Andy Collinson

Innovators in fire technology, Geofire, launches the Deaf Alert, a safety device for the deaf and hard of hearing. The Deaf Alert is a digital, vibrating pillow alarm that uses ‘listening’ technology to activate on the specific sound of a home smoke alarm. Geofire has manufactured fire safety products in the UK since 1972. The Deaf Alert will join the Agrippa acoustic product line which includes the battery powered fire door holder and closer. Working smoke alarm The acoustic technology used among Agrippa’s wire-free products allows the unit to learn the specific sound of the smoke alarm ensuring activation upon hearing only the specific sound rather than any loud noise. In the event of the smoke alarm sounding, the Deaf Alert unit wakes the user by displaying a visual ‘FIRE’ warning, flashing high intensity LED lights and vibrating the pad under the user’s pillow. A shocking statistic from the Home Office reported that house fires without a working smoke alarm are around eight times more likely to result in a fatality. Innovative fire safety product We are proud to launch the Deaf Alert and extend our innovative fire safety product offering into the home" As one in six people in the UK are living with hearing loss, a staggering amount of the population is vulnerable in the event of a house fire. Andy Collinson, CEO at Geofire, said: “We are proud to launch the Deaf Alert and extend our innovative fire safety product offering into the home. Since the launch of the original Agrippa Pillow Alarm into hotels and commercial buildings in 2015, the demand for a product that could offer the same peace of mind in the home was staggering.” Alarm clock function “During a time where more people are at home than ever before, it is an honor to be able to provide a solution that both protects, as well as, solves a problem for the deaf and hard of hearing community. Thanks to our distributors and online retailers, we have been able to ensure our products are available and accessible to all online during the pandemic.” Powered by mains, with a backup battery supply, the Deaf Alert ensures fail-safe operation should power be lost and requires next to no installation. The compact and unimposing unit includes a LED time display and alarm clock function.

Reducing the spread of germs and bacteria has never been more essential in the current climate. Holding open internal doors provide an easy and effective method of infection control within the building, but it is important that this does not impact the user’s fire safety. A study by the New England Medical Journal, which researched the survival of coronavirus on a number of surfaces, identified that the virus was still detectable on hard surfaces such as plastic and stainless steel 72 hours later. While regular cleaning can help combat transmission, the inevitable use of door handles means that they can quickly become a hotspot for the spread of germs. While lock down restrictions remain uncertain, social distancing measures are expected to stay for some time. Holding open internal doors facilitates social distancing by allowing improved vision when entering or leaving a room, or when traveling through a corridor. Improving general ventilation Not to mention the post-COVID etiquette of whether or not a person should hold the door open for the person behind them. Workplace guidance identified ways employers and employees can work safely during the pandemic. One of the recommendations included the requirement for increased ventilation which can be achieved by opening windows and doors. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), said: “Good ventilation can help to minimize the risk of spreading coronavirus, so focus on improving general ventilation. Where possible, consider ways to increase the supply of fresh air, for example, by opening windows and doors.” Wire-free fire door holder Wedges or homemade devices should never be used to hold open a fire door and is illegal should a fire occur Geofire’s Agrippa door holder allows a door to be hygienically held open in a fixed position, preventing the need to touch the door handle. The Agrippa door closer’s free-swing feature allows a door to be held open at any angle. Using ‘listen and learn’ technology, the Agrippa suite of products will automatically release the door on the sound of the building’s fire alarm. Wedges or homemade devices should never be used to hold open a fire door and is illegal should a fire occur. Building operators have a legal responsibility to ensure fire doors are not illegally wedged open to ensure that they can prevent the spread of smoke and flames. The Agrippa wire-free fire door holder and closer are fully compliant to the requirements of BS 7273-4 for standard actuation of fire doors, and third party tested and approved to EN1154 and EN1155. Legally compliant solutions Andy Collinson, CEO at Geofire said: “Wedging open a fire door removes its ability to stop the spread of fire, putting lives at risk. There are legally compliant solutions readily available if ease of movement around a building or increased ventilation is required. From new builds to listed buildings, we have products to suit every installation; conventional hard wired, radio wire free and the Agrippa fire door holder and closer allow ‘dual mode’ installation, meaning you can install straight from the box and program our innovative ‘listen and learn’ patent technology at a more convenient time.”