CLG Fire Stats

Ref: 570/1371

Issued: 30 October 2009

PRESS INFORMATION

ALARMING FIGURES

The latest domestic fire death figures suggest that more needs to be done to warn occupants early of fires in the home with the right quality, type, number and location of smoke and heat alarms.

Provisional figures for 2008, released by CLG at the end of September 2009, revealed 294 deaths in accidental domestic fires throughout the UK - a 10% increase compared with the 267 deaths recorded in 2007 and bucking the downward trend over the last few years. Bearing in mind that deaths in other buildings during 2008 fell to just 19, we now need to focus on alerting occupiers more effectively of dwelling fires with the best available smoke and heat alarms.

To meet this need, Kidde Fyrnetics’ Slick® range offers the only fast-fit, rechargeable alarms guaranteed for 10 years, rather than just claiming a 10 year life, like others. This guarantee gives a fixed cost of ownership and no need to fund any early replacements. To avoid the ongoing problems of battery theft and maintenance, four rechargeable lithium cells on the circuit board give up to 8 months continuous back-up in the event of mains failure - particularly important in empty ‘void’ properties.

All Slick® alarms incorporate a unique fast-fit system saving installers time and money. Here, the separate base plate can be installed and wired at first fix if appropriate. Then, near completion, the alarm simply slides onto the base plate hinge flap and locks into place by default. No cable harness is needed and the unique hinged connector avoids problems encountered with subsequent fixing over Artex and other ceiling decoration. For maintenance, alarms are simply replaced on existing base plates without re-wiring. Slick® alarms are hard-wired in Optical, Ionisation and Heat variants and are interconnectable up to 24 units. This capability enables them to meet the current code of practice for domestic fire alarm systems, BS 5839-6: 2004.

With BS 5839-6: 2004, interconnected smoke or heat alarms are required in living rooms and a heat alarm in every kitchen, as well as the usual smoke alarms in circulation areas. But, in terms of guidance to national Building Regulations, the current Approved Document B  (applying to England and Wales) effectively requires only smoke alarms in corridors with heat alarms in some kitchens only. Scotland’s Domestic Technical Handbook is similar but without any provisions for heat alarms at all. It is only in Northern Ireland and Eire that supporting guidance is fully in line with BS 5839-6.

So, for England, Wales and Scotland pressure must continue for an upgrade of the regulations - but, for now, the safe route is to simply implement the BS 5839-6 guidance as a minimum standard in both new and existing homes.

The latest information on domestic fire safety is available via www.smoke-alarms.co.uk.

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