AICO safety reminder

AICO, which manufactures smoke, heat and CO alarms, has asked SAL to remind members of a safety alert relating to its products which was previously shared with members last year.

It believes that there may be serious risks associated with interconnecting other manufacturers’ products with any of AICO’s smoke, heat or CO safety products including but not limited to, electric shock and/or fire hazards. This would include another manufacturer’s alarm head being used with any of AICO’s alarm bases and/or multiple manufacturers’ alarms operating in the same interconnected alarm system.

Recently, AICO have been made aware that manufacturer Hispec have been actively marketing their alarm heads as compatible with Aico’s EasiFit base — implying that this combination constitutes a compliant, certified installation. Upon becoming aware of these claims, AICO raised a formal complaint with BSI — the UK’s National Standards Body and the certification authority for the Kitemark programme.

AICO has advised SAL that BSI conducted a thorough investigation into Hispec’s certification practices and market claims resulting in all Hispec products being removed from the BSI Kitemark directory by BSI.

In light of this warning, SAL members should ensure that their properties do not contain a combination of AICO and other manufacturers’ alarm products within the same interconnected system.