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| Subject - smoke detectors | |
| CooCooMike | Any feed back on the differences and/or uses between photoelectric and ionization? In my area they only allow photoelectric. |
| JimmyDee | Wow! They both have their good points and I can't see why they would do that. I like the combination type for the halls and Ionizers for the rooms. I feel the battery backup are good. I installed 8 additional fire alarms in my house when a gal my wife works with husband, was cooking at 2am, set the house on fire and got woke up before it did real damage to the house. He got the kid out, called 911 and put the fire out before the fire dept got there. They also had a fire extinguisher. Made a believer out of me. Jim |
| Electricman | We install all combo units all with 9v battery backup. Most of the inspectors I have talked to prefer the combo units. Sometimes the AHJ asks for a carbon monoxide detector interconnected with these units and sometimes a heat alarm in the garage area as well. Why only photoelectric in your area? |
| stedder | I finished a house last August and in it the architect specd a smoke for each bedroom one in common halls, one in the kitchen (initially over the oven), a co sensor outside bedrooms and in area of gas burner as well as a heat detector there (all interconnected)this seemed just about right. I'm doing a large reno now with the same arch. and he specd out one on each level period. Maybe his 'puter broke (or burped on the first one). My question is, where do I come up w/ a solid, universially accepted layout for these systems if the it's a 115 volt system. I know my inspector looks for them and I want to get som backup for explanitaion for the architect. I spoke to the GC and he shrugged it off. |
| JimmyDee | Actually, what you have asked is one of my pet peeves. We install the stupid things and nothing is listed in the NEC about their installation. The best place I've seen for layouts for fire alarms is the instructions that come with the fire alarm. Unless its changed, one on each level, top of stairways, each bedroom and the hallway directly adjacent to the bedroom (s). Close to the kitchen and bathrooms is asking for a lot of nuisance trips. Nuisance trips are why people remove the batteries. Jim |
| CooCooMike | Well the reason for only photos is that the ionization are to sensative.I can only agree.Way to many times I have gone on inspections and found either the batteries were removed or the smoke was in a drawer when asked where it was.I would tell the people" that is where the fire dept. will find it when they pull out your charred remains".Then I tell them that photoelectric are not as sensative and are less likely to keep going off and will stay up on the ceiling longer |
| Ryan_J | quote: IRC R317 requires them in each sleeping room, directly outside of each sleeping room, and also on each floor. There is nothing regarding stairways. |
| Ryan_J | quote: The NEC also doesn't address when or where emergancy lighting is required, the IBC does. I don't think we want the NEC to address everything, imagine how big it would be :( |
| JimmyDee | quote: Thanks. It just seemed like a good spot to put one so I did. Thought I read it somewhere but I guess it was not an official requirement. I think I saw it in the install instructions but if you put one every place they suggest, you would install about 29 of them. Jim |
| Rodney | My understanding is that CO detectors must be installed on each level. Should they be installed on the walls or on the ceiling? Should I use a combo smoke/co detector on the ceiling? Is there a specific area where they should be installed? Thanks. Rodney |
| Ryan_J | Rodney: That would only apply if you have a state or local amendment. In Utah we are required to have a CO on each level, but it is only because it is a state code. As far as placement goes, the vapor density of carbon monoxide is 1.0, which means it is the same as air...it neither floats nor sinks, so in my opinion, it doesn't matter where you put it. |