Leading affordable housing provider Home is well on course to fit just under 13,000 potentially lifesaving Kidde Fyrnetics carbon monoxide alarms in all of its properties in the North East of England.

Although as a landlord it is not a legal requirement to fit the alarms, Home last year took the decision to install the Kidde Fyrnetics carbon monoxide alarms – being supplied by Crosslings and fitted by Richard Bland - in all the homes it owns and manages in the region from Berwick in Northumberland, to Darlington in the Tees Valley. The decision was partly prompted by the tragic deaths of two young children in a Greek hotel last year and a carbon monoxide incident at Crookhill Primary School in Gateshead, as well as the social responsibility Home has to ensuring the safety of its tenants.

Ron Goodrum, Home’s Head of Planned Maintenance in the North East, said: “We already have a robust maintenance programme in place but, as a socially responsible landlord, we decided that carbon monoxide alarms would provide an extra level of protection for our tenants. Our partnership with Kidde Fyrnetics will result in all of our properties in the North East - just under 13,000 - being fitted with carbon monoxide alarms, providing a potentially lifesaving measure in peoples’ homes.”

As part of the world’s leading manufacturer of smoke, heat and CO alarms - producing 30 million units annually – Kidde Fyrnetics is committed to educating all involved with housing about the dangers of CO. So, the company particularly welcomes this important initiative by a leading housing provider. But it is essential to choose reliable CO alarms and those being installed by Home use electrochemical technology with a stable performance over time proven by independent and accredited laboratories. They are BSi ‘kitemarked’, as well as supported by a 5-year product warranty. Unlike the acid based electrolyte used by other manufacturers, Kidde CO alarms incorporate safer, greener, ionised water.

Carbon monoxide (CO) can be produced by any fuel burning appliances resulting from the incomplete combustion of carbon based fuels including bottled or mains gas, coal, oil and wood. It is odourless and colourless, and results in headaches, nausea, unconsciousness – and finally death. Over 50 deaths and 200 serious injuries every year are attributed to CO poisoning but there are more cases where it is not recognised and it is also often the cause of death in house fires. Although nothing can replace an effective heating maintenance programme, the presence of a CO alarm to alert occupiers of the danger is a sensible, cost-effective measure. Unfortunately, they are not yet required under the Building Regulations but the Housing Health and Safety Rating System - which is the housing fitness regime for ‘Decent Homes’ – clearly recognises the importance of CO alarms. Further information can be found in
Kidde technical literature and on CO issues on its' dedicated CO information website: www.knowaboutco.co.uk.