Linked Smoke Detectors

[Mainstay]

Hi All,

I have been really absent from the forums because we are expanding our operation into a new building (!).

In speaking with the local Fire Department, they are recommending that our smoke detectors be linked between upstairs and downstairs so that one going off will simultaneously set the others off.

I am speaking with an electrician on this issue to see how easy / hard / pricey this will be...

However, do any of you have any good recommendations on a linked smoke detector?

Nest w/ Wireless Interconnect?

Just a whole area I've never even thought about.

Thank you all!

--Matthew

 

[Mercenary Roadie]

Is this commercial or residential? Will the smoke detectors be connected to an Alarm Panel?

NFPA 72 requires that all smoke detectors will sound when one goes off, it also required that they be hardwired if it's new construction or a remodel.

Nest is a good product. Really haven't looked into any others like it.

 

[Mainstay]

Is this commercial or residential?

Commercial upstairs (us!) and Residential renter downstairs.

Will the smoke detectors be connected to an Alarm Panel?

Not these detectors... but the building has an existing alarm system with some odd detectors throughout the building (odd, as in I don't know exactly what that weird little dome thing actually detects... alarm company coming out in a few days and will tell us). We are going to be having a monitored system for intrusion, heat, and CO.

https://business.eastlink.ca/business-security/packages/

NFPA 72 requires that all smoke detectors will sound when one goes off, it also required that they be hardwired if it's new construction or a remodel.

The FD didn't mention it as a requirement - but more as a best practice.

I think it completely makes sense. (I wouldn't want a fire upstairs in our office to occur while we are away and the downstairs tenant not have early warning).

So instead of retrofitting the entire operation I was thinking of swapping out the brand new hard wired smoke/CO detectors with something that is linked.

I still don't know if the existing detectors ARE actually linked... when I hit test on one, the others do NOT also alarm (does that tell me they are not linked?).

@Mercenary Roadie - thank you for your considered response and questions!

 

[Mainstay]

Had 2 nests in my shopping cart for the last few weeks and have been a bit reluctant to shell out almost $300 CAD.

I was in a local second hand store (Habitat for Humanity... not sure if that translates to anywhere else) and was looking for an old wired doorbell.

WTH? Two brand-new, in-the-box Nest Smoke/CO detectors. Same model as currently on-line. $60 a piece. Hell ya!

Weird place to find them, but a good price =)

 

[trevm999]

I was in a local second hand store (Habitat for Humanity... not sure if that translates to anywhere else) and was looking for an old wired doorbell.

The ReStore? Fantastic place

I think smoke detectors have to be interconnected according to the Canadian Electrical Code, but not smoke alarms.

 

[Mainstay]

The ReStore? Fantastic place

That's the one.

Our current reception desk came from ReStore. 7 years later it still looks good and may even make the move to the new location.

Just a completely random item to find.

 

[trevm999]

Almost seems more like something that would come from a business closure.

 

[Larry Sabo]

We bought a pair of Smoke+CO detectors that are linked through the household wiring, I think, for about $50 CAD each. When one goes off, the other does too. The brand is Kidde but I'm too lazy to take one down to get the model number, and I can't find the transaction in Quicken, probably because it was so long ago. Bought them at Home Depot, IIRC.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Most of the brands that sell them have models which tie into "smart home" systems. Even the classic old First Alert brand has models which link to each other.

 

[Mainstay]

Turns out the ones I am replacing are Kiddie. And now that we have our breakers figured out it looks like they are already linked. Lol. Oh well. I'll find a place for these Nests.