Jonathan Senior, Chairman of VeriSmart Inventories.
A housing industry expert is urging people to check their smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms properly.
Jonathan Senior, chairman of VeriSmart Inventories, says that pushing the button on the alarms only tests the circuit for power – not the sensor.
And it is the sensor that detects the presence of smoke or carbon monoxide – and many don’t work.
VeriSmart Inventories, headquartered in Poole, Dorset, with its many franchisees across the country, uses synthetic smoke and CO to test that alarms are working correctly.
The failure rate of CO alarms is especially high with figures showing as much as 80 per cent don’t reach British Safety Standards.
This is according to John Stones from Gas Safe Europe, the leading provider of proper working CO detectors.
People won’t know if their smoke and CO alarms are working correctly if they just rely on testing the battery.
Jonathan said: “Our franchisees create inventories for landlords and letting agents whilst at the same time carrying out other essential tasks required by letting agents and their landlords.
“These include health and safety advisory notes, legionella assessments and electrical appliance testing – as well as proper smoke and CO alarm testing.
“This helps to ensure that landlords are kept legal and their tenants safe, and you’d be surprised how many alarms don’t work.
“Smoke and fire as we know can be quickly lethal, and carbon monoxide is known as the ‘silent killer’. But they can be mitigated by having properly tested alarms.
“For a small outlay and a few minutes you can put your mind at ease with products which are available to test alarms.”
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations mean there is a requirement for properly working smoke alarms to be fitted on every floor of living space in every rented property at the start of every tenancy.
CO Alarms are legally required and to be correctly sited in every room where there is a solid fuel burning appliance.
VeriSmart Inventories was re-branded in 2015 after developing its unique smart verification software that allows for the paper-free inventories to be compiled with speed and accuracy. The company was launched 25 years ago in the Bournemouth and Poole conurbation in Dorset, where it is still headquartered. The new technology allowed the business to adopt a franchise model. Some of its licensees make a substantial six figure income. It operates across England and now Wales.
For more information contact Ed Baker at Deep South media on 01202 534487 or 17788392965 – ed.baker@deepsouthmedia.co.uk
