Cause for alarm over smoke detector tests?
Variances in the length of time models take to register threat mean it’s vital to do your research when buying one
S
moke detectors are essentials in every household. They save lives. However, despite the fact that they are cheap to buy and must be fitted in new homes, and loft extensions, many homes do not have fully functioning alarms.
In 2010, the London Fire Brigade found six out of 10 fire/smoke deaths were in homes without alarms. And Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service attributes 70 deaths a year to alarms which don’t function, often due to flat batteries.
There is a wide variety of smoke alarms on the market – everywhere from DIY superstores to online specialists- costing from under a tenner to more than £100 each.
The British Standard Kitemark is a legal must. But a new Which? investigation found wide variations in the times detectors took before sounding the alert – even though all were Kitemark approved.
It looked at 15 widely available alarms, testing them on four types of fire – smouldering wood, plastic, cotton and solvent. In tests involving wood, it found wide variations in response times. The Nest Protect 2nd Generation Smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarm, using the newer smart optical technology took five IN ASSOCIATION WITH minutes and 13 seconds to sound the alert. It costs £100.
But two models from El Electronics – the Ei100B and the Ei3500S – took over nine minutes to raise the alert. These are less expensive, using older ionisation technology. Every second is vital in a fire/smoke emergency – over four minutes could be the difference between life and death.
Most alarmingly, one sample of the Devolo Home Control Smoke Detector completely failed – despite passing the British Standard test. Devolo said: “We are concerned by these results. The alarm passed standard safety tests at two certified laboratories.”
Which? is now calling for tougher tests that only pass models that sound more quickly. It has passed its findings to trading standards. BSI, which issues the official smoke alarm Kitemark says “whatever technology type is used, the alarm gives adequate warning when there is a real fire”. But it added that it is drafting a new smoke alarms standard.