Aico heat and smoke detectors and RadioLINK, questions and answers, FAQ

Everybody knows/has seen the fire alarms/the smoke alarms/the heat alarms installed in different places in a building, and we all kindda know what are they, how do they look like, what is their function, maybe even how to install it/take it off. Well, for those that want to know more about the Aico Smoke alarms and heat alarms, there is a quite comprehensive guide/FAQ that answers to at least 34 of your questions. Actually, this guide is not just for the Aico Fire Alarms, but the principles presented here can be applied to any smoke alarm / fire alarm / heat alarm / CO alarm for domestic use. Here are some of the most “ardent” questions(a brief answer to them can be found by visiting the link):

1. What are the fire alarm requirements for New – Build properties?
2. What is a Grade D system?
3. What do LD2 and LD3 mean?
4. What are the requirements for existing properties?
5. What is a Fire Risk Assessment?
6. If I install an LD2 level of cover can this remove my responsibilities to conduct a Fire Risk Assessment?
7. What do I need to do to address the requirements of ‘special needs’ people or groups?
8. What types of sensor are available?
9. How do Aico Ei Ionisation and Optical Smoke Alarms work?
10. What are the advantages and disadvantages of both sensor types?
11. How do Aico Ei Heat Alarms work?
12. Which Alarm should I use where?
13. Where should alarms be sited?
14. How many do I need?
15. Where shouldn’t the Aico Smoke Alarms be sited?
16. Will they always work?
17. What cable do I need for the Aico Mains connections and where should the supply be taken from?
18. What cable do I need for the interconnect line?
19. How do I mount the Aico Alarms on the ceiling?
20. Can I fit the Aico Smoke or Heat Alarm on the wall?
21. How many Aico Smoke and Heat Alarms can I link together?
22. Can I use a relay to signal other devices?
23. Can I use the relay to connect to a 24 Volt Fire Alarm System?
24. How often should they be tested?
25. Should they be tested with smoke/heat?
26. What maintenance schedule is recommended?
27. How long will the battery last?
28. How will I know if the battery has failed?
29. How long do Aico Smoke Alarms last?
30. How do I stop nuisance alarms?
31. What is the radiation risk from Aico Ionisation Smoke Alarms?
32. How do I dispose of redundant Aico Ei alarms that contain a NiCad battery?
33. Are the Aico Ei alarms with rechargeable Lithium Cells compatible with previous models?
34. Why choose Aico Ei Professional Smoke Alarms?

You can also find this Aico Smoke/Heat alarms FAQ on fire-detect.co.uk or on sparksdirect blog, part 1 and part 2.

RadioLINK - what is it? The name says it all: a linking of the fire alarms/smoke alarms/heat alarms via a radio frequency. But what are the implications? How to be set up? What is this technology? What are some applications? Does it respect the actual BS? These questions and some other more are being answered in the RadioLINK FAQ(on the fire-detect.co.uk):

1. What is RadioLINK?
2. Which Aico Smoke/Heat alarms can be used with RadioLINK?
3. Do I have to wire the alarms at all?
4. What benefit is there in RadioLINK if I still have to connect the to the mains?
5. How can the alarms interconnect without a cable connection?
6. Will interference from other RF devices be a problem?
7. Will security systems and car alarms affect the smoke alarm system?
8. How far will the radio signal travel?
9. If all the alarms can interlink how can I stop the next door sounding the ones in my house?
10. Can you use RadioLINK to interconnect between as well as within properties?
11. How will I know if the RF interconnect line has failed?
12. Are the RadioLINK units kitemarked to BS 5446: Pt.1?
13. To which standards does the Ei168RC conform?
14. Is RadioLINK suitable for use in all properties?
15. How many alarms can be interconnected using RadioLINK?
16. Is there any method of controlling a RadioLINK system?
17. BS 5839: Pt.6: says that all alarms must be on one final circuit. Will RadioLINK comply with this?
18. Can the smoke alarms be connected on different phases of the mains supply?

Aico fire alarms, Aico smoke alarms, Aico ionisation alarms, Aico optical alarms: what is the difference?

On this website introducing the Aico fire alarms we see a lot of different types of detectors for domestic use, like the:

• Aico smoke detectors;
• Aico heat detectors;
• Aico ionisation alarms;
• Aico optical alarms;
• Aico CO alarms;
• Aico multi-sensor alarms;

and some others. Many people would ask: what is the difference between these different types of fire alarms, since it looks like, from their description, that they do approximately the same things? What is the difference between the smoke alarms and the heat alarms? What is the difference between the ionisation alarms and the optical alarms? What is the difference between the heat alarms and the optical alarms? What is the difference between the optical alarms and the smoke alarms? What is the difference between the ionisation alarms and the smoke alarms?

To make things just a little clearer than before, there are 5 types of alarms:

• Fire alarms – alarms that detect the fire in a building. These alarms are more rare and general, since there is the need to detect not only the fire that can start in a building, but even the smoke or the high level of heat.
• Heat alarms – alarms that detect the rise of the temperature, which can be due to the start of a fire, the over-heating in a room, the heat in the kitchen, etc.
• Smoke alarms – alarms that detect the rise of the smoke level in a certain venue; the smoke can be due to the fire ignited in the room, etc;
• Multi-sensor alarm – alarms that detect both the heat and the smoke in a room, using both a ionisation and an optical sensor.
• CO alarms – alarm detecting the rise of the carbon monoxide level in a room.

Concerning the types of sensors an Aico fire/smoke/heat alarm uses, there are 4 types of sensors:

• Optical sensor – optical alarms – A light beam is pulsed in the sensor chamber every 10 seconds to “look/search” for smoke. Any smoke present has to be visible to the naked eye so that the receptor may “see” it. If no smoke is detected, the alarm will remain in a standby state. When large particle smoke is detected, the light beam will be scattered onto the light receptor. This will then send an electrical signal to the IC (Integrated Circuit). If two consecutive signals are received by the IC, the alarm will sound.
  - This type of sensor can be used in the heat alarms(Aico Ei146 and Aico Ei166RC).
  
• Ionisation sensor – ionisation alarms – There is a minute(safe) radioactive (inside the sensor chamber) which ionises the air within. This causes a small current to flow in the chamber, and this current remains constant for the life of the alarm (unless some smoke particles enter into the sensor chamber). When / if smoke enters the sensor chamber, the balance of the current is disturbed. This disturbance is detected by the electronics in the alarm circuitry, and the Integral Circuit(IC) is being sent a signal. When the signal is received, the alarms sounds.
  - This type of sensor can be used in the smoke alarms(Aico Ei141 and Aico Ei161RC).
• Heat sensor – heat alarms – A thermistor (a heat sensitive resistor) is sited in the sensor chamber of the alarm. When the temperature rises, the resistance of the thermistor reduces. The IC continuously monitors the resistance of the thermistor. When this indicates that the temperature is over 54° C, the IC sends a signal to the sounder circuit. The alarm sounder then operates – the alarm rings.
  - This type of sensor can be used in the heat alarms (Aico Ei144 and Aico Ei164RC).
  
• CO sensor – carbon monoxide alarms – Detects the CO level and rings the alarm if the level is too high.
  - This type of sensor can be used in the CO alarms (Aico Ei261 and Aico Ei205).

For more information about all these Aico Alarms, visit our online store, or consult the articles concerning the Fire alarms, Fire Design, Fire Detectors, Fire safety, Aico alarms, Heat detectors, etc.

fire-detect.co.uk – Aico smoke alarms, heat alarms, optical alarms, CO alarms and ionisation alarms

A new website online – introducing the Aico range of fire alarms, smoke alarms, ionisation alarms, optical alarms, multi-sensor alarms, CO alarms, etc. Many are confused when they think: what should I choose for the detecting of the heat/fire/smoke for my house/office? – so we put together this website for helping you to choose from a professional range, Aico Ei, of fire detectors. Basically, there are 4 types of alarms:

• Aico smoke alarms – Particularly sensitive to the almost invisible smoke produced by fast flaming fires; this makes them more liable to false alarm due to cooking fumes if placed close to kitchens
• Aico heat alarms – Recommended to be used in a fire alarm system that includes also smoke alarms; all the alarms have to be interconnected. To be placed in: kitchens, even living rooms, etc;
• Aico CO alarms – Mains powered CO alarm, with rechargeable Li cells battery and CO sensor. Easy to use, has a hush button; can be mounted on walls or ceilings. Can be interconnected with the other mains Ei alarms.

On the other hand, there are different types of detectors, that is:

• heat detector – heat sensor – used in the heat alarms(Aico Ei2110, Aico Ei144 and Aico Ei164RC);
• optical detector – optical sensor – used in the smoke alarms(Aico Ei2110, Aico Ei146 and Aico Ei166RC);
• ionisation detector – ionisation sensor – used in the smoke alarms (Aico Ei141 and Aico Ei161RC);
• CO detector – Carbon Monoxide sensor – used in the CO alarms(Aico Ei261 series and Ei250);

According to the way they are powered/supplied, the smoke alarms/heat alarms/ionisation alarms can be:

• battery powered alarms – Alkaline battery;
• mains powered alarms with Lithium cell back-up;

Besides these types of the smoke/heat/CO alarms, which can also be categorized as:

• Aico smoke and heat alarms Ei140 series;
• Aico smoke and heat alarms Ei160RC series;
• Aico carbon monoxide alarms Ei261 series and Ei250;
• Aico multi-sensor alarm Ei2110 – optical and heat alarm;
• Special: other devices used for interconnection(mounting bases, manual call points, sounders, beacons, etc);

we have also wrote some more details about “goodies” from Aico, technologies that are used in their fire alarms, that is:

• the RadioLINK technology – RadioLink interconnects the mains powered smoke / fire / heat alarms by wireless signals rather than cabling;
• the Easi-Fit technology – save time and money in the process of installing the fire alarms, smoke alarms, heat alarms and CO alarms.

Well… enough about the theoretical part – come and visit us at

www.fire-detect.co.uk

and see what we have “in store for you” – Aico smoke alarms or Aico heat alarms. Below are some shots of how does the site look like….

Aico fire alarms and smoke alarms – presentation site online

Ionisation alarms – Aico Ei140 and Ei160RC series