South Cambridgeshire
District Council is upgrading its 1400 sheltered housing properties with new
warden call systems connected to Aico mains powered Multi-Sensor, Heat and
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms.
As the Council was
already planning to replace the existing hard wired Warden Call systems, it
took the opportunity to upgrade the Smoke and CO Alarms at the same time.
What’s more, Aico was
able to offer a bespoke solution to wirelessly connect its alarms to the new
Warden Call systems using its unique Ei414 Fire/CO Alarm Interface.
This solution provides
maximum tenant safety and convenience, as Eddie Spicer, M & E Surveyor for
South Cambridgeshire District Council, explains: “The integration ensures that
there is one system in each property, reducing costs and maintenance visits.
We have two providers of call systems and one of them has expressed great
interest in the system we are using as they have not seen it used on their
equipment previously”. The Ei414 Interface can also be used to
interconnect Aico Alarms to Sprinkler and Part 1 Fire detection systems.
The new Smoke Alarm
systems are being installed by the Council to Category LD2, with a Heat Alarm
in the kitchen, a Multi-Sensor in all circulation spaces and entrance halls and
CO Alarms in properties that are not fully electric. Properties and tenants
that need extended protection from risk will see their alarm systems extended
to include additional rooms for added safety.
Eddie was impressed
with Aico’s award winning AudioLINK data extraction technology, which is built
into the Multi-Sensor and CO Alarms: “the recording of details from AudioLINK
is invaluable as it holds the history of activations and testing details.
This can provide us with the added value of knowing the units are tested
regularly and if an incident of a CO leak is detected but subsequently clears
we have a record of the leak and can investigate it properly rather than the
possibility of false activations of malicious acts.”
AudioLINK enables
real time data to be extracted from each alarm using its sounder directly to a
smartphone or tablet via a free App to create an Alarm Status Report. The
Report displays useful information about the alarm, such as alarm sensors
status, number of times tested and removed and any alarm activations.
South Cambridgeshire
District Council is pleased with the outcome of this latest project, as Eddie
comments: “The service provided by Aico is impeccable. The stock
provision and minimal failure rate has ensured that this project is running
smoothly and to time. We have also integrated an online monitoring trial
into the project and the ongoing support from Aico has been really useful and
has made the system work for us.”
South Cambridgeshire
District Council is a long standing Aico customer and uses Aico alarms across
its 5700 housing stock. “This latest project not only allows us to meet
the latest regulations and safeguard our most vulnerable tenants and leaseholders
alike; it will also enable us to standardise Smoke Alarms across our
properties,” states Eddie.
“I have used and specified Aico products for a
number of years. I am continually monitoring the market place for new
technologies and products from both Aico and the wider market and, so far, the
products offered by Aico have suited our requirements above others. It is
imperative to specify the right product for the right situation.
Obviously cost is a major factor and with the introduction of the latest
technologies in the Multi-Sensor, the lack of false alarms has paid dividends
with lower call out rates and nuisance alarm activations.”
Aico, an Ei Company,
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.
