Less sensitive smoke alarms

[Guitarist]

I went to price a job up today and noticed the lady had physically disconnected her 2 interlinked smoke alarms, due to them always going off.
Obviously, I was concerned to see this and pointed out that not only is this dangerous, but that her insurance is probably invalid. She is a heavy smoker, which obviously doesn't help, but she claims that even steam from the bathroom will set them off!
I didn't get to see what make they were, but they were installed when the house was built 8 years ago.
I am keen to get 2 new ones installed that she can live with and would like any suggestions from you guys please. I like the look of the Aico Ei166RC, but have no experience of this model.

 

[Octopus]

Were they actually going off or were they "bleeping"? If its the later maybe they need a good hoovering. I can't imagine that cigarette smoke alone would set them off unless she's a continual chain smoker.

 

[topquark]

As above, try cleaning the chamber. Maybe they can be replaced with rate of rise heat detectors as opposed to smokes. I'm guessing this is domestic given the alarm and smoking environment.

 

[Guitarist]

Were they actually going off or were they "bleeping"? If its the later maybe they need a good hoovering. I can't imagine that cigarette smoke alone would set them off unless she's a continual chain smoker.

She said that they were "going off" on a regular basis, whenever she cooked, had a shower, and no doubt lit-up. It is a small 3-up, 2-down place so not a lot of circulation space.
There is the possibility that one of the originals was faulty from new, and she just took them out without bothering to check. If I was to install a new pair of good optical alarms, at least we would have done our best to minimise the amount they go off. It may be that she smokes around the house the originals were just too sensitive.

 

[Paul505]

Sorry to jump in on thread......
To comply with part B of building regs it says mains interlinked fire alarms to be fitted on new builds plus refurbished houses. What exactly does it mean by refurbished.....is it just relating to a rewire ?

 

[bawall]

they sound like they are probably old ionisation detectors replace them for some new optical or if your worried about false alarms dual sensor units the ones you mention should be ok
the old ones are near the end of there life as they should be changed every 10 years
and steam or even hair spray and deodorant can cause an alarm due to the partical size
and an odd false alarm when the place fills with steam or burns the toast is a good thing because they will never test it anyway

 

[trev]

I take it to mean if you're rewiring you must install them

 

[Paul505]

I take it to mean if you're rewiring you must install them

having d/b change with small alterations......does this mean mains smokes are required for this amount of work or just for full rewire, existing battery operated smokes fitted at the moment

 

[trev]

In that situation I think it's a case of giving the customer a strong recommendation mate

 

[Octopus]

having d/b change with small alterations......does this mean mains smokes are required for this amount of work or just for full rewire, existing battery operated smokes fitted at the moment

No.....

 

[PC Electrics]

Would bet that the ones fitted were ionisation alarms. Contractors fit ions to new build because they are cheaper than optical alarms, despite the fact opticals are recommended for escape routes.

The smokes are probably contaminated and causing false alarms.

You should fit opticals - which the Aico 166s are.

Heat alarms should never be fitted to escape routes (with the exception of dual sensor alarms). They detect the heat from a fire - by which time you won't be able to escape that way!!!

 

[DurhamSparky]

Aico smokes are the dogs!! Don't fit any other!

 

[Moses]

I went to price a job up today and noticed the lady had physically disconnected her 2 interlinked smoke alarms, due to them always going off.
Obviously, I was concerned to see this and pointed out that not only is this dangerous, but that her insurance is probably invalid. She is a heavy smoker, which obviously doesn't help, but she claims that even steam from the bathroom will set them off!
I didn't get to see what make they were, but they were installed when the house was built 8 years ago.
I am keen to get 2 new ones installed that she can live with and would like any suggestions from you guys please. I like the look of the Aico Ei166RC, but have no experience of this model.

Wrong type of detectors used.

in Incorrect locations.

Change the detector type

Change the detector location.

and install a Hush/test button.

 

[ipf]

I went to price a job up today and noticed the lady had physically disconnected her 2 interlinked smoke alarms, due to them always going off.
Obviously, I was concerned to see this and pointed out that not only is this dangerous, but that her insurance is probably invalid. She is a heavy smoker, which obviously doesn't help, but she claims that even steam from the bathroom will set them off!
I didn't get to see what make they were, but they were installed when the house was built 8 years ago.
I am keen to get 2 new ones installed that she can live with and would like any suggestions from you guys please. I like the look of the Aico Ei166RC, but have no experience of this model.

Aico are good. But how long since she disconnected them? Six or seven years? Have they never been satisfactory?

 

[keniff]

Aico smokes are the dogs!! Don't fit any other!

Same as

 

[sedgy34]

change the batterys

 

[needasparks]

Guitarist I think your on the right lines with your thinking, as others have said the aico does seem to be the best to fit and I would give it another vote, Its all I fit now.
You say the existing were fitted eight years ago so most start to get a over sensitive after 5 years or so, I think may normally be due to dust build up and most people never clean them. A bit like the tv screen they attract dust inside and i guess the components overheat a bit.
I tend to advise they run the hoover hose round them now and again to keep it down, I get the mrs to do this at home to the ones I fitted 10 yrs ago (aico) and had no problems yet. In saying that the ones before them we used as a dinner gong but the wifes cooking is much better now.

 

[Strima]

Probably all that tar and nicotine building up in them has knackered them. I'd hate to see the state of my lungs... :lol:

 

[PC Electrics]

I tend to advise they run the hoover hose round them now and again to keep it down, I get the mrs to do this at home to the ones I fitted 10 yrs ago (aico) and had no problems yet. In saying that the ones before them we used as a dinner gong but the wifes cooking is much better now.

That'll be as per the Manufacturers instructions then !!

 

[needasparks]

That'll be as per the Manufacturers instructions then !!

Come on, I'm a man. We don't do instructions.

 

[Strima]

Come on, I'm a man. We don't do instructions.

Instructions are there for the recycling bin to make you feel better about saving the planet.

 

[Guitarist]

Thanks for all the replies. I should have asked exactly when she took them down, but as I said, I was there looking at another job at the time and didn't have very long.
I think I will quote her for fitting 2 new Aico Ei166RC and give her some advice on keeping them clean.
Moses, relocation not really possible as the ceilings are really small and I think the original sparky got them pretty spot-on. Thanks for the input tho

 

[Amp David]

Even if you fit new optical alarms right near a bathroom, if there's loads of steam then they'' still probably go off.

Every manufacturer advises of siting anywhere near a bathroom.

 

[ipf]

Extension just done, one Aico fitted. Now Building Control say they want 2 more in the house, can you fit wireless ones. Told him 'Yes, but she'll have to turn her radio on for them to operate'. For about 10 seconds he actually looked worried.lol.

 

[Guitarist]

Extension just done, one Aico fitted. Now Building Control say they want 2 more in the house, can you fit wireless ones. Told him 'Yes, but she'll have to turn her radio on for them to operate'. For about 10 seconds he actually looked worried.lol.

3 alarms just because of an extension? Thought you only needed that with new-builds.

 

[Spudnik]

If the extension is substantial and of course depending on the type, i have been required to install smoke alarms to all floors.

I use the Aico, and if you can get a feed to it, you can use the radio bases for linking duties.

They also do a remote wireless switch that can be used in many configurations.

 

[ipf]

3 alarms just because of an extension? Thought you only needed that with new-builds.

Disabled grant job for local authority. He wants one in the new extension and two in the house, one at the foot of the stairs and one on the landing, all interlinked.

 

[topquark]

Disabled grant job for local authority. He wants one in the new extension and two in the house, one at the foot of the stairs and one on the landing, all interlinked.

You might want to suggest CO and heat alarms (for any gas boiler and kitchen) as well.

 

[Guitarist]

Disabled grant job for local authority. He wants one in the new extension and two in the house, one at the foot of the stairs and one on the landing, all interlinked.

Fair enough

 

[Risteard]

Thanks for all the replies. I should have asked exactly when she took them down, but as I said, I was there looking at another job at the time and didn't have very long.
I think I will quote her for fitting 2 new Aico Ei166RC and give her some advice on keeping them clean.
Moses, relocation not really possible as the ceilings are really small and I think the original sparky got them pretty spot-on. Thanks for the input tho

If you have the interlink wired then EI146 Optical smoke alarms might be cheaper than EI166RC.

 

[ipf]

You might want to suggest CO and heat alarms (for any gas boiler and kitchen) as well.

I nearly suggested something else to the awkward sod.
Not a bad idea though, top. Trouble is the budgets. They allow for as little as possible at the design stage and expect the tradesmen to bend over backwards. It's about priorities, so safety should be at the top of the list. The all singing, all dancing bog costs more to buy than my full job. (it's bloody good though, not that I've tried it).

 

[ipf]

If the extension is substantial and of course depending on the type, i have been required to install smoke alarms to all floors.

I use the Aico, and if you can get a feed to it, you can use the radio bases for linking duties.

They also do a remote wireless switch that can be used in many configurations.

Yeah, cheers Jason. It's only bedroom, utility and walk in shower. Got a mains supply to the one in the extension so just need a radio base to link with the other two. Doubt I'll get an extra for it though.

 

[Guitarist]

If you have the interlink wired then EI146 Optical smoke alarms might be cheaper than EI166RC.

Thanks for the suggestion. They are a little cheaper, but use alkaline batteries. I think that if I am going to put my name to this, I will quote for the units with a 10 year battery life

 

[needasparks]

3 alarms just because of an extension? Thought you only needed that with new-builds.

I think alot will depend on the existing house layout and differences from council to council as they work from a list of advise and regulations and I'm sure we have all had cases where they hear something that sounds good and tell you they want it as if it was regulation.
Round my way if an extension that includes a bedroom is off a lounge or kitchen meaning the fire exit route from the bedroom passes through these rooms the need for additional smokes is required to cover both sides of the route so have become the norm for me.
I guess this is due to the information they work from advises kitchens and lounges being the two most likely souces of fire, well it was when they let me see their notes he quoted from.