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Aico website now with virtual tour facility

Aico Ltd., the market leader in residential Fire and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms in the UK, has introduced a new 360° tour feature to its website www.aico.co.uk. The tours enable visitors to take a virtual walk around Aico’s Centre of Excellence and one of its Mobile Training & Demo Units.

With over 2000 visitors having crossed the threshold since it opened in 2015, the Centre of Excellence at Aico’s head office in Oswestry, Shropshire can now be viewed online at the Centre of Excellence page on Aico’s website thanks to the new 360° tour feature. ‘Virtual’ visitors can journey through the two storey, state of the art Centre, stopping to look at the range of rooms and facilities available. These include a workshop with a smoke chamber for hands on training, a mock bungalow highlighting common fire and CO risks throughout a property and various conference and meeting facilities equipped with the latest audio visual technology.

The Mobile Training & Demo Unit page on the Aico website provides a similar experience but within one of Aico’s new Units. These fully fitted vehicles feature information boards on all Aico technologies, such as RadioLINK+ and AudioLINK, and alarm ranges, with fully functional product attached. Both online tours also feature icons that you can click on to reveal interesting facts throughout the building.

The Mobile Training & Demo Units and Centre of Excellence have been created to enable Aico to deliver detailed product and alarm technology information, as well as its CPD accredited Expert Installer training.

In addition to the new 360° tours, Aico’s responsive website hosts a wealth of information and extensive selection of support tools and information including a new range of ‘how to’ videos and live chat facility. The home page provides instant clear links to the most visited pages and links to four key areas – Products, Support, Expert Installer and a Where to Buy feature.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Ei Electronics, Aico is the market leader 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 is tried, tested and trusted.

For more information please go to www.aico.co.uk or contact Aico on 01691 664100 or enquiries@aico.co.uk.
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Guernsey Fire & Rescue recommends Aico fire & CO alarms across the island

Guernsey Fire & Rescue Service is fitting Aico Smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms into islanders’ homes as part of a campaign run by the Service to ensure homes and businesses are made safe.

Guernsey Fire & Rescue Service conducts a risk assessment of every property before deciding which alarms to fit, also taking into account the occupiers. “Those considered most at risk, including the young and the elderly, may require extra protection so we will fit additional alarms in those properties” states Martin Lucas, Head of Fire Safety at Guernsey Fire & Rescue Service. “We have been running a free Smoke Alarm programme for eight years – thanks to sponsorship from prominent island companies – but decided to swap to Aico following issues with the alarms we had been fitting.

“This year we are really pleased to be able to include CO Alarms for the very first time. These will primarily be allocated to people over 65, who are known to be most at risk from CO poisoning. We’ve already seen a huge uptake of CO Alarms in the short time we have been offering them.”

A wide range of Aico alarms and accessories are now being offered free of charge by the Service including ten year Optical Smoke Alarms, CO Alarms and Alarm Kits for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing.

Aico’s RadioLINK wireless alarm interconnection technology was a feature of particular interest as Martin explains: “RadioLINK uses RF signals so we don’t have to cause any disruption to property when fitting alarms and interconnecting them together. It’s exceptionally good and is a tested and proven technology.”

AudioLINK data extraction technology on the CO Alarms is another feature that Martin considers to have added value and is encouraging landlords on the island to make good use of it. AudioLINK allows for invaluable real time data to be extracted directly from the Alarm using Aico’s free AudioLINK App which converts the data into an easy to read Alarm Status Report. It’s ideal for landlords as it can be used as part of the annual Gas Safety Checks (CP12) and property checks prior to changing over to new tenants. Landlords are also being encouraged to read Aico’s Landlord’s Guide to Smoke & CO Alarms, which has been published on the Guernsey government website.

“This is one of the many aspects we like about Aico” comments Martin. “Their products work really well and there is an ongoing development programme. We are excited about future developments.”

Guernsey Fire & Rescue Service is also keen to promote good practice when it comes to alarm installation, having hosted a large Aico Expert Installer session which trained over 50 people from the Service, electricians and electrical wholesalers. “We have never been able to bring so many people together to discuss fire safety before” states Martin. “The training day covered the full specification of Aico products and also installation and specification advice. It was so successful that we ran a further one purely for local Building Control inspectors. We would never have been able to do this without Aico. Their support has been fantastic – above and beyond anything we have experienced. I can honestly say we have never had this level of island support before.”

A wholly owned subsidiary of Ei Electronics, Aico is the market leader 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 is tried, tested and trusted.

For more information please go to www.aico.co.uk or contact Aico on 01691 664100 or enquiries@aico.co.uk.
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Aico releases new features for AudioLINK data extraction technology app

Aico is pleased to announce the arrival of new features to the multiple award-winning app, AudioLINK. The data extraction technology is integrated into all Aico Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms and the Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm Ei2110e.

AudioLINK is a revolutionary alarm technology that allows for invaluable real time data to be extracted directly from the Alarm – all you need is an AudioLINK enabled Aico Alarm, a tablet or smartphone and the free AudioLINK App which converts the data into an Alarm Status Report. The Report displays useful information about the Alarm, such as battery life and details of any activations.

The AudioLINK App update is now available on Android, iOS (iphones and ipads) and Windows devices. The update brings in a number of key enhancements to the Alarm Status Report functionality, following excellent customer engagement and feedback.

Entering data has been made easier through the new App’s ability to scan alarms’ barcodes, automatically adding the alarm serial number to the report. Additional fields have been incorporated into the report to record more information about the alarms and the property including the Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) and contractor notes. A ‘Use Previous Address’ prompt has also been added to save time when producing reports for multiple alarms in the same property, as is the ability to group these reports by address. Multiple reports can now be emailed to multiple email addresses. The reports can be exported as .csv files as well as pdfs, for easier integration with other software.

AudioLINK is proving extremely popular with landlords and their contractors as it improves the level of protection tenants will receive whilst being more time, budget and resource efficient. It can be used as part of the annual Gas Safety Checks (CP12) and property checks prior to changing over to new tenants. It provides a quick and simple way to test and record the Alarm is working prior to tenants moving in.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Ei Electronics, Aico is the market leader in residential Fire and Carbon Monoxide detection 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 is tried, tested and trusted.

For more information please go to www.aico.co.uk/audiolink or contact Aico on 01691 664100 or email enquiries@aico.co.uk.
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Are you missing the connection?

Aico releases new information on part 6 and part 1 fire alarm system integration.

Launched in 2014 and immensely popular in the social housing sector, the Ei414 Fire/CO Alarm Interface from Aico provides a cost-effective, convenient means of interconnecting Aico Smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms to third party life safety systems such as Fire Panels, Telecare Devices and Sprinkler Systems. To help clarify the most popular connection options, Aico has introduced a new dedicated brochure, ‘Are you Missing the Connection?’

Most properties now have Fire Alarms – and many have CO Alarms, but these systems mostly work in isolation. The Ei414 Fire/CO Alarm Interface provides a dedicated connection between these alarms and third party life safety systems, enabling an emergency signal to be transmitted directly to that system if fire or CO is detected.

The new Aico brochure explains how the Ei414 works and provides an installation overview, showing just how simple it is to install the Interface. It looks at the three most common safety systems to connect to – Fire Panels, Telecare/Warden Call Systems and Sprinkler Systems – using clear graphics to help demonstrate the benefits and the system set up. For example, one of the most widespread uses of the Ei414 is to integrate a BS5839 Part 6 Fire Alarm System with a Part 1 panel based system installed in communal areas of a property. The Ei414 can be used to maximise safety by ensuring the communal alarm can be heard within each property, but without allowing individual flats’ alarms to activate those in the communal areas or within other tenant’s homes. This solution has proven popular in homes in multiple occupation (HMOs) and sheltered accommodation across the UK.

The Ei414 Fire/CO Alarm Interface can be powered directly from the mains or from a 12-24V DC supply and has built-in tamper-proof rechargeable Lithium Cells which will power the device in the event of any mains failure. Exceptionally easy to use, it comes with a removable key with three settings – On, Off and Test (with the Off setting being particularly useful if a property becomes vacant) – and LED indicators for visual confirmation of mains power and fire or CO alarm activation.

To obtain a free digital or postal copy of Aico’s ‘Are you Missing the Connection?’ Ei414 brochure, please register at www.aico.co.uk/publications. Information on the Ei414 is also available on Aico’s relaunched website, including a step by step guide on domestic alarm integration in the new Innovation and Technology area of the website. This new section has been introduced by Aico to provide easy to understand overviews of the new technologies developed by Aico and incorporated across a wide number of products.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Ei Electronics, Aico is the market leader 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 is tried, tested and trusted.

For more information please go to www.aico.co.uk or contact Aico on 01691 664100 or enquiries@aico.co.uk.
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Aico’s new website delivers essential information & support

Aico Ltd., the market leader in residential Fire and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms in the UK, has launched a new responsive website providing customers with detailed product and alarm technology information along with an extensive selection of support tools and information.

www.aico.co.uk has been completely redesigned, with a clean, modern look and intuitive navigation. The new website is content focussed, delivering information and support in formats required by a wide range of visitors.

The home page of the new Aico website provides instant clear links to the most visited pages of the previous website and links to four key areas – Products, Support, Expert Installer and a new Where to Buy feature. The intuitive navigation is also enhanced by the reactive search bar, helping to find all the relevant information needed in the quickest time.

Clicking through to the Product section allows you to filter by category (e.g. Optical Smoke Alarm), product series (e.g. 160e Series) and/or technology, such as AudioLINK data extraction. Products are automatically loaded to the page that meets the search criteria entered and can be clicked on for detailed information. Each Aico product page has everything you need on one page including product images, product description, technical specification, instructions and datasheets.

Aico has created an Innovation & Technology section of the website which explains the new technologies, such as AudioLINK data and RadioLINK+ wireless interconnection with remote data extraction functionality, that are used across different alarms Series. As alarm technology becomes more sophisticated a dedicated zone was considered a useful addition to the website to explain the technology and applications.

A new dedicated Support section has been designed in the website to house the wealth of information Aico has created and accumulated on all matters relating to Smoke and CO Alarms. This includes technical support, advice on choosing the correct alarm sensor type, alarm testing and commissioning; frequently asked questions courtesy of Aico’s technical team; standards and regulations, including BS 5839-6:2013 which covers fire alarm systems in domestic dwellings; plus a full list of Aico publications which are available to download or order hard copies.

The Expert Installer section enables customers to find their nearest Aico trained installer without even leaving the site’s home page. For more information on the scheme a link takes you to a dedicated Expert Installer page with an overview of the training scheme and a form for interested installers to apply. Created by Aico and highly regarded in the industry, Expert Installer is a training scheme that ensures electrical contractors have all the information they need to successfully install domestic Fire and CO Alarm systems.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Ei Electronics, Aico is the market leader 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 is tried, tested and trusted.

For more information please go to www.aico.co.uk or contact Aico on 01691 664100 or enquiries@aico.co.uk.
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Quality alarms & service make Aico no. 1 choice for housing group

Aldwyck Housing Group in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire has announced its decision to standardise on Aico Ei208 Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms, based on its positive experience of working with Aico over many years. Aldwyck will be installing Aico AudioLINK™ Ei208 Lithium battery powered CO alarms into 5,200 properties.

Darren Corsby, Asset Manager at Aldwyck, explains the decision “Rather than use multiple different alarms, we wanted to standardise on one alarm type for uniformity across our housing stock. Aico has been a long standing supplier and Aldwyck has always received very good service. We have been more than satisfied with the alarms we have installed in the past; they work well. I have used Aico product for many years, both here and in previous jobs.”

Aldwyck Housing Group will be fitting one Ei208 CO alarm per property where there is a gas supply fitted. This will be done at the same time a new boiler is installed or when an existing boiler is serviced.

The Ei208 is a quality, cost-effective Lithium battery powered CO alarm designed to encourage widespread adoption of this life saving technology. The use of sealed in Lithium batteries largely overcomes the problem of battery removal by tenants as not only are they difficult to remove, but cannot be used to replace batteries in other household devices.

The Ei208 alarms benefit from a highly sophisticated electrochemical CO sensor and rigorous testing for the utmost reliability; each alarm is tested multiple times during manufacture, which includes a test in real CO gas to ensure accuracy.

The Ei208 features Aico’s multiple award winning AudioLINK technology which allows for invaluable real time data to be extracted via the alarm’s sounder to a smart phone or tablet using the free AudioLINK App. The data is displayed in a simple colour coded 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. As the information is generated in real time, should there be an issue then it can be dealt with there and then.

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.

For more information please visit www.aico.co.uk.
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Social housing provider upgrades smoke alarms to Aico Multi-Sensors

Northwards Housing in Manchester is undertaking a major smoke alarm upgrade programme across its entire housing stock of 13,500 properties, using Aico’s Multi-Sensor Fire Alarms.

Northwards Housing is a not-for-profit ALMO (arms length management organisation) that manages City Council homes across north Manchester. It has been a long standing Aico customer of more than 15 years, fitting Aico’s Ei150 series mains powered optical smoke alarms for most of that time.

An innovator in the industry, Aico continuously develops its alarm technology, including the 150 Series which was originally launched 22 years ago. It has also introduced a number of new alarms and ranges during that time which, with their easier installation, improved aesthetics and increased performance, have superseded the 150, resulting in its discontinuation earlier this year.

Keen to benefit from the latest alarm technologies, Northwards Housing has been replacing its 150 alarms with Aico’s Multi-Sensor over the past few years. With the launch of Aico’s new Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm, Ei2110e in 2015, Northwards Housing changed the specification immediately to this latest model.

Alan White, Mechanical & Electrical Manager for Responsive Repairs & Servicing at Northwards Housing, explains the move: “We changed to the Multi-Sensor to give better fire detection and also reduce false alarms such as those caused by burning toast, which can be a nuisance to residents”.

The new Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm, Ei2110e will be fitted across 13,500 properties over the next ten years as part of a rolling replacement programme to replace existing 150 Series alarms reaching the end of their lives. Transition from the rectangular 150 series alarms to the circular Ei2110e has been made simple through the use of Ei1516 masking plates which cover any marks left by the previous unit and maintain the aesthetics of a room, as Alan explains: “the installation is uncomplicated and we use the masking plates to cover the difference in design shape”.

Aico’s mains powered Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm, Ei2110e, contains two sensor types, optical and heat, to constantly monitor smoke and heat levels, sending and receiving information via its intelligent detection software. This sensor information alters the alarm’s sensitivity and trigger points, automatically providing the best response to all fire types and reduces potential false alarms.

This alarm comes with a host of sophisticated features, including data extraction technology AudioLINK. AudioLINK is an award winning technology that enables real time data to be extracted from each alarm using its sounder directly to a smartphone or tablet via an App to create an Alarm Status Report. The Report displays useful information about the alarm, such as battery life, alarm sensors status, number of times tested and removed; and any alarm activation, with details of when it occurred – all in a simple format.

Northwards Housing specified the new Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm, Ei2110e after attending the launch event in 2015. “The ease of fit, the ease of connectivity with other sensors or devices and the data extraction technology are all added benefits of the new Multi-Sensor” explains Alan. “Going forward the data extraction function will allow us to monitor the status of the detector and regularity of testing”.

Northwards Housing will be installing two Ei2110e Multi-Sensors into houses and one into flats, but each property will be risk assessed according to Building Regulations and BS 5839-6:2013 (the standard for domestic smoke alarm installations). Alarms will be hardwired together in each property, but where this is not practical or would result in unsightly mini trunking runs, RadioLINK+ wireless alarm interconnection will be used. RadioLINK+ allows alarms and accessories on the system to communicate with each other using Radio Frequency (RF) signals rather than hard wiring. It comes as a plug in module, which has the added benefit of negating the need for a separate RadioLINK base.

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 is tried, tested and trusted.

For more information please go to www.aico.co.uk or contact Aico on 01691 664100 or email enquiries@aico.co.uk.
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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.

For more information please visit www.aico.co.uk.
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Rental Regulations Compliance Clarified

Kidde Safety makes sense of the complicated new requirements for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in private rented housing.

New Regulations apply to all private rented premises in England occupied on or after 1st October last year. They call for a smoke alarm on each floor and a CO alarm in any habitable room with a solid fuel appliance. The landlord must check that alarms work at the start of each tenancy and replace any that do not, highlighting the need for long-term reliability.

The new Regulations do not specify the type, location or power-source of smoke alarms. However, these aspects are covered in the Code of Practice BS 5839-6:2013. For most existing – as well as new – houses up to 3 storeys and individual flats, the Code recommends smoke alarms in any areas where fires might start, such as living rooms, heat alarms in all kitchens and smoke alarms in all escape routes.

Hard-wired Alarms

The Code also recommends Grade D hard-wired, interconnected smoke and heat alarms with back-up power, excluding Grade F battery-only alarms from all rented homes. This is already a legal requirement for rented properties in Scotland. With hard-wired alarms, there is a growing interest in energy saving and Firex smoke and heat alarms from Kidde offer substantially lower, maximum mains energy consumption of less than 15mA – in the order of just 3.5W. This is less than many household items left on standby and represents a 70% energy saving over previous models.

Another Firex innovation is the introduction of long-life lithium battery back-up options for all three sensing technologies. This offers back-up throughout the whole alarm life at a much lower price than rechargeable products, enabling landlords and their agents to meet legal requirements for working alarms at the start of every tenancy and avoiding low-battery warnings.

Carbon Monoxide

The same requirement for a working alarm at the start of every tenancy applies to CO alarms as well under the new Regulations for England. But these only require a CO alarm with solid fuel heating appliances. In contrast, the latest rules for rented properties in Scotland require a CO alarm wherever there is a combustion appliance, including in inter-connected spaces such as integral garages. Appliances include a boiler, fire, heater or stove – whether using gas, oil, wood or other fuels – although, unfortunately, it does not cover fittings used solely for cooking, despite recent deaths from misused gas cookers. A CO alarm is also needed where a flue passes through a bedroom or main living room.

For peace of mind, all Kidde CO alarms are BSi Kitemarked and comply with the latest edition of BS EN 50291:2010. Kidde also manufactures its own sensors, allowing tighter quality controls to be applied. They use safer, environmentally friendly de-ionised water rather than acid-based electrolytes as well. Kidde’s self-contained 10LLCO and 10LLDCO carbon monoxide alarms enjoy a full 10-year guarantee covering both the alarm and sealed-in lithium battery, helping landlords meet their obligations, cost-effectively over the longer term.

Smart Interconnect

Alternatively, Kidde’s 4MCO and 4MDCO hard-wired CO alarms can not only be interlinked with each other but also Firex hard-wired smoke and heat alarms, using Kidde’s unique ‘Smart Interconnect’ feature. Importantly, all the hard-wired alarms have different, distinct alarm sounder patterns for carbon monoxide and fire, supported by different display messages on the 4MDCO model. So, without the need for any further operation of the system, Smart Interconnect automatically alerts occupants of the specific hazard, allowing them to make the right choice for either fire or carbon monoxide.

For more information, call: 01753 766392, email: sales@kiddesafety.co.uk or visit: www.kiddesafetyeurope.co.uk.

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