Smoke Detectors
SEM Security Systems
a division of Southeast Mobility
Inc
There are many different types of smoke detectors and I won't get
into all of that but what I want to address here is the difference
between a smoke detector which is attached to your alarm system
and the typical smoke detector that you purchase and install
yourself.
For the sake of this discussion let's assume that both types of
smoke detectors are identical in their ability to identify smoke and
sound an alarm. So why pay our outrageous price for smoke
detectors. Well to begin with our smoke detectors cost us 8 to 10
times as much as you can purchase one for at your local walmart,
but there are definite advantages. To begin with, our smoke
detectors are either wired to the panel and use the battery back up
in the panel for power in the event of an ac power outage. If we
use wireless smoke detectors, they have an internal battery but
instead of changing it twice a year as is recommended in a stand
alone smoke detector, the battery normally last 3 to 5 years. When
the battery does need to be changed, the smoke detector will
communicate that to the panel and you will be notified on your
keypad that the battery needs to be changed and which smoke
detector the low battery is on.
Another advantage is area wide notification. If you are asleep in
the bedroom and a fire starts in the basement, it may become an
inferno before smoke is detected near or in your bedroom by your
stand alone smoke detectors. If your smokes are on our alarm
system, no matter where the smoke is detected all of the sirens in
the building are going to sound, giving you more advance warning
and time to get to safety.
Alarm panel smoke detectors are working 24/7 and even if you are
not home the panel can notify the monitoring computer and a fire
department can be dispatched to the scene.
What are the disadvantages? To begin with there's the cost as
previously mentioned. Also, if you purchase your own smoke
detectors you can put in as many or as few as you want. If an
alarm company puts in your smoke detectors they are bound by
code to install them in certain places as a minimum. Specifically, if
it is an existing structure they are required outside of the
bedrooms, at the bottom of any stairs (including the basement
stairway), within 15 ft of any keypads, and in the room with the
alarm panel. If the alarm panel is hidden away inside the master
bedroom closet, then by code there is suppose to be a smoke
detector inside that closet. If it is a new construction, then in
addition to the areas listed above, you have to have smoke
detectors inside each bedroom.
This is the minimum, and the purpose is to assure that you have a
safe passage from inside the building to escape to safety. There
are no requirements for smokes where a fire is likely to start. For
instance there are no requirements for smokes near your cloths
dryer, or electrical panel, or gas fired heating unit. There are no
requirements for heat detectors in your attic where a wiring fire is
likely to start nor is there a requirement for a heat detector in the
kitchen where a grease fire would be likely to start. All of these
areas are good locations for smoke or heat detectors and you
should consider doing more than the minimum if your budget will
allow it.
And one last word about smoke detectors attached to your alarm
system. Code requires that if you add smoke detectors to an alarm
system, that all powered devices on that system must be
connected with "fire wire". Fire wire has a higher temperature rated
covering than the wire that is normally used on an alarm system. It
is easily identified because all fire wire is red in color. It must be
used on all powered devices which include smoke detectors,
keypads, glass break detectors, sirens, ac input power, and
phones lines, as well as any other device that is powered by the
system. That basically excludes door contacts. If you have smoke
detectors on your alarm panel, you should open the panel and look
for the presence of these red wires. If they aren't there, you should
notify your alarm company immediately. In the event of a fire, your
insurance claim could be denied if the fire marshal determines that
your system was not installed according to code.