Testing Mains Heat Alarms? Small fire with no trigger!

[Joe S]

I have had an elderly customer who has recently had a small fire in her Kitchen from a pan. Her daughter has contacted me to ask why the alarms didn't go off. I have since been in contact with the manufacturer of the Alarms and their response was ' the button test is sufficient and no other method should used due to possible damage to the detector'. I had tested the alarms upon handover after a full rewire to find all alarms triggering as per normal. The issue I have is that I have now lost a little faith in the alarms as they didn't go off when needed. Anybody else have any issues similar to this?

Thanks alot

Joe

 

[Pete999]

I have had an elderly customer who has recently had a small fire in her Kitchen from a pan. Her daughter has contacted me to ask why the alarms didn't go off. I have since been in contact with the manufacturer of the Alarms and their response was ' the button test is sufficient and no other method should used due to possible damage to the detector'. I had tested the alarms upon handover after a full rewire to find all alarms triggering as per normal. The issue I have is that I have now lost a little faith in the alarms as they didn't go off when needed. Anybody else have any issues similar to this?

Thanks alot

Joe

Where were the heat alarms situated?

 

[Joe S]

Where were the smokes situated?

The Heat is in the Kitchen between the oven and hob, the Optical is in the hallway. It's a 2 bed bungalow so not a big place.

 

[LankyWill]

what brand?

 

[Joe S]

what brand?

Aico. Never had issues before and they replied straight away when I contacted them direct. I'm just not happy with the reply tbh.

 

[amlu]

lots of fire and smoke produced on burning pan, but good ventilation and no much heat to be picked by the alarm...
give it bit of grilling with a heat gun to be sure.

 

[ruston]

That's the answer in their booklet too for testing their detectors.

 

[Joe S]

lots of fire and smoke produced on burning pan, but good ventilation and no much heat to be picked by the alarm...
give it bit of grilling with a heat gun to be sure.

I thought about using a heat gun but they have assured me not to. They have also recommended to not use artificial smoke spray for the other alarms and that button tests are ok for them aswell?!

 

[Joe S]

That's the answer in their booklet too for testing their detectors.

What answer? Heat Gun?

 

[Joe S]

This is what they emailed me today:

 

[ruston]

What answer? Heat Gun?

No, the test button.

 

[Joe S]

No, the test button.

I dont feel that this is enough especially as I have had a fire on a job where the alarms didn't sound. She is elderly and forgot about the pan. Next time she might not be so lucky!

 

[GMES]

I've always considered Aico a quality make and have always used them, but this is food for thought.

 

[ruston]

I can not open your attachment.

 

[Joe S]

I've always considered Aico a quality make and have always used them, but this is food for thought.

You and me both mate. I have used them for years and love the Radio link bases etc.. but this has swayed me a bit.

 

[amlu]

You and me both mate. I have used them for years and love the Radio link bases etc.. but this has swayed me a bit.

kiddie for me.
customer brought some cheapish BRK from screwfix on recent job, nasty stuff not recommended.

 

[GMES]

I can't see an attachment joe for the email.

 

[Joe S]

I can't seem to get the attachment on here for love nor money. I've tried copy and paste, loading it into photo bucket and even screen dumping my phone as a picture but it can't see the image???

 

[tazz]

The Aico meet all relevant standards.....but like any fire, smoke and heat never act the same.
Testing any detector by button alone does not help..then need to be checked correctly by an approved kit such as Solo, using smoke cans, and hot air testers.
With Acio, the heat detector will not activate until 58 degs C which is quite high for a heat detector, most Pro are set at 50 degs.
Air circulation, rate of heat, drafts and positioning can all have issues on how quick a detector will respond.
Now a burning pan, is not going to instantly heat a kitchen to 58 degs, it will take time, And i would expect a heat detector to take at least 10 to 15mins @ 2m to pick this up, please remember at this this time it is confined fire in a pan ...not a spreading fire, so heat is confined to on place only. If the heat was below 58 deg, but smoke was being produce at high level, then any optical detector within a circulation area eg hallway would have activated.

 

[Joe S]

I agree with you Taz but the fact that Aico say don't test with anything other than the button has got me worried now. What other alarms are available that allow testing with button and secondary items such as smoke/ heat?