Smoke, Fire & Gas Detection Case Studies

Case Study – The Importance of Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Julie Dunkerley, a Safelincs employee, had a first-hand experience with carbon monoxide exposure. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless gas that is produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels such as wood, gasoline, natural gas, and propane.

Exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide can be deadly, as it interferes with the body's ability to transport oxygen and can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Julie lives in a bungalow and had two portable gas heaters which are located in two different rooms of the house. Safelincs had provided Julie with two free digital CO alarms which she had placed within the two rooms with each gas heater. Julie kept the CO alarm on a bookshelf at eye level, fully visible which allowed her to quickly notice when the number 17PPM appeared on the screen. Not feeling any urgent concern, Julie checked again the next day and it was still the same number. Assuming that the CO alarm was faulty, Julie swapped the two alarms around, to which the other alarm soon showed 20PPM+ which raised concern causing Julie to take her gas heater to be looked at. Julie took her portable gas heater to the manufacturer to which she discovered it was faulty and leaking gas.

If Julie hadn't had the digital CO alarms in her bungalow and fully visible, she would have never known that the gas heater was faulty as there were no signs.

The digital CO alarm allowed Julie to view the ppm reading on the screen, whereas a regular CO alarm would not have given a screen reading and they do not sound until 30ppm (sometimes higher depending on the alarm).

This ordeal occurred over the course of a few weeks and fortunately did not cause any harm to Julie or her much loved cat Alan. Julie has since explained that her concern was more for Alan in this situation as he loved to lay next to the gas heaters. Pets are more of a concern as they are smaller therefore the effects of carbon monoxide are greater. They are likely to be more visibly affected by even low levels of carbon monoxide.

The concern escalates when carbon monoxide detectors are absent in situations like this, as there would be no means to detect the presence of CO in the air. This could potentially lead to prolonged exposure, which can have serious and even fatal effects on your health.

Case Study - The Tragic Reality of Carbon Monoxide

Rob Kitcher is a man on a journey to generate awareness about carbon monoxide and the fatal effects it can have on the human body. Rob’s goal is to save lives by raising awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide.

At the end of 2022, Rob lost his brother, Steve, to carbon monoxide poisoning. Steve had been on a carp fishing holiday and was using a cobb cooker. These cookers are common amongst fishermen, but can release significant levels of carbon monoxide, which is particularly dangerous when there is little or no ventilation; Rob, Steve and many other fishermen have used these cookers to cook inside their tents and warm them up in the colder months, but this is incredibly dangerous. Tests have shown that fatal carbon monoxide levels can build within the tent after just minutes of firing up, and for Steve, this was fatal.

Following this tragic accident, it's now Rob’s mission to educate fishermen, campers, and the general public about the dangers of carbon monoxide and the importance of CO detectors.

Rob has shared his story with many people about the dangers of carbon monoxide and has received a great response. Many people Rob has spoken to have stopped using stoves inside of their tents, and some claim that his advice has potentially saved their life! Rob reached out to Safelincs for support with his mission and we have been able to supply him with 20 carbon monoxide alarms He hopes to take these on his fishing adventures, and offer them to fellow fishermen in his pursuit to raise awareness around carbon monoxide, and to save lives.

Case Study – Frozen Food Manufacturer

The Customer

Founded in 1957, this company created the first ever frozen chip and went on to become the world’s largest manufacturer of frozen potato products. It has grown to 52 production facilities across six continents, employing over 21,000 employees across the world.

With four factories across the UK, it is the UK’s largest purchaser of British potatoes, buying approximately 15% of the annual potato crop.

The Challenge

The company is having a significant amount of interim building work carried out at its factory in Scarborough, Yorkshire. It was necessary for the existing fire alarm panel to be decommissioned to facilitate the project.

The work is expected to take over a year, so it was imperative that a temporary system be put in place.

The Solution

Safelincs supplied a solution utilising Evacuator Synergy RF products. This incorporated a control panel, 75 call point site alarms and 10 smoke detectors.

With built-in radio frequency technology, up to 40 of the Evacuator Synergy RF call point site alarms and other Synergy RF devices can be wirelessly interlinked into one system. When used with the Evacuator Secure Key Fob, the call point system can be tested and reset from a single location. Each site alarm features a call point for manual activation and a loud 110dB sounder. Their durable construction is IP55 rated and the units require no wiring whatsoever.

The Evacuator Synergy RF smoke detectors provide detection for fast flaming fires. With built-in radio frequency technology, the detectors can wirelessly interlink with up to 40 other devices within a 100m range.

The Benefit

The provision of a high quality temporary system will allow the customer’s important building expansion to proceed in a secure and safe manner.

Case Study – A Housebuilder in Eastern England

The Customer

This company enjoys a reputation for constructing high quality new homes in Eastern England. It builds houses and apartments suitable for first time buyers through to five bedroom executive homes. Great emphasis is placed on structural integrity and finishing properties to a high standard.

The Challenge

The HSE's (Health and Safety Executive) comprehensive document 'Fire Safety in Construction' states that: risk assessments for building sites should consider fire precautions that would include 'fire-fighting equipment and raising the alarm'. The company normally has about six active building sites at any time. As well as a duty of care to its workers, there is the financial imperative of ensuring that work can continue unimpaired by unnecessary incidents or accidents. To achieve this it requires the best available fire detection and management appliances.

The Solution

Safelincs offers construction companies a wide range of site alarms and extinguishers specifically for building sites and were able to advise and make recommendations for the most suitable devices and appliances.

Safelincs has supplied the company with wheeled site stands with foam, powder and CO2 extinguishers to tackle any type of fire that might occur on a building site. These can be easily transported from one site to another as new projects commence.

Safelincs also supplied and set up Evacuator Synergy RF combined sounder/strobe site alarms which are sited around each construction area and are wirelessly linked to a master unit located in the site office. This forms part of an addressable manual alarm system with up to 40 site alarms to be wirelessly interlinked. Upon system activation, the sounder/strobe emits a 110dB alarm and provides visual warning from its xenon strobe.

The Benefit

The knowledge and support offered by Safelincs staff enable the company's management to invest in equipment most appropriate to its needs.

"Representatives are on hand to advise and provide a helpful, friendly service," commented the company’s purchase manager. “And prices are very competitive.”

Safelincs offer a bespoke site trolley for each application with options for defibrillators, site plans, warning signs and further equipment. Our sales team is happy to advise you on the customisation options.

Case Study – 3D Printer Fire Detection and Suppression System

The Customer

customer is a keen 3D printer hobbyist with aspirations to create a revenue stream from his 3D printers. He currently has four 3D printers on which he prints a variety of items for customers around the world. The printers are located in a small workshop attached to his house.

The Challenge

The customer fits running his printers around his day job and would like to run the printers for longer. The obvious time would be overnight, this way he would still be on site if there were any issues during printing. There is a fire risk with 3D printers that needs to be adequately addressed when leaving printers running unattended. As part of the project the customer reviewed his printer setup to minimise the potential for a fire starting.

The Solution

The solution required three distinct functions:

• Alert the user in the event of smoke being detected so he can manually intervene.
• Shut down power to the system if smoke is detected (electricity may be fuelling the fire and the system fans may encourage the fire)
• If the temperature continues to increase, automatically extinguish the fire with a clean agent extinguisher

The Ei Electronics range of Ei3105 smoke detectors with Radiolink are ideal for the application. When one alarm triggers other alarms are also triggered via a wireless link. The Ei428 RadioLINK Relay Module also picks up the RF signal and shuts down power to the printers.

If the fire escalates, the FE36 Automatic Fire Extinguisher (residue-free) will automatically trigger when the temperature rises above 79degC. The use of a residue-free extinguisher ensures that the unaffected printers in the enclosure can be returned to operation as quickly as possible.

The Benefit

The installation of a fire detection, alert and suppression system means that our customer can run his printers overnight with the confidence that there is a robust fire detection and suppression system in place. The use of a residue-free automatic extinguisher ensures minimal damage to equipment even if the worst is to happen.

The 3D printers with the Ei3105RF smoke alarm and the FE36 automatic extinguisher

The setup of the electrics

The wiring diagram

Case Study – Property Management Company

The Customer

A property management company specialising in providing property guardians for empty properties in the UK. Property guardians are short term tenants who, in exchange for a reduced rent, look after an otherwise empty property. There are thousands of empty properties in the UK, including flats, houses, churches, libraries and offices. They may be empty for many reasons – waiting to be sold, waiting for planning permission or while the owners are overseas. Property guardians put these buildings back into use, helping both the property owner and people looking for short-term, low cost accommodation.

The Challenge

For some time, Safelincs had been providing bespoke fire safety equipment kits which the company issued to its live-in guardians. These consisted of a fire blanket, a fire extinguisher, smoke alarms, a CO alarm, a wind-up torch and a bespoke fire action sign.

The company recently decided to take its fire safety provisions to an even higher level and approached Safelincs to work out a solution.

The Solution

The property management company carries out risk assessments on all properties where it is installing guardians. This assessment identifies the fire safety equipment required for each individual property.

Safelincs then supplies the appropriate fire safety services and equipment including fire extinguishers, appropriate signage, smoke and CO alarms (usually radio-interlinked), door closers, fire door accessories and other fire safety equipment.

The Benefit

By working with Safelincs, the company is able to create a more bespoke fire safety plan for each property. Safelincs offers sensible and practical advice for the safety equipment required for each location. By providing a reliable and efficient service Safelincs has become more of a partner than a supplier.

Case Study – NAMHA

The Customer

The Northumberland Aged Mineworkers Homes Association (NAMHA) provides housing for retired miners, the widows of retired miners and others.

The Challenge

It is known that around 50 people each year die from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and many others suffer from carbon monoxide related illnesses. However, it is believed that this figure is, in reality, far higher, as the symptoms can be easily confused with other ailments. Experts believe that some deaths amongst elderly people are not properly investigated and wrongly attributed to natural causes.

NAMHA wanted to ensure that all its properties were as safe as possible and would not be endangered by this deadly gas, which is created if a fire such as an open fire or a gas boiler flame is not working correctly or if the flu is blocked.

The Solution

As well as ensuring that all gas appliances in its properties are regularly serviced, NAMHA is now investing in carbon monoxide alarms to help detect if carbon monoxide is present in a property. Safelincs has so far provided over 500 CO alarms, which come with a ten year long-life sealed battery and ten year manufacturer’s warranty.

The Benefit

“The staff at Safelincs were extremely supportive and offered useful advice that helped us choose the CO alarms that best suited our requirements,” explained Kevan Davison from NAMHA. “And their products are very competitively priced.”

Case Study - Villa Plus

The Customer

Villa Plus has been providing memorable holidays since 1986. It operates over 1250 villas, with pools, across 14 destinations.

The Challenge

Organisations that provide holiday accommodation have a duty of care to ensure that their visitors have a pleasurable, safe and risk-free vacation. With an operation covering a significant number of locations, Villa Plus needed to ensure all its properties were kitted out with the correct level of safety equipment.

The Solution

In 2005 Safelincs began working with Villa Plus to arrange sending fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and domestic first aid kits to a shipping company in the UK for distribution to Villa Plus properties around Europe. The goods are packaged separately in line with each region’s requirement and labelled accordingly.

The Benefit

Having its safety requirements catered for leaves Villa Plus free to concentrate on its core business.

“Safelincs extensive range of safety products and their ability to meet our specific shipping requirements to different regions makes them an ideal partner to work with. As we grow and launch villas in new and existing destinations Safelincs will be a valuable provider,” says Nick Cooper, Villa Plus director and founder.

Case Study - Market Harborough Building Society

The Customer

Market Harborough Building Society (MHBS) is a mutual, owned by its 50,000 members. As a small building society it prides itself on a personal service so often missing from large financial institutions. Since 1870 it has continued to evolve, innovate and, importantly, it puts its members first. It is a trusted provider of mortgages, savings, insurance and financial planning services.

The Challenge

MHBS wanted to provide a service to its mortgage clients that reflected its personal and customer-focused approach. It decided to provide these customers smoke alarms as a way of helping to ensure that their investment was protected. As such a service was not part of its core business, it needed to find a partner that could undertake the fulfilment in a professional manner.

The Solution

Safelincs is also a company with a proven track record in customer service. It has been shipping smoke alarms to all new mortgage holders, on behalf of MHBS, since 2008. The entire process is handled invisibly; each smoke alarm is shipped directly in MHBS branded packaging along with a covering letter. Every year thereafter Safelincs sends a replacement battery to ensure the smoke alarm continues to do its job.

MHBS sends an encoded database to Safelincs where it is held securely in data storage off Safelincs own database. This keeps the mortgage holders information confidential and away from all other records.

“We are pleased to be partnered with Safelincs in whom we are assured of a professional service for our customers at all times,” commented Julie Mottram, customer support manager, MHBS.

The Benefit

Over recent years casualties from fires in the UK have decreased, largely attributable to the increase in the number of homes that now have smoke alarms installed. MHBS’s worthy initiative contributes towards maintaining this trend.

Case Study - Guesthouse, Trusthorpe, Lincolnshire

The Customer

The guesthouse in question is a four star guest house, with six en-suite rooms, on the East Coast of Lincolnshire.

The Challenge

The owners of the Ramblers received a request from a County Council Fire Protection Officer to upgrade their existing alarm system to standard BS5839 pt 1 2002. This would have meant that they would have had to install a central fire control panel and interlinked fire and heat detectors. The installation of this system would have made it necessary to lay cables throughout the two storey building with its six guest rooms during the main holiday season! The thought of all the upheaval and possible loss of revenue coupled with the cost of the system - not insignificant for a small business - led the owners to seek help from Safelincs.

The Solution

Safelincs initially looked at the option of using a wireless system to BS5839 part 1 but the cost for this was still similar to a wired system with central alarm panel.

The MD of Safelincs then rang the fire safety officer in question who, after initial hesitation and after some internal discussions, agreed that the guest house, having only two floors and a relatively small number of bedrooms could be downgraded to a domestic fire alarm system falling in category BS5839 part 6 grade D.

It was agreed that the Ei radio-interlinked system with guaranteed 10 year lithium batteries was equivalent to a Grade D system. This system contains radio-interlinked manual break points as well as smoke and heat detectors. The installation was carried out by Safelincs in the space of two hours.

This case shows that fire risk assessments allow room for discussion and, as long as the safety of the people within a building is not compromised, the fire services and the councils’ fire protection officers are happy to discuss the best and most appropriate solution.

The Benefit

Taking up the solution negotiated and installed by Safelincs saved the owners nearly £3,000, a lot of disruption and potential loss of earnings whilst the work was being carried out.

In addition, the maintenance of the system can be carried out by the guest house owners by simply pressing one of the test buttons (a different one each time the system is tested) and each smoke detector has an integrated sounder, which improves general alarm sound levels significantly.

Case Study - Kirklees Council

The Customer

Kirklees is a metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. It has a population of over 400,000 and has Huddersfield, the largest settlement in the district, as its centre of administration.

The Challenge

The Kirklees borough has an estimated 45,000 householders in fuel poverty, meaning they are unable to adequately heat their homes. The council introduced the warmzone initiative to help every household improve its energy efficiency with a range of support services. Kirklees Council offered all householders, free of charge, a number of improvements including cavity wall and loft installation and low energy light bulbs.

At the same time, to improve the residents’ safety, every customer in the region could request a free carbon monoxide alarm.

To fulfil this project the council was looking for an organisation that could provide over 120,000 off EN50291 compliant alarms, bearing the Kirklees Council logo, to all households. Evidence of a proven track record of customer service was needed together with the ability to deal with a large number of telephone queries. The successful supplier also needed a quality assurance system consistent with the requirements of BS ENISO9001.

The Solution

Safelincs won the business because it was able to demonstrate a consistent commitment to customer care and service. Having met the requirements on price and quality it exceeded the stipulated warranty period by two years. Safelincs sources its products only from quality suppliers, including Kidde and El-Electronics. Its highly trained customer care personnel proved to the Council that they were able to answer all queries directly without having to seek assistance.

As well as meeting the product criteria, Safelincs was able to show it could provide the same high level of service whether supplying bulk orders to large organisations or large numbers of single items to individuals.

The Benefit

By the time the project was complete Safelincs had supplied 120,000 carbon monoxide alarms.

One resident detected carbon monoxide as soon as she turned her new carbon monoxide detector on. Her husband had not been well, feeling sleepy and tired all the time. She too had been suffering from headaches. After the appliances were checked in the home it was discovered that there was a major carbon monoxide leak. This couple were lucky to detect the presence of the carbon monoxide before it was too late.

“Working with Safelincs has been a rewarding experience. They are flexible and proficient and is providing Kirklees Council’s pioneering Carbon Monoxide monitor delivery project with an efficient service for both ourselves and our residents,” said Vicki Sutcliffe, Kirklees Council.