The necessity of interlinked fire alarms
In 2017 the official BBC News website published an article with the title Smoke alarms fail to wake children. The report was based on the research of Dundee University and Derbyshire fire and rescue. The article was very concerning at the time and still is. According to the researchers, children from the age of five to thirteen can’t hear the fire alarm sound, especially boys.
Mr. Dave Coss of Derbyshire led repeated case studies involving 34 children from different families. The tests found that 27 out of 34 didn’t wake up when triggering the fire smoke alarm. And those who woke up were only girls.
The studies revealed dangerous information, not only kids who are in danger. Persons with hearing problems, people under the influence of alcohol, and those who have a deep sleep.
This study only reveals how vital it is for houses, landlords, and buildings to install an interconnected fire alarm system.
An interconnected fire alarm prevents your smoke alarm from operating independently, it works as an interlinked system. One for all, and all for one, if one fire detector goes on, your entire house fire alarms go on.
For landlords and commercial buildings, it’s a legal requirement to implement an interlinked fire smoke system. An interconnected fire alarm system allows you to connect different types and products which makes the tenets and the occupant’s life safer than ever.
Interlinked alarm products
Buildings and housing alarms can be interconnected through physical wires or interlinked wirelessly through RF technology. RF technology refers to radiofrequency technology, it helps to unite multiple smoke alarms.
All residential fire smoke will function at the same time. If one detects potential fire danger it will trigger the interconnected alarms and therefore trigger them. It ensures that all of the tenants and occupants can hear the alarm sound and start evacuation as soon as possible.
By implementing a Wi-Safe 2 system you can interlink and create a large network of up to 50 different fire alarms. The Wi-Safe 2 will wirelessly connect multiple alarm units such as smoke, heat, and CO alarms.
It works with a charged battery, so you shouldn’t be afraid in the event of a cut in the main power supply.
The system itself can provide crucial information about battery health, alarm health, and user engagement. That way it ensures a full-time and faster response for detecting potential fire hazards.
The greatest advantage of using interlinks alarm products is that it allows the occupants to know what danger occurred.
How is that?
By installing the fire angle SONA system to interconnect detector alarms, the sound of the alarms will mimic the triggered alarm. If the occupants are familiar with the installed alarms sounds, the system helps to identify the triggered alarm.
How to create a radio frequency network?
It’s important before creating an interlinked fire alarm network to know that low-frequency devices are designed to synchronize between smoke alarms and CO alarms.
Low-frequency sounders are designed to be used in conjunction with the two mentioned fire alarm types from the wi-safe 2 range of products.
The second important item to consider is you could interconnect 50 different fire alarm products and prototype with a wi-safe 2 network.
For those who want to install a low radio frequency sounder for their houses, it’s recommended to implement
- 1 smoke alarm for each living room
- 1 CO alarm for rooms that contain a fossil fuel appliance
Additionally, for creating a radio frequency network you can combine a fire angel battery smoke alarm with
- Battery-powered
- Hardwire with a battery backup
- SONA main alarm
Wi-safe 2 products features and benefits
- Wi-safe 2 products are suitable for alarm interlinking
- One alarm sounds, and all alarms sound
- Wi-safe 2 products provide responsive to all fire alarms type
- 10 years life sensor and power back
- Smart silence and location button
- Certified to EN 14604:2005 and LPCB approved
- 10 years guaranteed
Interconnected alarm in social housing
Landlords are considered as the responsible persons for the fast of their tenants and occupants. It is their duty and legal obligation to implement the highest level of protection against fire accidents.
The responsibility will vary between the two, the landlords and their tenants, but one thing is sure. Tenants must be aware of the FRA plan, and the danger of fire hazards. Part of the fire assessment plan is that social housing tenants must test their fire smoke alarms, and CO detectors regularly.
A Landlord’s duty is to provide sufficient fire alarms in the building and ensure all the tenants can hear the sounds of fire detectors. For social housing buildings, it’s highly recommended to wirelessly interconnect multiple alarms and create an interlink fire detector network.
Only then can they ensure the sound and all the tenets will be warned in case of a fire accident.
To ensure that buildings are completely safe and ready for the emergency situation it’s a legal requirement to implement the following
- Periodic fire risk assessment inspection
- A sufficient number of emergency lighting including fire signs and exit signs
- Implementing wi-safe 2 fire alarm network
- All tenants must have a copy of the FRA plan
- An efficient evacuation and escaping plan
How to interconnect smoke alarms, heat alarms, and Co detectors?
For those who wish to learn to interlink fire alarms, the installation process is quite simple, we call it the two-button installation process. Typically wi-safe 2 products have an uncomplicated installation process.
To interlink different alarms, for example, heat alarms, smoke alarms, and CO alarms.
Interlinking smoke alarm with a control unit
Take the main alarm cover and with a gentle push, with a pen press the wireless button.
Then press the smoke alarm test button. You will notice a three-time light flash, it usually takes up to five seconds.
You can repeat the process to interlink the remaining fire detectors.
Your final step is to add the control unit or main alarm with a wi-safe 2 control unit.
It’s recommended to add it to a SONA Wi-Safe enable alarm because it allows you to build a network of communication between your alarms.
Whether you interconnect 3 fire alarms or 30 fire alarms, your fire units will communicate and transmit constantly.
How much does it cost to implement an interlinked system alarm?
All wireless alarm installation systems involved several numbers including alarm number and type, installation location, and an electrician. The costs of a full interlink fire alarm system depend largely on the mentioned factors.
For instance, a three-bedroom house will need three fire smoke alarms, 1 heat alarm, and 1 CO detector. The cost of the installation will approximate be more than £220 if we consider the extra expenses of the wi-safe 2 system and the installation expenses.
Citation and references
http://www.sonasafety.com/wi-safe
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-38918056
https://www.wickes.co.uk/FireAngel-Wi-safe-2-Wireless-Smoke-Alarm/p/155292
