Raven Housing Trust Enhances Fire Safety in Sheltered and Temporary Accommodation

Raven Housing Trust is partnering with Aico, the European market leader in home life safety, to upgrade fire protection systems in 432 dwellings across its sheltered and temporary accommodation. This major investment underscores Raven Housing Trust’s commitment to the safety and well-being of its vulnerable residents.

Recognising the critical importance of robust fire safety measures in sheltered and temporary accommodation, Raven Housing Trust is committed to installing systems to the highest specification, compliant with BS5839-P6 standards.

Enhancing Protection Across Housing

This three-year programme will see AJS Ltd, an electrical contractor outsourced by Raven Housing Trust, install Aico’s Fire and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms. This installation will take place across 432 individual temporary dwellings, ensuring that residents receive the earliest possible warning of a fire or CO event.

Separately, Raven Housing Trust’s Direct Labour Organisation (DLO) will be undertaking upgrades to sheltered accommodation sites and general needs properties to LD1 and LD2 specifications respectively, during change of tenancy or rewiring works. The temporary accommodation upgrade will also integrate the existing Warden Call systems, providing enhanced safety and rapid response capabilities within these facilities.

Aico’s Relationship Manager for the South East, Paul Barrett, will work closely with Christian Hirschfield from Raven Housing Trust, alongside other teams involved in this project, providing product expertise and guidance.

“We have chosen Aico as our manufacturer for this project due to their reputation for high-quality products and innovative technology,” stated Christian Hirschfield, Electrical Manager at Raven Housing Trust. “Aico’s commitment to safety and reliability makes them an ideal partner for our homes, ensuring that we provide the best possible protection for our residents.”

Aico’s 3000 Series Installation

The upgrade will involve the installation of specific, high-performance Aico alarms tailored to different areas within the temporary dwellings:

• The Ei3028 Heat and CO Multi-Sensor Alarm will be installed in kitchens where boilers are present.
• The Ei3024 Optical and Heat Multi-Sensor Alarm will be used in kitchens without boilers.
• The Ei3016 Optical Smoke Alarm will provide coverage in circulation areas, living areas, and bedrooms.

All alarms will be interconnected using the Ei3000MRF module, which allows for wireless interconnection via radio frequency. This means that if one alarm is activated, all alarms will sound, providing full-circle protection and allowing for an immediate response.

At each of the sheltered accommodation sites, Aico’s Ei414 RadioLINK+ Fire/CO Alarm Interface will be implemented to seamlessly connect the new fire alarm system with the existing Warden Call setup, enabling immediate alerts and assistance for residents in the event of a fire or CO emergency.

Training and Ongoing Support

Paul will further support the team by delivering Aico’s award-winning Expert Installer training course. This CPD-accredited course will equip Raven Housing Trust with the essential knowledge and skills needed to correctly and efficiently site and install Aico’s safety systems. Once complete, the team will extend their knowledge by completing Aico’s Domestic Fire and CO Alarm Systems City & Guilds assured training held at their headquarters in Oswestry.

Paul Barrett commented on the project, “Christian and his team are taking the lead in installing Aico products to comply with BS5839-P6 using our Grade D1 Ei3000 Series alarms and LD1 specification. It has been a pleasure getting to know Raven Housing Trust over the years, and I am sure our trusted partnership will continue long into the future.”