RatLabGuy
You look like a monkey and smell like one too
- Joined
- May 18, 2005
- Location
- Churchville, MD
I know we have several firefighter/EMS/other safety related folks here, looking for expert opinions.
BLUF: looking for suggestions for a recommended detector model(s) given my setup below.
I'm finishing part of my basement (per permit) and have come to realize I need to update the smoke detector(s) and add some to that space to match current code .
My understanding is now any new ones must have AC power primary AND must be interconnected w/ other units.
And, my state now requires they be 10-year "sealed battery" units you replace (law says in place by 2018). My interpretation though is that's the case w/ any non-AC hardwired unit?
House is a standard ranch built in '67 and mostly just has a handful of cheap standalone 9v units. At some point the PO installed a home monitoring/alarm system, and there's one in the main hallway, attic, and basement which are hardwired together.
My thinking is, we've already been here 7.5 years, might as well just replace everything now and do it all in one fell swoop and do it right.
Now, I really don't want to go running interconnect wire everywhere or new AC where not necessary.
re: placement, my plan is:
- mud room/laundry that sis between kitchen and garage
- back den (not far from kitchen)
- heat detector (not smoke) in dinette area continuous w/ kitchen (standard detector has been problematic here w/ smoky cooking)
- main hallway close to all bedroom doors (existing hardwired already)
- attic (existing hardwired already)
- basement unfinished area (existing hardwired already)
- basement living room, away from fireplace (may need to use heat detector?)
- basement "media room"
That's 8 units at least. I know current code is inside each bedroom... which would add 3 more... but the cost on this is going to add up quickly.
I know there are wireless interconnect systems, like FirstAlert ONELink, which seems like a good solution.
What say ye? Is there a particularly good/preferred model?
I really don't care for the interconnect thing, as I've been in a house where they went off and it's awful b/c all you hear everywhere is alarms and you can't tell which one is actually at the source. I understand the point, but my house is only 1800 sf, it's not like we can't hear an alarm from anywhere in the house.
I'm tempted to put AC hardwired wireless link ones just where required (e.g. in new space in basement) and replacing the existing ones (hallway, attic, basement) so those are all interconnected, and just use 10-year battery non-interconnect ones everywhere else to keep it affordable and easy.
BLUF: looking for suggestions for a recommended detector model(s) given my setup below.
I'm finishing part of my basement (per permit) and have come to realize I need to update the smoke detector(s) and add some to that space to match current code .
My understanding is now any new ones must have AC power primary AND must be interconnected w/ other units.
And, my state now requires they be 10-year "sealed battery" units you replace (law says in place by 2018). My interpretation though is that's the case w/ any non-AC hardwired unit?
House is a standard ranch built in '67 and mostly just has a handful of cheap standalone 9v units. At some point the PO installed a home monitoring/alarm system, and there's one in the main hallway, attic, and basement which are hardwired together.
My thinking is, we've already been here 7.5 years, might as well just replace everything now and do it all in one fell swoop and do it right.
Now, I really don't want to go running interconnect wire everywhere or new AC where not necessary.
re: placement, my plan is:
- mud room/laundry that sis between kitchen and garage
- back den (not far from kitchen)
- heat detector (not smoke) in dinette area continuous w/ kitchen (standard detector has been problematic here w/ smoky cooking)
- main hallway close to all bedroom doors (existing hardwired already)
- attic (existing hardwired already)
- basement unfinished area (existing hardwired already)
- basement living room, away from fireplace (may need to use heat detector?)
- basement "media room"
That's 8 units at least. I know current code is inside each bedroom... which would add 3 more... but the cost on this is going to add up quickly.
I know there are wireless interconnect systems, like FirstAlert ONELink, which seems like a good solution.
What say ye? Is there a particularly good/preferred model?
I really don't care for the interconnect thing, as I've been in a house where they went off and it's awful b/c all you hear everywhere is alarms and you can't tell which one is actually at the source. I understand the point, but my house is only 1800 sf, it's not like we can't hear an alarm from anywhere in the house.
I'm tempted to put AC hardwired wireless link ones just where required (e.g. in new space in basement) and replacing the existing ones (hallway, attic, basement) so those are all interconnected, and just use 10-year battery non-interconnect ones everywhere else to keep it affordable and easy.
