Aico Mains Powered Smoke Alarms with Lithium Back-up Battery Ei160RC Series

BS 5839-6 recommends that one or two storey HMOs with an individual floor area of no more than 200sqm (not the total of both floors) should have a Grade D smoke alarm system installed. Grade D refers to mains powered smoke alarms with a back up battery power supply. The alarms can be interlinked either by wire or by radio signal and the system does not require a separate fire alarm panel. For HMOs of 3 storey or higher, a Grade A panel system would need to be installed. This can cover the whole of the building, or can be used just for the communal areas with a separate Grade D system installed for the individual dwellings. For both applications, the level of cover should be a minimum of LD3 (in all escape routes) but this may change according to the fire risk assessment.

Yes, even though the Ei160 series has been discontinued, the new Ei3000 series of alarms are compatible with any remaining 160s you still have. This includes the Ei3018 carbon monoxide alarm. We also recommend that you install a Ei1529RC locator switch as well which will allow you to find out whether an alarm is caused by CO gas or a fire.

To wire the units correctly you would use 2 core and earth cable to the first unit and 3 core and earth to the interconnected units. The alarms do not have to be earthed but a brass screw connector is provided so that the earth can be safety terminated.

Yes, the new Ei3000 series is fully backward compatible and will work directly with the the Ei140 series base. Both the power supply and the interlink with any remaining Ei140 alarms will continue to work with your new Ei3000 alarm.

BS 5446-1:2000 was withdrawn in 2008 and replaced by BS EN 14604:2005 to conform with European standards. All of our alarms containing a smoke detector (smoke only, smoke & heat, smoke & CO) are fully compliant with BS EN 14604:2005. They also comply with any other relevant standards relating to their other detection capabilities.

The RC just refers to "Remote Control" as the unit can be fitted to a radio-frequency base for interconnection. The model hasn't changed but the manufacturers changed the product code slightly in reference to this.

For mains powered Aico alarms with a new, fully charged lithium back up battery, the battery would last approx. 3-6 months without a mains supply. For mains powered Aico alarms with a standard alkaline back up battery, the battery would last up to a year without mains supply. If the alarm has been installed with an Ei168RC radio frequency base, please note that the Ei168RC back up battery would last approx 2 months if the power fails.