Carbon Monoxide Fire Detectors

[Ian Scrim]

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.

[wee brian]

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

[Gary Howe]

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.