All alarms are designed and built in Ireland specifically to meet the UK standards and regulations. With more mains powered domestic smoke alarms installed in the UK’s social housing than any other manufacturer, Aico are tried, tested and trusted.