Home safety facts with Honeywell
Home safety is vital to protecting a household, and as a result, the amount of information on the subject can seem overwhelming. In answer to this, Emma Segelov from Honeywell, breaks down the need-to-know facts.
Carbon Monoxide and CO safety
- CO poisoning is extremely dangerous. In mild cases, sufferers exhibit flu-like symptoms, but severe incidents can prove fatal
- Despite these statistics, only around a third of UK homes have a CO alarm, with many homeowners incorrectly assuming their smoke alarm would also detect a carbon monoxide leak
- It pays to invest in a high-quality CO alarm. A recent Which survey found that as many as 1 in 5 CO alarms were not properly approved to the relevant standard and could be unreliable. Always look for the BSI Kitemark, and EN50291 certification
- A CO alarm should be placed in every room which contains a fuel-burning appliance – whether that’s solid fuel or gas – as well as an alarm in any bedrooms located above these areas
Smoke and heat alarms
- Whilst the percentage of homes including a smoke alarm has increased by a staggering 82 percent since 1988, over six million people a year remove the batteries from their smoke alarm to stop nuisance alerts, leaving the home vulnerable
- Fires where a smoke alarm was present but either did not operate or did not raise the alarm, possibly due to absent batteries, accounted for 31 per cent of all dwelling fires and 38 per cent of all dwelling fire fatalities in 2014/15
- If the correct alarm is fitted, there are minimal nuisance alarms, and no reason for residents to remove batteries. Optical smoke alarms, though more expensive than ionisation models, are not triggered by cooking fumes, and are therefore less likely to sound nuisance alarms.
- The latest smoke and heat alarms are available with long-life, sealed-in batteries, giving 10 years of guaranteed operation without the risk of battery removal
- In certain areas – particularly the kitchen – a heat alarm should be specified rather than a smoke alarm. This is due to the different types of fires which can occur in the home
- In a kitchen environment, fast-flaming fires are most common. In fact, 59 per cent of household fires are caused by cooking mishaps, many of which stem from unattended chip pans which can burst into a fast-flaming blaze
- Heat alarms are better equipped to detect these outbreaks, as fast-flaming fires, unlike slow-starting, produce little smoke, but lots of heat
- Conversely, slow-starting smouldering fires, which are more likely to occur in rooms featuring soft furnishings, such as living rooms, produce a large amount of smoke and less heat, and are therefore better detected by smoke alarms
- Any smoke alarm specified should be certified to the standard EN14604, and BS5446 for heat alarms
Siting
- To find detailed siting recommendations for CO alarms, check EN50292. Ideally, the alarm should be positioned high up in the room, typically 30 centimetres from the ceiling, and at least a metre away from the fuel-burning appliance
- When siting smoke alarms, position the unit as centrally as possible, whether this is in an entrance hall or a room. The alarm should also be at least 30 centimetres away from any wall or light fitting
- For heat alarm location, place as close to the centre of the ceiling as possible. Avoid fitting near air vents, decorative objects, or anything which could obstruct the alarm and prevent heat from entering the unit and triggering the alert