Many of the products that we use everyday are designed to meet a number of common standards.

Standards ensure that products are safe and effective to use and, where necessary, that they can be used together with those from other manufacturers. For example, if you have the misfortune to fall from your bicycle, you’ll want the assurance of being protected by a helmet that meets agreed safety standards.

The standards we use in the UK are increasingly developed on a European or international basis, although standards are still started nationally when there is a particular need. RNID is involved in some key standards activities; notably the completion of a British standard for a smoke alarm for deaf people.

Smoke alarms

Smoke alarms for deaf people have been around for many years but no performance standards were available to guide manufacturers or purchasers as to what was required of the products. In 2005, British Standards Institution (external link, opens new browser window) (BSI) published BS 5446-3:2005, a UK national standard for smoke alarms for use by deaf people in the home.

This important standard covers many areas of performance, including the brightness of visual alarms and the strength of vibration for alerting pads to alert or wake deaf people in the event of fire. Since no scientific data existed for the amount of vibration needed to wake a sleeping deaf person, we carried out research in 2000 with the University of Exeter (external link, opens new browser window) and the Respiratory Support and Sleep Centre at Papworth Hospital (external link, opens new browser window). The research was funded by the Department of Trade and Industry through BSI.

Everyone should have smoke alarms in their flat or house. You can buy alarms in our online Shop.