FIRE ALARMS
THE KITEMARK IS GLOBALLY RECOGNISED AND IS USED AS A WAY OF JUDGING WHETHER A PROCESS OR PRODUCT IS AT THE REQUIRED LEVEL TO ENSURE SAFETY AND CONTINUITY… Fire alarms: Why follow British Standards?
The British Standards Institution (BSI) was established in 1901 to promote trade, reduce waste and protect the consumer by using recognised conformity markers. The BSI Kitemark, a symbol to represent quality, was then adopted two years later. BSI was granted Royal Charter status in 1929, making it one of the most recognised standard issuers and a champion for consumers. Today, the Kitemark is globally recognised and is used as a way of judging whether a process or product is at the required level to ensure safety and continuity. There are over 30,000 live standards. Aico promotes many of these standards as best practice when providing recommendations on fire and carbon monoxide safety, including the following: BS 5839-6: Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises. BS EN 50292: A guide on the selection, installation, use and maintenance of electrical apparatus for the detection of carbon monoxide in domestic premises, caravans and boats. Additionally, all Aico alarms meet the relevant manufacturing standards and are third-party certified by BSI to carry the Kitemark. WHY FOLLOW BRITISH STANDARDS? Following British Standards provides a mechanism to gauge whether a service or a product is fit for purpose. Without it, it would be impossible to verify whether a system is suitable or able to operate as required in emergency conditions. As an
The BSI Kitemark- certified Aico Ei3030 multi-sensor Fire & Carbon Monoxide Alarm.
installer, following the British Standards and the product manufacturer’s instructions, ensures that the installation is correct and of high quality. EXPERT INSTALLER TRAINING The current relevant British Standards are covered within Aico’s free Expert Installer training programme, delivered by your local relationship manager. The session is FIA CPD accredited and designed to ensure that electrical installers have all the necessary information to correctly install domestic fire and carbon monoxide alarms. On completion, attendees will be invited to Aico’s online Installer Community, where users can complete challenges, redeem rewards and register for Aico’s City & Guilds assured training.
domestic dwelling to reach the standard, which is a great place to start when carrying out a domestic installation. Whilst British Standards provides useful information, it is essential to take the resident’s individual needs into account. When installing alarms for a resident with additional needs, such as someone who is hard of hearing or with mobility issues, additional sounders and indicators are required to give them the earliest warning in an emergency. CONCLUSION Following British Standards ensures that Aico alarms are installed correctly. British Standards are a best practice guide. However, in some cases, British Standards may be referred to as a requirement at a contractual level and are seen as the best way to assess whether a process or product meets a required need. Additionally, some legislation and regulatory documents refer to relevant standards for guidance.
HOW TO APPLY BRITISH STANDARDS
When installing a fire detection system, always refer to Table 1 in BS 5839-6. This table describes the grade of alarm and category of coverage required within a
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