Which Manufacture of Smoke Alarms

[Midwest]

We have a domestic fire alarm system in some leasehold properties. The existing BRK alarms are no longer available in the UK. These alarms/system are due to be replaced, but that project has hit a technical issue, and has been delayed. Some of the properties have had failed alarms, which had to be removed due to false activation.

I've been told to replace the missing alarms with stand alone battery operated alarms, as a temporary measure. The BRK alarms were notoriously susceptible to false alarms by fauna etc, so I don't want to provide a poor quality alarm, that will have the same problems as the BRK's.

Now I could just fit Aico, as I know that is a good quality product, but they are more expensive than most. What price safety you say, but what other manufactured products are available at a cheaper cost, the delay might only be 6 months or so.

There's Kiddie, Fire Angel, Ultra Fire etc. Any suggestions?

 

[littlespark]

Aico all the way.

The standalone ones are still cheap…
It’s when you start getting into 10 year lithium battery’s and Radiolink that things start getting expensive.

Don’t they all need to be interlinked as a rule these days,?


I think I’ve got a “new” old smoke detector in my store…and possibly some old ones I’ve taken out a job. I’ll have a look today.

 

[Midwest]

Thanks, they are a temporary measure, not ideal but better than nothing at all. These apartments still have a functioning interlinked system, which includes a radio link to our Warden Call system. Its just one or two heads have had to been removed.

 

[littlespark]

These are both “new” as never been used.
Replace-by dates are 2030 and 2031.

I won’t be using them.

 

[LukeD]

Given the chance I would always supply "Aico" and their prices are fine and Ive never had an issue with them

 

[Midwest]

Ok thanks, going to have conversation with the head of property management, to recommend Aico. But they been handing out PO's like its confetti, so that will be interesting.

 

[littlespark]

I might stick those two on eBay….

You never know… I mean, people pay silly money for red/black t&e

 

[pirate]

Yes, silly money for old red/black t&e, but the stuff I tried to give away on this forum has had no takers!
I have "disposed" of it by other means...
The white sheathed stuff was rather nice, according to one user!

 

[littlespark]

Yes, silly money for old red/black t&e, but the stuff I tried to give away on this forum has had no takers!
I have "disposed" of it by other means...
The white sheathed stuff was rather nice, according to one user!

Always thought grey T&E was from wholesalers, so top quality.... and the white stuff was a B&Q drum. Cheap 'n nasty

But that was 30 odd years ago

 

[Midwest]

Aico alarms, installed by our local contractor.

 

[littlespark]

Have they replaced all the brk or are they not interlinked?
I don’t think the interlink signal would be compatible between brk and aico

 

[nicebutdim]

You never know… I mean, people pay silly money for red/black t&e

I've seen plenty of old t&e offered on eBay at silly prices, but not much evidence of demand for it at any price.

Sold item search shows few sales and those few sales are mostly on listings offering per metre pricing.

I don't think demand is anything like what has previously been suggested as plenty of cheap drums go unsold.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Ok thanks, going to have conversation with the head of property management, to recommend Aico. But they been handing out PO's like its confetti, so that will be interesting.

OK I will bite, what's your meaning of PO's I though Postal Orders where long gone.

Just to add, I am an Aico fan boy like most others, the radio link is stable even through 600mm flint walls.

 

[littlespark]

PO = Purchase Orders?

Just a guess

 

[Midwest]

Have they replaced all the brk or are they not interlinked?
I don’t think the interlink signal would be compatible between brk and aico

Nope its a cunning plan by our head of property. Their just sit next the BRK bases, where the heads have been removed, as such they come up with the replacement system.

 

[Midwest]

PO = Purchase Orders?

Just a guess

Apologies, yes purchase orders. A PO number (on a company form) gives an assurance that the contractor will get paid.

 

[loz2754]

Have they replaced all the brk or are they not interlinked?
I don’t think the interlink signal would be compatible between brk and aico

I can confirm this lack of compatibility. I'm not telling how I know this

 

[Mike Johnson]

Just audio-linked my Aico alarms status to my I-Phone, next time I will try to remember to tick link the list in my I-Phone before sending to my laptop to get just one report with all the alarms listed.

 

[BitFrosty]

Inim, thats what we use, and i can say they have amazing range of products, from simple optical and thermal detectors (that you can program) up to all kind of gasses detectors and laser barriers (for industrial use).

They use open loop system, basically your loop gets power from both side and in case its broken, you get error but everything still works. And you can use resistors to go back to old line system. Its worth checking them out for sure.

 

[brianmoooore]

Always thought grey T&E was from wholesalers, so top quality.... and the white stuff was a B&Q drum. Cheap 'n nasty

But that was 30 odd years ago

Up until the colour change, I'd never set eyes on metric grey cable. White was metric, grey was imperial.