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FIRE SERVICE AND GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TOPICS => Fire Safety => Topic started by: Ian Scrim on March 14, 2005, 10:33:59 AM

Title: Carbon Monoxide Fire Detectors
Post by: Ian Scrim on March 14, 2005, 10:33:59 AM

Has anyone  got any feedback on the success or not of Carbon Monoxide Fire Detectors, I am considering recommending them in elderly persons Sheltered Accommodation (not Rescare) as  the existing elderly L2 system is replaced. The present Smoke Detectors in the lobby of the flats have given a high number of False Alarms mainly from cooking  and I am considering Smoke Detectors in the actual Means of Escape with the CO detectors in the lobby of the flats and then single point smoke detectors appropriately positioned in the flat.

Title: Carbon Monoxide Fire Detectors
Post by: wee brian on March 14, 2005, 01:21:40 PM

My rule of thumb is to treat them like heat detectors. There OK in places hwere heat detectors would be allowed but they are not as good as smoke detectors

Title: Carbon Monoxide Fire Detectors
Post by: Gary Howe on March 14, 2005, 04:26:07 PM

As with any detector they are suited to particular risks. One thing to be aware of is that these detectors operate at 40-60ppm and only if it is smouldering combustion. instances have been recorded where only these detectors have been used, and there has been a chip pan fire and they have not gone off (for obvious reasons), installed selectivey and carefully they are ideal for sleeping accomodation and can provide a very fast response to a smouldering fire (e.g smoker falls asleep in bed) compared to a standard optical. They also benefit from being immune to steam, dust and cooking fumes, golden rule is not to put all your eggs in one basket and opt for a fire engineered approach. Careful and selective design of these detectors is required for optium performance.

Regards


Gary.