Aico, the UK’s market leader in mains powered domestic Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms, is pleased to be supporting South Lakes Housing (SLH) with its 3000 Series Alarms to provide protection to tenants across a range of properties, including blocks of flats and twelve sheltered housing schemes.
SLH is an independent, not-for-profit housing association that manages around 3,000 homes in South Lakeland, Cumbria. SLH wants its tenants to feel safer and installing Aico’s new 3000 Series alarms and Carbon Monoxide Alarms will help them do just that.
Top of the range 3000 Series Multi-Sensors are SLH’s alarm of choice, including the Ei3024 Optical & Heat Multi-Sensor and the Ei3028 Heat & Carbon Monoxide Multi-Sensor which has been designed specifically for use in kitchens and provides tenants with protection from both Fire and Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Further Carbon Monoxide Alarms are being installed in properties with a gas appliance during the appliance service, mostly in bedrooms located next to the cupboard housing the boiler.
Graeme Smythe, SLH Compliance Surveyor, explains why the decision was made to go beyond the minimum standard, which in England only requires Carbon Monoxide Alarms to be fitted when any new or replacement solid-fuel appliance is installed: “We work closely with Aico and look at the legislation, but in this case we didn’t think it was good enough. Scotland now requires Carbon Monoxide Alarms to be fitted under law. England is behind Scotland but I think it will catch up, but we don’t want to wait for that. We understand the potential dangers of CO and you only have to read in the media stories about CO coming from neighbouring properties, for example, to realise the full extent of the problem. If you know something has the potential to cause harm, why wait? The bottom line is that a small investment in CO Alarms saves lives.”
SLH has also provided increased protection in its sheltered housing schemes, based on advice in the NFCC Specialised Housing Guidance. Aico 3000 Series Smoke Alarms are being fitted to BS 5839-6:2019 Grade D LD1, which is the highest category of protection.
Daniel Little, Aico’s Regional Specification Manager – North, is keen to point out how RSLs of all sizes regularly go beyond the minimum fire safety requirements: “Aico works with the majority of RSLs in the UK, from large nationwide organisations to smaller localised ones. The emphasis these organisations place on tenant safety is often exceptional, but to my mind these smaller social housing providers are unsung heroes as they are often working with limited resources yet go beyond the minimum level of protection required, as is the case with SLH. They deserve recognition for the work they are doing and their commitment to tenant safety.”
Aico, an Ei company, is the market leader in residential Fire and Carbon Monoxide Alarms in the UK. All alarms are designed and built in Ireland specifically to meet the UK standards and regulations.