Swindon use wireless interconnect smoke alarms

Swindon Borough Council has completed its project to protect all 11,000 properties with Aico smoke alarms.

Swindon Borough Council has completed its project to protect all 11,000 properties with Aico smoke alarms.

The project started out over a decade ago with Ei150 Series alarms and then switched to Ei160 Series as they became available.

The project was completed using Ei160s with Aico's unique RadioLINK wireless interconnection facility.

The primary reason for the switch has been the ease and speed of installation - and the fact that tenants like it.

With wireless interconnect there's no more ripping up of carpets and flooring, for example.

With RadioLINK more properties can be protected, faster, which enabled Swindon to complete its programme even sooner.

A typical two storey property has been fitted with two Ei160 Ei166 optical alarms, one upstairs and one downstairs, wirelessly interconnected using RadioLINK; three storey properties have three wireless interconnected alarms; the configuration in flats depends on the layout.

Since adopting Aico RadioLINK, the council has installed wireless systems into almost 1,500 properties and has experienced no problems with the new technology.

"We recognise that tenants regard fire safety in the home as a very high priority - and so do we" says Gerry O'Connor, Housing Projects Manager with responsibility for the Capital Programmes Works on council housing stocks.

"We've taken every step to identify any properties that might have been missed during the programme, from a special survey to working with the fire brigade and regular features on fire safety in our Housing Matters magazine" Mr O'Connor recalls that the RadioLINK wireless technology was first suggested in consultation with tenants during a regular Repairs Forum, and Aico provided a demonstration to tenants at which they were suitably impressed.

Swindon Council has also found the RadioLINK wireless technology useful in installing special Aico Deaf Alarms to protect adequately protect tenants with hearing disabilities.

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