As the adoption of smart home devices throughout UK households continues to increase, Steve Boggis, Trade Business Unit Director at FireAngel, discusses how electrical contractors can meet customer demand by considering interlinked alarms that feature Smart RF technology.
Just under a quarter of the UK’s internet users aged between 16 and 64 years-old own smart home devices, a figure that is almost double the global average. As individuals continue to utilise App-controlled devices to make their lives more convenient, electrical contractors can introduce smart technology as a way for customers to cost-effectively improve the safety of their homes to the highest possible standard.
This can be achieved by recommending and installing interlinked smoke, heat and CO alarms throughout key locations of a domestic property, including lounges, bedrooms and circulation areas, which can be controlled via an App. This not only achieves the earliest possible warning of a fire or potential CO event, but also follows the principles of the updated Scottish Tolerable Standard, which was introduced earlier this year.
The updated Standard requires all properties to have an interlinked fire and smoke alarm system, which must be supported by adequate CO protection if there is a fuel-burning appliance or flue present within the property. By following this guidance, electrical contractors across the UK can ensure all types of residential properties are protected to the highest possible standard.
Achieving increased connectivity
By interlinking multiple alarms that feature Smart RF technology together onto a private network and fitting a Smart RF Radio Module in each alarm, either upon initial installation or at a later date, every alarm will mimic the chirp of the smoke, heat or CO alarm that has sounded, depending on the danger that has been identified.
A hybrid system can also be created as both mains and battery-powered smoke, heat and CO alarms can be meshed together onto a single network, eliminating the requirement for costly and time-consuming channelling or trunking. By installing connected alarms that have the ability to be connected together, the system can also be continuously expanded and adapted to include additional safety products, as and when required.
As the alarms feature Smart RF technology, a connected gateway can also be added to the network to provide remote real time monitoring of every alarm. This allows individuals to access information on each alarm via a free App, which also sends notifications regarding the system’s status, including if an alarm has sounded. This keeps individuals up-to-date on any potential dangers within their home, regardless of whether they’re in the property or not.
Whilst the addition of a smart gateway enables individuals to control the alarms via an App, electrical contractors can aid customers in further utilising smart technology to improve the safety of their property with a unique AI powered risk tool, FireAngel Predict, which provides a real time risk level of each property.
Taking smart to the next level
Featuring a unique algorithm and patented application, individuals can use the App to access information regarding trends of potentially dangerous behaviour. This supports prioritised interventions and increased fire prevention measures and is particularly useful for customers who are more vulnerable and present a higher potential risk. Because the alarms are App-controlled, customers can also use the App to access information regarding smoke, heat and CO alarms installed in a relative or friend’s property and remotely monitor the status of their home to ensure they’re safe.
For private and social landlords, the adoption of connected systems such as this ensures compliance with the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022, which was enforced in England from 1st October and will be enforced from 1st December as part of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act.
Whilst the adoption of connected alarms enables landlords to achieve remote monitoring of every property across their portfolio, from a contractor’s perspective, this interconnectivity enables them to document the completion of each installation phase and validate the overall installation, as information can be instantly logged via the wireless network. By taking a photograph of each completed installation, the images can be wirelessly uploaded to a centralised platform to generate immediate sign-off, which subsequently produces a certification of fire legislative compliance, in accordance with BS 5839-6.
FireAngel Specification provides electrical contractors with an easy to install network of mains and battery powered smoke, heat and CO alarms that check their operation and environment more than 8,500 times a day and can be wirelessly interlinked to provide the highest possible standards of protection.
Get more details about FireAngel Connected here
