Safelincs

1) if the main power fails at fuse level the emergency lights must come on 2) if the emergency lights need to be tested, only the supply to the emergency lights needs to be interrupted. In practice you will have fish tail key switches in the power supply leading to suitable groups of emergency lights so that you don't have to switch off the power at fuse level when you want to check your emergency lighting as this would potentially cause problems with your organisation's work processes. I guess if you have a system that can only be tested by switching the lighting power supply off altogether you would only be able to do your tests when the building is empty and if you have suitable portable light or suitable daylight in all locations you are checking. If you have dangerous processes in your company lighting might have to be on all the time, so that a central switch-off would be inappropriate. Harry

Hi Dawn I know there were some discussions to force mains powered CO alarms into newly built properties etc, however, I am not sure how far this has progressed. One of the problems is that most mains powered CO alarm sensors only have a 5 year life, which clashes with the 10 year life of mains powered smoke alarms. The vast majority of councils and landlords we supply are still choosing battery operated CO alarms. Now that there are 10 year sealed battery units available, I would suggest you use these. These alarms have 10 year sealed batteries, which a tenant cannot remove. Harry

Hi, I agree with your sentiment. It feels wrong to throw away a product which has obviously been well made and is still in working order. Customers have a choice, though: They can have their extinguishers refilled every five years (even after 15 years), as long as the body is inspected inside and out by a competent person (usually an extinguisher engineer). However, quite often the cost for the refill is more than for a new extinguisher. That is sometimes the reason why extinguishers are replaced every five years rather than being refilled. When selecting extinguishers keep in mind that water and foam extinguishers are a lot easier to refill than powder and CO2 extinguishers and their refill is therefore cheaper. Harry

Hi Rob If it is a door used for the escape of employees, you can often use emergency pads. If the escape is to be used by the public you will require panic bars. You can choose 1 to 3 point locking mechanisms, so you can make your fire exits burglar proof. A break glass key box should only be used for non-fire-exit doors if it is felt that the exit door might be useful as additional fire exit while discouraging unauthorised use for eg cigarette breaks etc. Harry

Hi Paul I would suggest you get an electrrician in to check your wiring and switches Harry

Hi Karen If you take the alarm outside and after a few minutes it still alarms, then I would suspect a defect on the alarm and would suggest to replace. Sometimes, chemicals can damage a sensor (car batteries being charged in the house, hair spray etc). Harry

I guess for security reasons a door closer would be important. It is not a problem for fire exits to have door closers, as long as they are not set too stiff and do not restrict the opening of the door.

Hi Maria Fire brigades enforce fire risk assessments, so you could eventually contact your local fire brigade. If its a HMO you could also contact your local Council who is responsible for certification of HMOs Harry

Hi Dee I assume you mean these doors are three fire exits doors rather than fire doors (fire exit doors do usually not have to be fireproof doors)? I would assume that the number of fire exits was determined when the building was designed, so must have been deemed necessary in the first place. I would therefore assume that the company has to take compensation steps to overcome the impact of the failing exit door, eg by not using part of the building and/or prepare alternative exits. Another solution would be to add a push bar to the faulty exit door. The door can then still act as exit, even though nobody could enter (as long as there are no other locking mechanisms). Harry

Hi Mick A final fire exit door can be left open all the time, as long as its door leaf does not block some other escape route when opened. The client can also install an external access for his push bar (the ones shown here are for the Briton of push bars). He does not need to change to a pushpad. Harry

Thanks, Tom

Hi Does anybody know of replacement models or spares for the rather historic Parker, Winder and Achurch door closers? The models state 'Parwinac' on them One of our church customers has asked for help wit this Thanks for any ideas Harry

The fire alarm should have a direct spur from the fusebox. Within the fuse box, the fuse needs to be marked ‘fire alarm’. Between the fuse box and the fire alarm you need a double poled fuse (white or read without the need for further text). Both the connection in the fuse box and the double poled fuse must be installed by a Part 17 qualified electrician.

Hi Chris I really like the idea about producing CO2 through a chemical reaction, although I am still doubtful about the CO2 as an extinguishing gas in general. Water mist extinguishers have the same low pressure as ordinary water based extinguishers. They do, however, require far more gas than ordinary water extinguishers. For example a 3l water mist extinguisher comes as a 6l cylinder to contain the amount of nitrogen needed. Please let me know how you are getting on Kind Regards Harry

Hi Hannah Can you please remove the smoke alarm off the ceiling and press the test button for 10 seconds? This should stop the beeping. If you can still hear beeps while the alarm is down, maybe a nearby CO alarm is beeping. If the above has resolved the beeps, please refit the alarm back on the base. Should the alarm start beeping again, please swap the two smoke alarms you have. If the beep 'follows' the alarm, you will need a replacement. If the beep 'stays' with the base, you need to check the wiring to make sure all connections are tight and sound. I hope this helps Harry

Hi Jon We have been selling escape ladders for many years and the following points are condensing this experience. The main issues are: - Speed of deployment (preferably permanently fitted to speed up escape) - As small as possible, as people do not want to see ladders etc - If there are rungs, these must allow safe foothold, so you need distance pieces to keep the rungs of the wall - Tangle-free If you want to see a large selection of escape ladders, you are welcome to visit us. Harry

Hi Amanda The units should stop beeping once they are off the ceiling. Sometimes there is a residual charge that makes the alarm been for a few minutes. It should be possible to stop this by pressing the test button in the middle. Could it be the other alarms in the circuit making the beeping noises? They should ideally all be removed from the ceiling and be replaced. The Ei150 replacement is the Ei151EK easichange alarm. Harry

Hi Chris The idea of lightweight extinguishers is always attractive. However, I would stay clear of CO2 as an extinguishing medium for a general household extinguisher. CO2 is only suitable in quite restricted circumstances, as it does not penetrate fabrics, dissipates quickly and can cause asphyxiation in small rooms. Some type of foam or mist should do the trick. This would also avoid the design problems stemming from the high pressure in CO2 extinguishers (about 55 bar). CO2 extinguishers also have no pressure gauge, so a homeowner would never be certain whether the extinguisher is full! For design ideas, have a look at the P50 Fireworld extinguishers made from aramid. Harry

Hi I am afraid I cannot see an easy way out of mains powered emergency lighting. So, unfortunately, this means cables and electricians. Sorry! Harry

Hi David Here some useful articles to the issue of extinguishers in HMOs etc: http://www.safelincs.co.uk/blog/2011/12/06/hot-discussions-about-extinguishers-removed-in-hmos/ http://www.safelincs.co.uk/blog/2012/09/07/to-extinguish-or-not-to-extinguish-now-theres-a-question/ Harry

Hi Carla The best location is shown in this little video about CO alarm positions Harry

Hi Paul Both model are the same smoke alarm, only the packing is different Harry

Hi Sadhana The green light means you have good power supply, so no issue there. Cleaning out would not help as it is a heat alarm. Lithium re-chargeable means the backup batteries do not need to be replaced. Unfortunately, this sounds as if you will need a new alarm. The new model for this is called KEKF3R by the way. Harry

Hi Michael If its an Ei Electronics/Aico system you can extend by adding an Ei168 RF base to one of the mains powered alarms and then install the 10 year battery powered Ei600TYCRF smoke alarms as the extension unit. Harry

Thanks, Michael Very kind feedback! We do certainly agree with you. Kind Regards Harry