The Joseph Rowntree
Housing Trust (JRHT), a registered housing association and care provider in
York and north-east England, has completed the first phase of an upgrade of the
Fire Alarm systems in one of its retirement communities using Aico’s range of advanced
alarms and accessories.
Hartrigg Oaks, on the
outskirts of York, is a community of around 250 people aged 60 plus, consisting
of 152 bungalows and a care home in a 21-acre site.
Built to national
standard ‘Lifetime Homes’, Hartrigg Oaks empowers people to remain independent
by enabling aids and adaptations to be easily fitted. Aico’s RadioLINK+
based Fire Alarm systems fit well with this philosophy, being simple and cost-effective
to adapt to meet the differing needs of residents.
The first ten
bungalows completed at Hartrigg Oaks are home to hard of hearing residents
meaning extra care needs to be taken in developing an appropriate alarm
system. Their Fire Alarm systems have been upgraded with Aico’s
Multi-Sensor Fire Alarms in the hallway, landing and living room; Ei164e Heat
Alarm in the kitchen; and Ei170RF Alarm for the Hard of Hearing in the bedroom
(with an additional strobe light in the lounge).
Aico’s Multi-Sensor
Fire Alarm is particularly beneficial in this setting due to its fast response
time, which provides residents with more time to evacuate. This is
achieved through the use of two sensor types, optical and heat, to constantly
monitor smoke and heat levels which are processed through intelligent detection
software to provide the best response to all fire types, as well as reducing
potential false alarms. The Multi-Sensor also comes with data extraction
technology which provides JRHT with invaluable information to help keep
residents safer.
In addition to the
alarms, a range of Aico accessories have also been installed, all
interconnected wirelessly throughout the property using RadioLINK+
technology. A wall mounted Ei450 Alarm Control Switch in each property
allows residents not only to test all alarms on the system, but also silence
them and locate the trigger alarm from a safe, accessible location.
Furthermore, Aico’s unique Ei414 Fire/CO Alarm Interface has been installed to
provide a dedicated connection between the Aico Alarms and the on-site Warden
Call system.
JRHT Modernisation and
Planned Maintenance Manager, Ross Tolmie-Loverseed, comments on the
organisation’s choice of system: “The Aico detectors offered a fully compliant,
whole house RF detection system and once installed and commissioned could be
logged and downloaded onto a software package which JRHT could monitor. The RF
detection system also provided a competitive, VFM solution, by removing the
need for highly disruptive, hard-wiring between detectors in occupied
properties. The system could also be linked in to the existing Tunstall warden
call system at our sheltered accommodation where there was a need for an
upgrade.”
JRHT has also
benefitted from Aico’s CPD accredited Expert Installer training scheme.
Expert Installer is a free of charge modular training scheme designed to ensure
everyone involved in domestic alarm specification and installation has all the
information they need. According to Ross “We have found our local Aico
contact, Dan Little to be very accommodating and knowledgeable – the training
and service offered we are very pleased with. The DLO electricians have
been provided with full install and maintenance training and the MODS Asset
Surveyors have obtained additional CPD training through awareness training on
the systems.”
Aico Ltd, an Ei
Company, is the market leader in residential fire and CO protection in the
UK. All alarms are designed and built in Ireland specifically to meet the
UK standards and regulations.
