Smoke Alarms
in
Liverpool
How it works
How Smoke Alarms Works At Ideal.
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1. Click
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Pop in your details & tell us if you already have mains wired smoke alarms and want them replacing. If so how many if not we can install a new circuit. We’ll send you a fast, free, no obligation quote.
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2. Confirm
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3. Complete
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We'll send a tried & trusted local electrician to come and make sure your home is safe and prepared to alert you in the event of a fire emergency.
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SMOKE AND HEAT ALARM INSTALLATION
Within the domestic environment, smoke alarm installations are one of the most important.
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We have intensive knowledge of all types of smoke alarms and heat alarms and can offer advice as to which heat or smoke alarm is best for your property. Ideal Electrical Solutions can install various brands, however as a part of our product criteria of high quality, proven products, ‘Aico’ is our preferred supplier for heat and smoke alarms.
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The most commonly used smoke or heat alarms in domestic properties are mains powered alarms with battery back-up. They require a constant 230v supply, which can be from its own designated circuit or from a nearby lighting circuit. This type of setup is known as Grade D and E, with Grade F being used for battery powered alarms. Mains powered smoke/heat alarms should be installed by a qualified electrician, with a NICEIC certificate being issued. This ensures that your smoke alarm installation is safe and effective.
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If you are a landlord, a tenant or would generally like more information on fire safety including smoke alarms, Ideal Electrical highly recommends the 'Electrical Safety First' website. It’s a fantastic website packed with loads of useful information.
The law On Smoke Alarms For Landlords in the UK
Private sector landlords in Liverpool are required from 1 October 2015 to have at least one smoke alarm installed on every storey of their properties and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room containing a solid fuel burning appliance (eg a coal fire, wood burning stove). After that, the landlord must make sure the alarms are in working order at the start of each new tenancy.
The requirements will be enforced by local authorities who can impose a fine of up to £5,000 where a landlord fails to comply with a remedial notice.
Find out who is responsible for checking the alarms are in working order
The regulations require landlords to ensure alarms are installed in their properties with effect from 1 October 2015. After that the landlord or someone acting on. your behalf must ensure all alarms are in working order at the start of each new tenancy.
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Ideal Electrical solutions provides maintenance contracts specifically for landlords and property management companies in Liverpool City Centre and the surrounding areas providing electrical safety certificates to ensure compliance with all regulations.
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After the landlord’s test on the first day of the tenancy, tenants should take responsibility for their own safety and test all alarms regularly to make sure they are in working order. Testing monthly is generally considered an appropriate frequency for smoke alarms. If tenants find that their alarm(s) are not in working order during the tenancy, they are advised to arrange the replacement of the batteries or the alarm itself with the relevant landlord.
No grace period for landlords
Landlords are expected to be compliant from 1 October 2015. There will be no grace period after this date to install the required alarms.
Why Smoke Alarms and Heat Alarms Are Important
According to national statistics, fires in homes which have installed hard wired smoke alarms are discovered more rapidly less than 5 minutes after ignition and are associated with lower death rates.
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If you need to install mains wired smoke alarms into your property, then contact us. We are qualified mains smoke alarm installers and will ensure that your property will have the right detection systems in place.
Why should you fit your property with a smoke or CO alarm?
The dangers of carbon monoxide
Released by the incomplete burning of fuels, carbon monoxide is a highly toxic and flammable gas that shouldn’t be toyed with. A carbon monoxide alarm will warn you about the presence of toxic gas in the air produced by faulty gas appliances before it is able to reach high levels.
The dangers of a fire outbreak
Nobody can surveil their property for fires 24/7. Despite the indisputable benefits that fire alarms provide, many homes and businesses in the UK still opt not to include this basic safety feature. As a result, the fire rescue services are called to extinguish over 600,000 fires each year.
These fire outbreaks claim the lives of more than 800 people and injure 17,000 others.
Out of those statistics, nearly 500 deaths and 11,000 injuries happen in a domestic environment. For a small investment that is the cost of a smoke or a carbon monoxide detector installation, you will be able to protect your property and family 24/7 by instantly reacting to the threat.
Choosing Your Smoke Alarm
Which alarm sensor goes where?
There are many types of fire alarms, some with sensors reacting to heat and others react to smoke. We have listed a guide below on the different types of alarm sensors available and which alarm is best suited to each application, helping you to avoid nuisance false alarms and to give you the best possible protection.
Here’s our guide to choosing the right alarm for installation in each area within a property. The two houses below show rooms that are colour coded to show which sensor types are best suited to each area of a typical property. The house on the left shows a layout using multi-sensor fire alarms and the house on the right shows single sensor alarms.
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Multi-Sensor
Multi-sensor alarms contain optical and heat sensors to detect both smoke and heat. They typically have the best response to all fire types from fast flaming to slow smouldering. Multi Sensor Alarms also intelligently monitors both sensors, the risk of nuisance alarms is virtually eliminated.
Multi-Sensor smoke alarm installations are most suitable for: Hallway, Landing, Living Room, Dining Room, Bedrooms.
Ideal Electrical recommends the Mains Powered Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm – Ei3024
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Optical Sensors
Optical Smoke Alarms use an infra-red beam to detect smoke. They detect smoke from slow, smouldering fires such as electrical fires.
Optical smoke alarm installations are most suitable for: Hallway, Landing, Living Room, Dining Room.
Ideals Liverpool electricians recommends the Mains Powered Optical Smoke Alarm – Ei3016
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Heat Sensors
Ideal for kitchens as they won’t cause nuisance alarms from cooking fumes, heat alarms sensors only detect changes in temperature using a thermistor. Heat Alarms have a trigger level is set to 58°C degrees. Heat Alarms are not recommended to be used in any other areas of a domestic property as they will not provide the speed of response required, as above Smoke alarms should be used.
Fit Heat Alarms in: Kitchen, Garage.
Our Liverpool Electrical contractors recommend the Mains Powered Heat Alarm – Ei3014
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Linked or interconnecting alarms
To meet today’s standards and requirements, many domestic smoke alarm installations requires that the alarms, including heat alarms are interlinked, meaning if one alarm is activated then all the alarms installed on the same circuit are also sounded. It is also possible to retro install an interlinking set up using radio frequency radio bases.
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Our qualified Liverpool electricians recommend Aico RadioLink + Ei100MF.
RadioLINK+ wireless interconnection technology uses radio frequency (RF) signals to wirelessly link alarms together with added functionality. Interconnecting alarms is vital so that occupants can hear the alarm throughout the property and is required in the British Standard BS 5839-6:2013.
There are many reasons for using wireless interconnection:
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Eliminates tricky wiring runs
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Saves time at installation
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Reduces mess and disruption during installation
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Saves money
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Makes it easier to add in new alarms and accessories
The RadioLINK+ module Ei100MRF is compatible with the 160e Series and the Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm, Ei2110e.
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Which smoke alarms should I choose and where should they be fitted?
There is a general rule for smoke alarm positioning please see below:
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Bedrooms - Optical smoke detectors OR combined optical smoke and heat detector.
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Landings - optical smoke and heat detector.
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Kitchen and Garage - Heat alarms
What is a heat detector for in the kitchen?
These heat detectors will detect abnormally high temperatures or rapid rises in temperature and alert you of potential fire in your kitchen. Heat alarms are also effective units in garages, where fumes may be regularly present.
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Maintenance of your fire & smoke detectors in Liverpool
As the years go buy, more and more fire alarm systems around Liverpool city centre and surrounding areas require maintenance and servicing to still function at their optimal safety level. Some would need replacement, while others might need a complete overhaul.
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We make a comprehensive review of your Liverpool premises to ascertain what type of maintenance contract is right for your building. We would then quote for the recommended level of service.
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What to expect from the CO and smoke detector installers near you?
The smoke alarm fitters are uniformed, insured, and have the qualifications to assist you with:
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Smoke detector replacement, installation, and sourcing of all alarm devices, including ionisation, optical (photo-electric), heat, and combined alarms. Each unit meets the 5839-6:2013 British Standard for Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems for Buildings
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Testing newly installed smoke alarm or carbon monoxide unit to ensure it is working properly. This also includes a battery check of any pre-existing detectors in the building
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Providing a CO and smoke alarm maintenance service. A routine inspection of your units is recommended once every year, unless you own a ten-year fire detection unit.
Have confidence in your home fire detection equipment
If you are unsure about how to install smoke alarms safely, ensuring they work reliably please call the experts on 07399676656.
The number of house fires in the UK each year and tragic images from news stories constantly act as a reminder to us of how these simple devices can save the lives of a family through early detection. The Direct Gov website states you are more than twice as likely to die in a fire at home if you do not have a smoke alarm that works.
Any alarms we supply will at least meet British Standard 5446, PArt 1 (BS 5446-1).
If you are purchasing your own mains powered smoke detectors and wish us to install them then we suggest purchasing smoke alarms with a battery back-up in case of power cut. Mains powered alarms with strobe lights and vibrating pads can also be installed for those people who are deaf or have difficulties with hearing.
We can work as smoke alarm installers for private home owners, residential care homes, offices and small business premises, apartments, landlords, letting agents and property management agencies.