Leading manufacturer of fire and carbon monoxide safety solutions, FireAngel, has launched the UK’s first and only battery-powered Natural Gas Detector, designed to provide individuals with complete protection against one of the home’s most hidden dangers.
Although additives including stench agents are added to Natural Gas so that it can be smelt, a concerning proportion of the UK are still unable to identify its presence. Symptoms of dementia, loss of smell as a result of aging and the inability to be woken by a scent, all inhibit an individual’s ability to successfully identify the presence of Natural Gas.
To combat this, FireAngel’s light-weight alarm features a semi-conductor catalytic sensor that continuously detects combustible gas, whilst the two lithium replacement batteries supplied offer a simple and easy method of installation, eliminating the traditional requirement for AC Power.
Currently, the majority of people over the age of 55 may struggle to notice the ‘smell’ of combustible gas before dangerous levels have accumulated, whilst over half of those aged 65-80 years old evidence significant loss in successful smell identification*.
Over 850,000 individuals across the UK currently living with dementia, a figure set to rise to one million by 2025 according to latest research from the Alzheimer’s Society**. As common symptoms of the disease include memory loss, disorientation, decreased judgment and loss of initiative, these all make the detection and identification of combustible gas harder.
A current example of the potential risks Natural Gas poses to the elderly, specifically those with dementia, is Paddy Lea’s 88-year-old mother. Paddy had visited his elderly mother last autumn and was met with the overwhelming smell of gas as she opened the front door. Having dementia, she had incorrectly turned the gas fire on and forgotten about it, subsequently being unable to smell the high volumes of gas leaking from the fire.
Speaking of the incident, Paddy said: “I’ve never experienced that much gas in my life, it was absolutely terrifying, we have no clue just how many days this had been happening. As my mother lives independently following the death of my father, no one else was in the property to identify the leak and due to her dementia, she was unable to not only smell the gas, but remember she had even tried to turn the fire on.
“As she wants to continue to live independently, it’s vital that her home is made as safe as possible and she’s protected from all potential risks. Before the incident I was unaware of just how dangerous Natural Gas can be and this is something that I suspect many people across the UK are also unaware of.”
As Natural Gas and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) becomes dangerous when the concentration is high enough to become explosive, the alarm is specifically designed to trigger when the gas concentration reaches 10% of the lower explosive limit (LEL). This is vitally important as latest research has evidenced that while sound can disrupt sleep scents cannot. This evidences that all individuals are unable to detect the presence of Natural Gas once they are asleep, presenting high risks as the gas can become extremely combustible***.
James King, Sales Director for FireAngel, said: “With the rate of those living with dementia significantly increasing, combined with the inability to smell Natural Gas during sleep, its vital that we continue to design and manufacture alarms which provide individuals with protection against all potential risks they may face within their own home.
“As the alarm features batteries rather than an AC power source, it’s easier to use and can easily be installed anywhere in a property to provide continuous protection for peace of mind.”
The loud-sounding alarm has been designed to meet B5 EN 50194-I: 2009 Certifications and includes smart test, silence and reset buttons for ease of use. The launch marks the manufacturer’s continued commitment to support the independent living of homeowners and tenants who face greater risks from potential fire, gas or carbon monoxide dangers.
For more information on the FireAngel and its range of smoke, heat, gas and CO alarms, please call 0800 141 2561 or visit www.fireangel.co.uk.
