Extending Ei140 + Ei160 series smoke alarm groups

Wednesday 12th September 2012

Many homes and small businesses are equipped with mains powered smoke alarms to BS5839 part 6 Grade D. These alarms are usually linked with cable and have to be installed by electricians. When increasing the number of smoke and heat alarms at a later date, it is costly and disruptive to run extra cable to the additional alarms, decorations are damaged and dust is created.

With the Aico Ei140 series (Ei141, Ei144, Ei146) and the Aico Ei160 series (Ei161, Ei164, Ei166), adding more smoke alarms to the group of alarms can be very simple using radio-interlinking.

Just one existing smoke alarm is taken off the ceiling and its existing base plate replaced with the RF base plate Ei168. This exchange, while very swift and simple, should be carried out by an electrician. The old alarm then simply slots onto the newly fitted base plate. Now you can install any of the radio-interlinked smoke alarm ranges from AICO/Ei in the additional rooms you wish to protect. The new radio-linked alarms will then communicate fully with the old system. This means that if any of the smoke alarms goes off (old or new alarms), the rest of the alarms will sound an alarm as well.

You have three choices to achieve this extension with radio-interlinked smoke alarms:

1) Install more mains powered alarms together with RF base plates. Their electrical power supply can be drawn from the nearest light fitting. This solution will require an electrician for all the work. However, this is a solution that will guarantee the Grade D rating of your installation. There is obviously no cabling required between the units, as the radio signal will communicate between the new alarms and, through the single converted old smoke alarm, with the old system. There are additional add-ons you can include in this system, such as RF manual break points and handheld controls for testing and, in the case of the Ei160 series, even for silencing and to locate the source of an alarm.

List of Alarms and add-ons available:

Series installed already Mains powered RF Smoke alarms available Manual break points available (optional). Wireless and 10 year battery Handheld controls available (optional)
Ei140 Ei407 Ei410TRF handheld test fob (tests interconnection, only)
Ei160 Ei407
  • Ei410 handheld test, hush and locator
  • Ei411H wall mounted test, hush and locator

2) If you want to save the cost for the electrician and want to speed up the installation process, you can install battery operated radio-interlinked alarms. One of the radio-interlinked families is the Ei600 series, which comes with a sealed-in ten year power supply. This system is usually accepted as a Grade D system, even though formally, as it does not contain mains power, it is not classified as a grade D system. If you have to satisfy a Building Inspector or the fire service, it makes therefore good sense to get their agreement before installing the system.

List of battery operated alarms and add-ons available:

Series installed already Battery operated RF smoke alarms Manual break points available (optional). Wireless and 10 year battery Handheld control (optional)
Ei140 Ei407 Ei410TRF handheld test fob (tests interconnection, only)
Ei160 Ei407
  • Ei410 handheld test, hush and locator
  • Ei411H wall mounted test, hush and locator

3) If you are not required to install in accordance to BS5839 Part 6 Grade D (eg older houses built prior to introduction of Building Regulations), you can also use radio-interlinked smoke alarms with alkaline backup batteries which must be replaced every year or two. This is of course the cheapest way of expanding your existing smoke alarm system. Again, all alarms will go off together, both the new as well as the old alarms.

List of radio-interlinked, battery operated alarms and add-ons available:

Series installed already Battery operated RF smoke alarms Manual break points available (optional). Wireless and 10 year battery Handheld control (optional)
Ei140 Ei407 Ei410TRF handheld test fob (tests interconnection, only)
Ei160 Ei407 Ei410TRF handheld test fob (tests interconnection, only)

Replacement of old Kidde smoke alarms

Monday 11th June 2012

As well as testing your smoke and heat alarms on a regular basis, it is important to make a note of when the units actually need to be replaced. Studies have shown that the functionality of smoke and heat alarms can start to deteriorate when they reach a lifespan of 10 years. Each smoke and heat alarm should have a “replace by date” visible on the outside of the unit and we recommend that you adhere to this guideline.

When replacing a smoke alarm it can be quite difficult to recognise a suitable replacement product. In some cases, you may find that the current alarm model has been discontinued. With battery operated alarms, as there is no wiring in place, it is much easier to replace the unit for another smoke alarm with like-for-like features. Mains powered alarms are hard wired and are most likely interconnected during installation. It is because of this that finding replacement detectors can be difficult.

Working with Kidde Safety Europe, Safelincs are able to provide a list of mains powered discontinued Kidde smoke and heat alarms, along with their suitable product equivalents.

Discontinued Alarm Replacement Alarm
123/9HI KEKF10
123i KEKF10
123/9HILL KEKF10R
223/9HI KEKF20
223/9HILL KEKF20R
1275H KEKF10
323/9HI KEKF30
323/9HILL KEKF30R

The new alarms will interlink with other, still working units of the previously installed smoke alarms. This means that there is no need to replace all of the units within a system if only some of the installed detectors have reached the end of their recommended lifespan. All new mains powered smoke and heat alarms are provided with a mounting bracket and a wiring connector. It is important to note that you need to replace the existing mounting base and re-connect the wiring to fit the new units. With any mains powered alarms, all electrical work should be carried out by a qualified electrician.

Safelincs offer a smoke alarm reminder service which allows customers to be notified when their smoke and heat alarms are due to be replaced, when the batteries need to be changed and reminds customers to test their alarms on a regular basis. The service is completely free and customers can choose if they wish to be reminded by email, SMS text message or by Twitter.

Break the Fire Triangle, Kill the Fire

Thursday 5th April 2012

What is the fire triangle?

The fire triangle is made up of three elements, which are the three components needed for a fire to start and burn: fuel, oxygen and heat. Removing one of these elements will prevent the fire from spreading and causing irreversible damage. Fire protection equipment will help you and your staff break the triangle, reducing potential risks of damage to a building or loss of life.  

The Fire Triangle: Heat, Fuel, Oxygen.

The three elements of fire explained

Heat

Heat must be present for a fire to ignite. Flammable materials constantly release flammable vapours, where heat is present, these vapours will ignite and start to burn.

Once a fire has started, heat from the fire will dry and remove moisture from surrounding materials (fuel), which results in the fire spreading.

Fuel

A fire needs fuel to burn and feed it. Fuel can be in the form of any combustible material such as paper, wood, textiles, oil, liquids etc. Removing the fuel will prevent a fire from spreading or starting in the first place.

Oxygen

Without oxygen, a fire cannot ignite and continue to burn. Oxygen is all around, making this one of the most significant factors of the fire triangle.

How does fire safety equipment break the fire triangle?

Installing fire safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers and fire blankets, can help stop a small fire from spreading. Fire blankets deprive the flame of oxygen by covering it, killing the fire.

Many fire extinguishers, such as foam and water fire extinguishers, work in the same way; either by covering the flame and its fuel to remove oxygen, or by cooling the fire and any nearby fuel, reducing the risk of the fire spreading. Water Mist fire extinguishers deploy a cooling mist, and are safe to use on live electrical equipment up to 1000V, making them an ideal extinguisher for businesses, education, hospitality and the care sector.

Although fire safety equipment can be a useful tool in stopping a small fire from spreading, a fire should only be tackled if staff are trained to use them, and are confident in what they are doing.

Water Mist fire extinguishers are ideal for businesses, education, hospitality and the care sector.
 

Fire Safety Training Courses

To prepare your staff to effectively extinguish fires, there are a variety of on-site fire safety training courses available. This includes fire safety awareness and fire warden training, as well as evacuation training to ensure that staff can escape to a place of safety until the fire is under control. These training courses will not only reduce the risk of a fire breaking out on your premises by enabling staff to reduce the risk of fire in their daily duties, but also improve responses and outcomes in the event of a fire.

Preventing a fire from starting in the first place is always the best form of fire safety. Encourage staff to keep an eye out for potential causes of fire, such as faulty electrical equipment or hazardous materials, and use flammable liquid storage cabinets to reduce the risk of these flammable liquids igniting.

All staff must be trained to safely evacuate to a place of safety in the event of a fire.

Employers are required by law to ensure that all employees receive adequate fire safety training. Employers must also provide adequate equipment, such as evacuation chairs and evacuation sheets, to ensure everyone in the building can safely evacuate.

For more information about the best fire safety equipment for your business, or to arrange a site survey, contact us today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the three elements of the fire triangle?
The three elements of the fire triangle are heat, fuel and oxygen. These three components are essential for a fire to start and continue burning. Understanding the three elements of the fire triangle is fundamental to fire safety. Heat provides the ignition source that allows flammable vapours to ignite. Fuel gives the fire something to burn and feed on, which can be paper, wood, textiles, oils or other combustible materials. Oxygen, which is present in the air around us, supports combustion. When all three elements come together, a fire can start and spread. Fire safety equipment works by breaking the fire triangle, removing one of these critical elements to extinguish flames.
What element of the fire triangle does a fire blanket remove?
A fire blanket removes the oxygen element of the fire triangle. When you place a fire blanket over flames, it creates a barrier between the fire and the surrounding air, cutting off the oxygen supply. What element of the fire triangle a fire blanket removes is important to understand because, without oxygen, combustion cannot continue, and the fire will die out. Fire blankets are designed to be placed over small fires, completely covering them to prevent oxygen from reaching the flames. This makes fire blankets particularly effective for small contained fires, such as small frying pan fires or waste bin fires, where smothering is an appropriate extinguishing method.
What do foam extinguishers remove from the triangle?
Foam extinguishers remove both oxygen and heat from the triangle. When you discharge a foam extinguisher onto a fire, the foam creates a blanket over the fuel surface, separating it from oxygen in the air. Additionally, the water content in foam extinguishers helps remove the heat element from the fire triangle by providing a cooling effect. The foam works by floating on flammable liquids, preventing flammable vapours from rising and mixing with oxygen while simultaneously cooling the fuel below its ignition temperature. This dual-action makes foam extinguishers particularly effective for fires involving flammable liquids such as petrol, diesel or oils.
What element of the fire triangle does a fire blanket remove and therefore put out a fire?
A fire blanket removes the oxygen element of the fire triangle and therefore puts out a fire by smothering it. When considering what element of the fire triangle a fire blanket removes and therefore puts out a fire, understanding this smothering action is essential. Fire blankets are typically made from fire-resistant materials that can be safely placed over a small fire to create an airtight seal. This seal prevents oxygen from reaching the flames, which interrupts the combustion process. Without access to oxygen, the chemical reaction that sustains a fire cannot continue, and the flames will extinguish. This makes fire blankets an effective tool for tackling small, contained fires – particularly in kitchens or laboratories.
A fire blanket removes which element of fire?
The answer is oxygen. Fire blankets are designed to completely cover a fire, creating a barrier that prevents oxygen from reaching the flames. By removing this crucial element from the fire triangle, the combustion process cannot continue. When you place a fire blanket over a fire, you’re effectively cutting off its air supply. Fire blankets are particularly useful for small fires that can be completely covered, such as pan fires in kitchens or clothing fires. Remember that fire blankets should only be used by people who have been properly trained in their use and when it’s safe to approach the fire.
What element of the fire triangle does the blanket remove?
A fire blanket removes oxygen from the fire triangle. Oxygen is one of the three essential components needed for a fire to burn, alongside heat and fuel. Fire blankets are specifically designed to smother flames by creating an oxygen-free environment around the fire. When properly deployed over a fire, the blanket creates a seal that prevents air from reaching the burning material. This disrupts the combustion process and causes the fire to die out. Fire blankets are most effective on small, contained fires where complete coverage is possible, making them valuable safety equipment in kitchens, laboratories and workshops.
How do you stop combustion and extinguish a fire?
You stop combustion and extinguish a fire by removing at least one of the three elements of the fire triangle: heat, fuel or oxygen. Different fire extinguishing methods target different elements. Water-based extinguishers primarily remove heat by cooling the burning material below its ignition temperature. Foam extinguishers create a barrier that removes both oxygen and heat. Powder extinguishers interrupt the chemical chain reaction of combustion. CO2 extinguishers displace oxygen. Fire blankets remove oxygen by smothering the flames. The most appropriate method depends on the type and size of fire you’re dealing with. Always ensure you’re trained in proper fire safety techniques before attempting to extinguish any fire, and prioritise evacuation to a place of safety if the fire is too large or spreading quickly.
When would it be appropriate to smother a fire with a fire blanket?
It would be appropriate to smother a fire with a fire blanket when dealing with small, contained fires, particularly those involving cooking oils or fats in kitchen pans or when a person’s clothing has caught fire. Fire blankets work by removing oxygen from the fire triangle, making them ideal for situations where the fire is limited to a small area that can be completely covered. They are also usually suitable for fires involving small electrical appliances such as toasters or hairdryers in their early stages, as the blanket provides insulation from electrical current. However, you should only attempt to smother a fire with a fire blanket if you’ve been trained in its proper use, if the fire is small enough to be completely covered, and if you can safely approach the fire without putting yourself at risk.

Retrofitting or Replacing Fire Door Seals

Tuesday 20th March 2012

Fire doors play a critical role in preventing the spread of smoke and fire, protecting lives and also properties. However, the effectiveness of fire doors depends heavily on their maintenance, including having well-maintained fire door seals. Over time, fire door seals can deteriorate, become damaged or no longer meet safety standards, which leads to a key question; should you retrofit or replace them?

fire-door-seal-inspection

 

Can you modify a fire-rated door?

Any modifications to your fire door, including structural changes, should be carried out strictly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and only by an accredited and competent individual. Any modifications to your fire door could affect its certification. Regular maintenance on fire doors is essential to ensure the doors are up to specification and still effective. BSI recommend that fire door inspections should be caried out every 6 months, but this guidance may need to be adapted depending on the location of the door, the fire risks that exist and the amount of use it has. In residential high rise blocks,  Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 states fire doors should be checked more regularly; our help guide provides further information on this. Intumescent strips should be inspected within this check to ensure they effectively seal against fire and smoke, forming a secure barrier.

Safelincs offer fire door seals for fire and smoke protection. Both use intumescent material that expands in a fire to seal the gap. Smoke protection seals also have a brush to block smoke before the intumescent material is activated. Smoke seals are rarely omitted, one occasion is when doors lead to areas without smoke detectors, triggering alarms in circulation areas.

Fire door seals are fitted on three sides of a fire door, leaving the bottom gap uncovered. There are products available to prevent smoke from escaping under doors if necessary.

Drop down smoke seals offer a fast and convenient solution. They function with a graduated scissor action, dropping to the floor to prevent smoke passing through. For retrofitting, surface mounted drop down smoke seals are an alternative option, as they require no routing or rebating.

How to replace fire door seals and can you retrofit intumescent seals?

Fire door seals can be replaced or retrofitted with intumescent seals depending on the condition of the door. Rebated intumescent fire door seals can be fitted where a rebate exists or the current seal is damaged. The seals are fitted into the existing rebates either in the door leaf or frame. However, modifying rebates requires a certified professional, as it may impact the fire door’s certification.

To avoid having to cut a rebate in either the door or the frame, surface mounted fire door seals can be fitted. These are applied easily by sticking to the frame or door with their self-adhesive backing.

If you are unsure on the condition of your fire doors, a fire door inspection allows a qualified inspector to assess your fire doors, ensuring they are fit for purpose and will provide adequate protection against fires. A clear report is provided indicating in detail which doors are compliant and where further action is required.

Can you retrofit intumescent seals?

Yes, you can retrofit intumescent seals; following a fire risk assessment, doors are sometimes re-designated as fire doors if the door and frame are substantial enough to be justifiably counted as a nominal fire door. The same applies to older fire doors which do not follow the latest specifications. In these cases, fire door seals can be retrofitted.

Do fire door seals need to be replaced?

Fire door seals do not need to be replaced unless they are damaged, missing, or ineffective. Intumescent seals do not degrade with age in day-to-day circumstances. Regular inspections can identify issues, and replacements must follow manufacturer guidelines or be done by a certified professional to ensure compliance with fire safety standards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free Water Mist Extinguishers for Qwackers Pre-School

Friday 2nd March 2012

Qwackers Pre-School in Alford, Lincolnshire has been part of the life of generations of local people. It started off in a hall at the side of a babbling brook where ducks swam. The group then moved to a second-hand prefab building that was erected on the site of the John Spendluffe School.

This building has served a good purpose but with many years of wear and tear it became apparent that it was no longer viable to repair the structure any longer. After several years of campaigning Qwackers have now moved into a brand new building on their old site.

We always like to support local causes and as Qwackers is a registered charity we wanted to show our support by installing new extinguishers for them and maintaining the extinguishers on a yearly basis in the future completely free of charge.

We chose to install Water Mist extinguishers, which when deployed will leave no residue and will not cause water damage as with conventional water extinguishers. The Water Mist extinguishers are fitted with a supersonic nozzle, creating a microscopic mist curtain. The water mist removes oxygen from the fire and also cools the material that is alight, reducing the chance of re-ignition. Because the extinguisher is creating a fog rather than a jet, the water mist extinguishers are ideal for schools and nurseries, as children cannot hurt themselves, should they ever set off an extinguisher.

Water Mist extinguishers are also perfect for home, offices, shops and kitchens, and their testing credentials mean they can even be used on electrical equipment too!

P50 self-maintenance extinguishers installed in our local primary school

Tuesday 1st November 2011

Alford Primary School, local to our Safelincs headquarters based in Lincolnshire has installed our Britannia P50 self-maintenance fire extinguishers. These extinguishers carry a 10 year guarantee and do not need a service engineer to carry out the yearly inspection.

Having a 10 year guarantee and not requiring a refill after 5 years or any engineer servicing visits for the life span of the extinguishers is a huge cost saving for schools. As budgets are always under scrutiny and with the government looking for additional cuts, the savings achieved by changing to P50 make great sense.

When we installed the P50 extinguishers in the Alford Primary School, training was given to school representatives to be able to carry out the simple yearly inspection themselves. P50 extinguishers are accepted by most insurance companies.

There is a video available to demonstrate how easy the extinguishers are to self-maintain. The extinguishers, which have an inner core of Kevlar (the same material used in bullet proof vests), are corrosion-free and are suitable for all outdoor applications as well as indoors.

For more information please contact us tel: 0800 612 6717 or visit the website https://www.safelincs.co.uk/britannia/

Intumescent Pipe Collars – A Guide

Monday 17th October 2011

We recently introduced a new range of  Astroflame pipe collars. As we receive many questions about the use of pipe collars we felt that a write-up about these collars might be helpful.

What are pipe collars?

Where plastic soil and water pipes pass through fire compartment walls and floors, fire could spread between these building compartments as the pipes melt. Pipe collars are used in these situations to stop the spread of fire. They are fitted around the pipe and on exposure to heat from a fire they rapidly expand inwards to squeeze the collapsing plastic pipe until the aperture is completely sealed. Astroflame pipe collars can be used on UPVC, ABS, MDPE, HDPE and PP pipes up to 225mm diameter. They are rated at 4 hours fire resistance and are tested to BS476: Part 20: 1987 and EN1366-3. They also come with NHBC Type Approval.

What are pipe collars made of?

Intumescent pipe collars are made from intumescent material (based on heat reactive graphite ) bonded to the inside of a steel sleeve. The steel sleeve is powder coated and can be opened and fitted around the pipe. They are closed with a toggle clasp.

How are pipe collars fitted?

Our collars are designed for surface mounting, with the option to fully or semi-cast into masonry floors or walls. The fixing brackets provided can be used for securing the sleeve with non-combustible screws or bolts, or to assist ‘keying-in’ if collars are for recessed installations.

For horizontal installations the collar may be surface mounted or recessed and should be located on one or both sides according to the direction of risk.

Fitting to Masonry/Block Walls

1) Attach the Astro Collar to the pipe so that the integral mounting lugs are pressed tight to the surface of the wall.

2) Mark the position of the bolt slots in the mounting lugs onto the surface of the wall with a marker pen.

3) Rotate the collar slightly (or if access is restricted remove from pipe) and drill holes at the pre-marked positions to suit the anchor bolts being used.

4) If the surface of the wall is very uneven, it is recommended to bed the collar onto a bead of Astroflame Intumescent Mastic to improve the smoke seal efficiency.

5) Insert the anchor bolts and tap home. Relocate the collar in position ensuring that the toggle clasp is snapped closed and that the bolt heads are protruding through the slots in the mounting lugs. Tighten the nuts onto the bolts.

6) NOTE Where there is a fire risk on both sides of the wall, or the direction of fire risk has not been determined, then an Astro Collar should be fitted to both sides of the wall.

7) The collar can also be semi or fully cast into the masonry wall using Astro FM Compound fire resistant mortar.

Fitting under concrete floor slabs

1) Attach the Astro collar to the pipe so that the integral mounting lugs are pressed tight to the soffit (underside) of the concrete floor.

2) Mark the position of the bolt slots in the mounting lugs onto the concrete surface with a marker pen.

3) Drill the bolt holes at the pre-marked positions to suit the anchor bolts being used, (the minimum recommended size of non-combustible anchor bolt is 6mm dia. x 25mm long).

4) If the soffit (underside) of the concrete is very uneven, it is recommended to bed the collar onto a bead of Astroflame Intumescent Mastic to improve the smoke seal efficiency.

5) Insert the anchor bolts and tap home. Relocate the collar in position ensuring that the toggle clasp is snapped closed and that the bolt heads are protruding through the slots in the mounting lugs. Tighten the nuts onto the bolts.

6) The collar can also be semi or fully cast into the soffit using Astro FM Compound fire resistant mortar.

Fitting to metal stud partition walls

Fit to both sides of the wall!

1) Attach the Astro Collar to the pipe so that the integral mounting lugs are pressed tight to the surface of the partition wall.

2) Mark the position of the bolt slots in the mounting lugs onto the surface of the wall with a marker pen.

3) Rotate the collar slightly (or if access is restricted remove from pipe) and drill holes at the pre-marked positions to suit the fixings used.

4) If the surface of the wall is very uneven, it is recommended to bed the collar onto a bead of Astroflame Intumescent Mastic to improve the smoke seal efficiency.

5) Insert the non-combustible fixings. Relocate the collar in position ensuring that the toggle clasp is snapped closed and that the bolt heads are protruding through the slots in the mounting lugs. Tighten the nuts onto the fixings.

Should you have further queries you can contact us and we are happy to help.

Reviewing domestic fire safety in the light of the recent riots

Friday 12th August 2011

Now that the rioting seems to have come to an end it is worth considering how to be prepared for similar occurrences in the future. Most of the physical damage, excluding the massive damage to lives and communities, was caused by arson attacks and many people were put at risk by being trapped in their houses by fire.
There are a few precautions one can take to avoid being trapped by fire and to reduce the risk from arson.

Make arson attacks more difficult

It is easy for rioters to pour petrol through a letterbox and to throw a match after it. The impact is devastating. The fire races through the house and the main exit is blocked by fire. However, you can protect yourself by installing an anti-arson letterbox. These fire protection bags sit behind the letter slot and normally just catch your mail. However, they also will contain any flammable liquid poured through the letter opening and automatically extinguish any fire in the letterbox with a small automatic extinguisher or intumescent materials built into the anti-arson letterbox.

Stop your soft furnishing catching fire

You can reduce the flammability of curtains, carpets and soft furnishing in entrance areas by treating them with fire retardant spray. These sprays make fabrics less flammable and thus reduce the impact of a fire bomb thrown into a building.

Protect your most valuable documents from fire

Place your most valuable and personal items in a fireproof box. These

fireproof boxes are ideal for valuable

photos, passports, certificates etc. Special fireproof boxes for electronic data protection will protect your familiy videos and electronically stored data/photos. Some of the boxes are also water tight, which is important in case the fire brigade have to douse the flames with water and foam.

Ensure you have a second route of escape

Do you have a second escape route if the hallway is in flames? Make sure you can open upstairs windows to escape. If they do not open, keep a hammer or a dedicated  emergency escape hammer near the windows. If the fire brigade cannot easily reach an upstairs window, consider a fire escape ladder which can be hooked over a window sill in an emergency.

Don’t suffocate from the smoke

Smoke from house fires is extremely toxic. A few breaths will overwhelm you and render you unconscious. If the house is filled with smoke, crawl along the floor towards the nearest exit.  Wrap a wet cloth over your face if you have to run through smoke or fire, however, you must not breathe in the smoke due to the extreme tocicity! Consider having a fire escape hood in the house. These hoods cover your head and filter the fumes of the fire. This gives you valuable time to escape through smoke.

Make sure you can extinguish small fires yourself

During the riot the fire brigades were stretched by the number of fires. As a result their response time will not have

been as fast as usual. Make sure you can tackle small fires yourself by having buckets of water at the ready or equip yourself with fire extinguishers

Make sure you can extinguish a person on fire

Keep a non-flammable blanket or large fire blanket at the ready to wrap around a person or roll the person on the floor to extinguish the flames. Have a bucket of water placed in a suitable place or ensure that you have a water fire extinguisher.

Fire Drill

Ensure that you know how you will escape from your home if a fire blocked the main exit. If you have children talk to them in a calm manner about what to do if there is a fire. If the child is particularly clingy to one parent, get that parent to lead the way out of the building. The child will be more willing to leave the building that way.

Ensure that you have working smoke alarms fitted to alert you to a fire, and a carbon monoxide alarm in every room where you burn solid fuel, such as a gas boiler, gas or open fire, gas cooker. Make sure you check that they are working on a regular basis and that they are never left without a battery in them.

For help and advice call 0800 612 6537 or email support@safelincs.co.uk

Which fire safety products are dangerous goods in transit?

Thursday 26th May 2011

Some fire safety products, such as fire extinguishers, smoke detector tester aerosols and batteries, are classed as dangerous goods. Here at Safelincs, we consider all aspects of storage, packaging, declaration and transportation of dangerous goods so that you have peace of mind that your shipments are correctly packaged and transported.

We have designated formally trained staff who are our in-house specialists to

Warehouse operative sticking a dangerous goods sticker on a shipment.
Safelincs have detailed procedures in place to ensure ADR and IMDG requirements are met

assess, prepare and pack shipments according to current guidelines and declare shipments in the appropriate manner.

To adhere to the strict regulations outlined through ADR (road service) and IMDG (sea freight), Safelincs produced a thorough dangerous goods procedure for each product classed as hazardous, ensuring that all the requirements for dangerous goods regulations are adhered to.  Within this procedure, each product type is described, and our trained staff are aware of all the classifications, which mode of transport can be used, and if Dangerous Goods Notes are required for the movement of goods.

By working closely with our shipping companies and keeping up to date with dangerous goods regulations through yearly re-training we ensure the protection of our customers and all carriers/freight companies used.

New FAQ Compilation for Dorgard Fire Door Retainer

Wednesday 25th May 2011

The Dorgard is one of our most popular products. It helps our customers to stay legally compliant and at the same time keeps fire doors open when there are periods of high footfall or when the temperature gets stifling during the summer. The Dorgard comes with a very handy and thorough manual. Nevertheless, we do get asked a few questions and to help our customers, we now have compiled an overview of all the questions asked and the answers to them.

1.) Can the Dorgard operate at only one decibel level?

Our Dorgard reacts to a sound level adjustable between 65 dB and 85 dB, so all sounds in excess of 65 dB will activate the Dorgard. This complies with BS 5839 which gives 65 dB as the minimum sound level for fire alarms.

In situations where the ambient noise level is above 80 dB, Dorgard has a safety feature that allows it to release automatically to all sounds above 65 dB as you would probably not hear a 65 dB fire alarm over the noise level in this situation.

The Dorgard is also capable of being adjusted to operate to the sound level of an individual fire alarm making it adaptable to any particular environment.

2.) When a fire alarm sounds why does Dorgard not close the door immediately?

Dorgard only listens for a sound every 4 seconds and the sound has to be continuous for 10 seconds for it to operate. This helps to preserve the battery life of the unit and means the operation should not be delayed by any more than 14 seconds.

This compares with other similar retainers that are wired into the fire alarm system and have a built-in delay.

3.) Is the Dorgard a fail-safe product?

In the event that the batteries reach a low voltage or the battery compartment is tampered with or opened, Dorgard will automatically release its plunger, closing the door, thus making the design fail->safe. The plunger cannot be used to keep the door open if there are no batteries in the unit or the batteries have no voltage left.

When the batteries are running low, an audible warning will be sounded every 17 minutes in the form of a series of beeps and a red LED will flash to warn of the depleting batteries until they are fully exhausted, removed or replaced.

As part of your yearly regular fire alarm checks the Dorgard batteries should be renewed as required.

The Dorgard will perform its’ built in self-test by releasing the open door every 7 days.

4.) Is there a formal standard that the Dorgard complies with?

Dorgard complies with the new standard for low voltage hold open devices, BS EN 1155.

5.) Will the closing of a fire door by a Dorgard affect other units by restricting the sound through the closed door?

The operation of the Dorgard, or the ability to hear the fire alarm, should not be affected provided the sound level stated in BS 5839 is adhered to throughout the building.

Dorgards can be adjusted if the sound level does drop slightly within performance limits.

6.) Where to fit Dorgard?

Where there is a need to hold open a fire door to enable the movement and circulation of people around a building, Dorgard can be fitted to self-closing fire doors. The building must have a fire alarm and a risk assessment carried out by the employer to check the suitability of using a Dorgard as some high risk areas e.g. kitchens, boiler rooms and doors protecting a single staircase building may not be appropriate.

7.) If the fire alarm system fails how can Dorgard fail-safe?

Within the risk assessment for the building there should be an instruction that in the event of a failure in the fire alarm system all door hold-open devices should be deactivated, though this should be a rare event as the majority of systems have to have emergency backup power supplies which means they should continue to work in the event of a fault. A Do Not Use warning label should be placed over the unit when deactivated and can be removed once the fire alarm system is restored.

8.) Where a door is fitted with a Dorgard, does there need to be a smoke detector sited on each side?

For the earliest detection of fire and sounding the alarm, it is better to have smoke detectors in adjacent rooms, as the Dorgard is triggered by the sound of the alarm.

9.) Is the Dorgard suitable in sleeping risk premises?

Yes. The Dorgard can hold a fire door open to maintain the functionality of the building by allowing an uninterrupted flow of people through the building during the day and releasing the fire door to close in the evening. You can also adjust the Dorgard to automatically close at night.

10.) Can door warping be prevented by using Dorgard?

To prevent warping, Dorgard self-tests every seven days which helps to ensure reliability and alleviate stress to the door, which on doors that are wedged open for long periods of time, would cause warping. This self-testing also helps to prevent seizure of the overhead door closer by allowing it to cycle itself.

11.) Can the Dorgard test itself?

A self-test routine is run every seven days by the Dorgard. The plunger is released, closing the door and the unit will emit a warning alarm if a fault is detected.

12.) Does a fire alarm audibility test need to be carried out before fitting Dorgard?

As Dorgard is an audio sensing device that can be adjusted within certain limits, it is not necessary to carry out a test before the installation. If the Dorgard cannot “hear” the alarm to respond to it, the likelihood is that the alarm is not sounding at the minimum level required by BS 5839 which should alert the user to a problem with the alarm system that will require remedial action. The Dorgard should be removed until the alarm has been rectified to meet the minimum sound level required by the Standard.

13.) When Dorgards have been fitted should employees be made aware of them?

Employees should be informed about Dorgard and instructed on its use and operation. It should also be included in the workplace fire routine.

14.) Will the Dorgard release automatically at night?

Yes, if set to do so. There are three timed setting options for night time release which the installer can select prior to installation. The unit’s internal clock must be powered up at midday 12:00hrs to inform the unit what time it is. The installer then selects the setting required by activating a switch on the unit and Dorgard will then release each night at the pre-determined time. The unit will not be operational as a door retainer until it automatically resets itself the following morning.