Ionisation battery alarm
Cost: £3.99 - £9.50
Model: ionisation
Available from: most DIY stores and supermarkets
Suitable for: most locations
Advantages: cheapest to buy and easiest to get hold of; good at detecting free-burning, "flaming" fires (for example, chip-pan fires)
Disadvantages: less sensitive at detecting slow-burning or smouldering fires (for example, foam-filled furniture); battery needs replacing every year
Optical battery alarm
Cost: £14 - £16
Model: optical
Available from: some DIY stores
Suitable for: most locations
Advantages: good at detecting slow-burning or smouldering fires (for example, foam-filled furniture)
Disadvantages: less sensitive at detecting free-burning, "flaming" fires (for example, chip-pan fires); battery needs replacing every year
Battery alarm with 10-year batteries or power source
Cost: £14.98 - £28
Model: ionisation and optical
Available from: many DIY stores
Suitable for: most locations
Advantages: battery or power source lasts for the life of the alarm
Battery alarm with hush or silencer button
Cost: £4.99 - £13
Model: ionisation and optical
Available from: most DIY stores
Suitable for: most locations, especially near kitchens
Advantages: you can silence the alarm if it goes off accidentally; hush system is overridden if there is a real fire
Battery alarm with emergency light
Cost: £5.49 - £16.95
Model: ionisation
Available from: most DIY stores
Suitable for: most locations, ideal for hallways and escape routes
Advantages: emergency light can help you escape; light can also warn deaf or hard-of-hearing people
Disadvantages: batteries (one for the light and one for the alarm) need replacing every year
Mains-powered alarm
Cost: £15 - £40
Model: ionisation or optical
Available from: electrical wholesalers
Suitable for: most locations
Advantages: long lasting protection; can be bought with a battery back-up in case of mains failure; you have to remember to replace the back-up battery if you do not have a rechargeable battery installed; difficult to switch off
Disadvantages: must be installed by a qualified electrician - this will usually mean extra costs; those without battery back-up will not work in a power failure
Mains-powered alarm with strobe light and vibrating pad
Cost: £100 - £150
Model: ionisation and optical
Available from: The Royal National Institute for the Deaf and other specialist suppliers of equipment for the hard of hearing
Suitable for: most locations but particularly the bedroom
Advantages: instantly alerts anyone with hearing difficulties
Disadvantages: expensive to buy; needs to be installed by a qualified electrician
Mains-powered alarm which plugs into a light bulb socket
Cost: £20 - £25
Model: ionisation
Available from: many DIY stores
Suitable for: most locations where there is a ceiling-mounted light fitting
Advantages: rechargeable battery; test button and hush button work from a light switch
Disadvantages: light must be turned on from time to time to recharge the battery; may not be suitable for some types of light shade or low-lying lights
Please Note: No Kitemarking scheme is currently available for this alarm
|
|
|
|
|
|
