South Lakes Housing (SLH), a Kendal-based housing association that manages around 3,000 homes in Cumbria, is installing Aico’s new 3000 Series alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. The 3000 Series includes the Ei3024 Optical and Heat Multi-Sensor and the Ei3028 Heat and Carbon Monoxide Multi-Sensor, designed the makers say for use in kitchens. The products are to protect tenants from fire, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Further carbon monoxide alarms are being installed in properties with a gas appliance during the appliance service, mostly in bedrooms next to the cupboard housing the boiler.
SLH chose to go beyond the minimum standard, which in England only requires carbon monoxide alarms to be fitted when any new or replacement solid-fuel appliance is installed. Graeme Smythe, SLH Compliance Surveyor, says: “We work closely with Aico and look at the legislation, but in this case we didn’t think it was good enough. Scotland now requires carbon monoxide alarms to be fitted under law. England is behind Scotland but I think it will catch up, but we don’t want to wait for that. We understand the potential dangers of CO and you only have to read in the media stories about CO coming from neighbouring properties, for example, to realise the full extent of the problem. If you know something has the potential to cause harm, why wait? The bottom line is that a small investment in CO alarms saves lives.”
In its sheltered housing schemes, based on advice in the NFCC Specialised Housing Guidance, SLH is fitting Aico 3000 Series Smoke Alarms to the British Standard BS 5839-6:2019 Grade D LD1, which is the highest category of protection.
Daniel Little, Aico’s Regional Specification Manager – North, says: “Aico works with the majority of RSLs in the UK, from large nationwide organisations to smaller localised ones. The emphasis these organisations place on tenant safety is often exceptional, but to my mind these smaller social housing providers are unsung heroes as they are often working with limited resources yet go beyond the minimum level of protection required, as is the case with SLH. They deserve recognition for the work they are doing and their commitment to tenant safety.”
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