Fire system shows correct exit strategy

Contractors James Stewart and Son came up with a truly innovative solution using Aico RadioLINK technology when three storey townhouses in Kelso presented an unusual fire safety challenge

When eleven new luxury three storey townhouses in Kelso presented an unusual fire safety challenge, contractors James Stewart and Son came up with a truly innovative solution using Aico RadioLINK technology.

The new properties, built by M and J Ballantyne of Kelso, were originally protected by conventional Aico Ei160 Series mains powered smoke alarms.

An ionisation alarm was installed on the upper floor and optical alarms on the middle and lower floors; all three were hard wired together for interconnection.

James Stewart and Son were longstanding Aico customers, mainly installing Ei140 based systems in new build projects in the Borders area.

The Local Fire Safety Officer had no complaint about the system as installed but he thought that the properties required additional protection too.

He pointed out that, because of the unusual layout of the new properties, anyone trying to evacuate would have to make their exit either through the kitchen or through the living room.

They would not know, however, which evacuation route was safe as there was no reliable way of telling what the conditions were behind the kitchen or living room doors.

Someone might open a door straight into a fire...

This meant that, somehow, occupiers needed to be told which evacuation route to take and - as the build on the properties was complete - a method had to be found that did not involve interconnection wiring being dug into walls.

Looking for an innovative fire safety solution to meet this unusual and demanding application, Stewarts consulted electrical wholesalers Scott Copolla of Edinburgh who, in turn, recommended Aico's unique RadioLINK wireless interconnect technology.

Aico then provided a demonstration to Stewarts of how RadioLINK could be used to supply a simple yet completely effective warning system for occupiers in the event of a fire.

A standalone Ei160 Series heat alarm would be installed in the kitchen with a RadioLINK base and, using an Ei428 Relay, would wirelessly send a warning message to a red strobe unit positioned in the hallway outside the kitchen door if the kitchen were ablaze and impassable.

Additionally, an Ei160 Series optical smoke alarm with RadioLINK base and Ei428 relay would be installed in the living room, sending a warning message wirelessly to a white strobe unit outside the living room door if the living room was on fire and thus impassable.

This solution satisfied the Fire Safety Officer and provided future occupiers with a clear and simple way to choose their escape route in the event of any fire.

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