Safelincs

Hi Mike This might just be a low battery. There is an instruction video showing how to replace the battery in a Ei141 Harry

Hi Powder extinguishers are great for generators, vehicles etc, however, they are now frowned-upon for indoor use, as they can drastically reduce visibility and can cause harm through inhalation. They are also costly to clean up after (relevant if there is any risk of misuse or vandalism). For indoor use, foam, water and water mist are now the most common extinguishers, with CO2 still supplied for high voltage applications and server rooms. For typical office use with electrical equipment you should use extinguishers that have been tested dielectrically to 34,000 Volt. This applies to some foams and water mist extinguishers with de-ionised water. Harry

Hi If the alarm beeos every 45 seconds try this 1. Check the fuse for the power circuit for that alarm 2. Gently vacuum around the alarm 3. Replace the battery 4. Have a qualified electrician inspect the wiring for the alarm 5. Contact the manufacturer for further advice or return to the retailer if within warranty period In case you have to replace here a link to the BRK 660MBX. Harry

Hi, when the alarm is removed, the base plate design is such that there is very little possibility to come in contact with the electrical elements. With the unit being on the ceiling there is also little chance of a child poking a screw driver into the alarm base plate. Maybe you could temporarily cover the base with a piece of cardbard while you are waiting for your new alarm. Harry

Hi Craig, to question 1) The easichange alarms are 'modern' smoke alarms with re-chargeable lithium longlife batteries as backup and not just a re-production of the old Ei150 series alarms. As far as the visible footprint of the old units is concerned, you receive with the easichange pack also a cover plate to hide the old marks where they are not covered by the replacement alarm. to question 2) You are correct about the wiring: brown is live, white is interconnection, blue is neutral, and there’s another blue wire that forms a loop on the plug which works as the battery activation / deactivation. Of course we still recommend that installation / replacement is done by a qualified electrician. Harry

Hi Krystal, if the zip tie is designed so that it breaks easily when the door is opened, then this is common practice to detect abuse of fire exits. Harry

Hi Mark, if the alarm is over 10 years old, it sadly needs replacing. You can fit a genuine EI replacement alarm without an electrician, though. Harry

Hi Chris Is this a combination smoke/CO alarm from Kidde 10SCO? Harry

Hi, indoors you should not use powder extinguishers at all due to risk of inhalation and obfuscation. However, don't go for 9ltr foam, as the weight is too high for elderly people handling the extinguisher. I would go for 6ltr water mist (with de-ionised water to ensure that the extinguisher can be used on electrical equipment). Not entirely sure what you mean with a counter room? Harry

Hi, especially with having open flames it would be highly advisable to have extinguishers handy. Your insurance and any court would regard it as ill advised to have no extinguishers at all when you are using open flame! If you are concerned about staff capability you can book short extinguisher training courses. Harry

Hi Alice, there are numerous ways for the different smoke alarm systems to be connected to an external building, eg garage. As long as the distance to the garage is less than let's say 20-30m the easiest option is to replace one of your internal mains powered smoke alarms with the radio interlinked version of that product family and fit another rf model (of the same product family) in the garage. Can you please send a photo or description of your current alarms and I will recommend the extension model you need. Harry

Hi, I would totally dismiss powder in this situation. The reduction in visibility and the risk of inhalation when used indoors is just too big. I would recommend water mist extinguishers (with de-ionised water), which can be used on these risk, including the electrical risks (de-ionised water does not conduct electricity). Harry

Hi Beth The red light flashing every second, even when the alarm is silenced, indicates that it thinks there is smoke present at all times. As you say they have been vacuumed so it shouldn’t be a dust problem. That leaves two possibilities: 1. The alarm was installed in or too close to the wrong type of room, like a kitchen or garage, and the sensor has been contaminated by fumes and residues that a vacuum cleaner won’t remove. 2. The alarm is simply faulty and will need replacing under warranty. Harry

Hi Max You are right, the 285 panic bar for double doors is the correct solution for rebated double doors. After a bit more digging I also found out that there is actually an accessory to achieve the hold-back/dogging functionality. The Exidor 299 allows the retrofitting of a holdback. Please see below. If you are interested, I we can get you a quote. Please direct message me. Harry

Hi Max, could you please upload a photo? I can't quite understand your concern regards rebated door. Obviously you will have one leading leaf. The hold-back feature is integral to the push bar system. Harry

Hi Max Yes, there is such a solution. The Exidor 284 panic bar for double doors - has a hold back (aka dogging feature) which allows the bolts to be set in the withdrawn position allowing access without key from inside and outside. - can be used with a key operated outside access device Exidor 302 - will, of course, always open fromthe inside even when locked Any questions, please let me know Harry

Hi Dave If there is no Green LED it looks as if its failed on Mains Power. It could be a loose connection or its tripped at the fuse. The RED LED does flash every 40 seconds as a self-test. Harry

Hi Abi, you might want to consider free-swing door closers. These allow fire doors to be opened just like normal doors (no resistance) and will stay open in any position. They will, of course, close should a fire occur. The free-swing door closers are either wired to a fire alarm panel or listen out for the sound of a fire alarm. Harry

Hi Steve, what alarm did you use to replace the Ei151TL? Harry

Hi if they have not been refilled in that time the short answer is no. Harry

Hi Jon The seals you bought are not suitable for the bottom of fire doors, as they are only designed for the sides and top of the fire door. You need to install either surface-mounted or rebated fire door drop-down seals. Harry

Hi Amanda I would need the brand and model number of your alarm, please (or a photo). It is unusual that mains powered alarms should beep once they have been removed from the base. Are you sure that it is not a different alarm in the room causing the alarm, eg a carbon monoxide alarm? Of course you did mention that the alarm set off others at some point, which speaks against a battery powerd carbon monoxide alarm. If there was a lot of renovating going on it could be that the smoke detectors have dust contamination. To address this potential issue, vacuum around the openings of the alarm with a soft brush attachment. Harry

Hi Mark Step one ought to be a clean with a vacuum and putting in new batteries, although on 20ft ladder this is, of course, quite dangerous. I personally would replace the alarm straight away with a longlife re-charging battery version, probably also change from ionisation to an optical detection, as this detection technology is less prone to false alarming. A suitable replacement alarm with ten year, re-charging batteries, optical sensor and which fits on the same base without the ned for an electrician is the easichange Ei166EK Harry

I would expect the alarms will still work but might not communicate with each other any longer. I am glad I was able to resolve this. Here a link to the replacement bases for Ei168. Harry

Hi, the bases do not need replacing (unless damaged, of course) and should not have a replacement date on them. I wonder whether you have a Ei168RF wireless interconnection base under the head. This would need indeed replacing after ten year. Harry