Interlinked alarms

Quartz · 14 Nov 2020 at 18:10

What do people recommend for interlinked smoke and heat alarms?

Wee Kelpie has decreed that we Jocks must not only have a certain number of alarms but those alarms must be interlinked. I have history with the Fire Brigades so I'm glad to see the insistence on having these alarms, but while I'm sure that having them interlinked make sense for the MSP's grand mansions, it really doesn't make sense in a small (~ 700 square feet including interior walls) flat like mine.

I'd prefer wireless and battery operated for ease of installation.

Q: How many alarms are required to meet the standards?
A: The standard requires:
one smoke alarm installed in the room most frequently used for general daytime living purposes
one smoke alarm in every circulation space on each storey, such as hallways and landings
one heat alarm installed in every kitchen
All alarms should be ceiling mounted and interlinked.
Where there is a carbon-fuelled appliance (such as boilers, fires (including open fires) and heaters) or a flue, a carbon monoxide detector is also required which does not need to be linked to the fire alarms.

Derek W · 14 Nov 2020 at 19:01

Quartz said:
What do people recommend for interlinked smoke and heat alarms?

Wee Kelpie has decreed that we Jocks must not only have a certain number of alarms but those alarms must be interlinked. I have history with the Fire Brigades so I'm glad to see the insistence on having these alarms, but while I'm sure that having them interlinked make sense for the MSP's grand mansions, it really doesn't make sense in a small (~ 700 square feet including interior walls) flat like mine.

I'd prefer wireless and battery operated for ease of installation.

One wired into the mains the rest can be wireless.

Quartz · 14 Nov 2020 at 19:15

Derek W said:
One wired into the mains the rest can be wireless.

I have no wish to hire an electrician.

JRJ · 14 Nov 2020 at 19:24

I went with Aico which was recommended in an earlier post.

Quartz · 14 Nov 2020 at 20:49

JRJ said:
I went with Aico which was recommended in an earlier post.

So that would be the 600 series, right? Excellent. Looks like I need 2x Ei605CRF for the living room and hall and 1x Ei603RF for the kitchen.

JRJ · 15 Nov 2020 at 10:27

Quartz said:
So that would be the 600 series, right? Excellent. Looks like I need 2x Ei605CRF for the living room and hall and 1x Ei603RF for the kitchen.

Yes looks right, had to double check as mines the mains powered 3000 series.

Quartz · 15 Nov 2020 at 10:52

Eddie2k · 15 Nov 2020 at 11:16

For ease go for the AICO 600 series

EI650RF Optical Smoke
EI603RF

Eddie2k · 15 Nov 2020 at 11:22

Pressed enter too quickly and can't seem to edit the above post!

For ease go for the AICO 600 series

EI650RF Optical Smoke
EI603RF Heat Alarm for kitchen

This is what I install where there isn't easy access to run in new cables without lifting floors etc.

All AICO alarms have a 10 year lifespan wether they have the tamper proof lithium battery or hard wired

Quartz · 15 Nov 2020 at 11:27

Eddie2k said:
EI650RF Optical Smoke

Ah, I've just ordered the 605s.

Eddie2k · 15 Nov 2020 at 11:29

Quartz said:
Ah, I've just ordered the 605s.

I'd be returning them as they are the 9v alkaline battery version (5 years)

The new legislation states long life tamper proof lithium battery (10 years)

lewism · 15 Nov 2020 at 16:21

Aico's are the best in class. You get battery Heat/Optical/Hush/Co as well as a Hardwired version of everything. They are the best in market and I personally wouldn't fit anything else.

Quartz · 15 Nov 2020 at 16:51

Eddie2k said:
The new legislation states long life tamper proof lithium battery (10 years)

I've emailed them to cancel or amend the order.

Fourstar · 16 Nov 2020 at 13:18

This is timely information for me. I was recently looking at interlinked alarms for my own house (in England).

I came to the conclusion that the replaceable battery model would be better as AICO only stand behind their 10 year models with a 5 year warranty. This would now appear unwise if England adopts similar regulations.

Does anyone know if the wired radiolinked alarms can be placed next to existing light fittings and connected to the lighting ring for power? I had discounted wired alarms as I don't want my house torn apart to install new cabling.

Eddie2k · 17 Nov 2020 at 12:34

Fourstar said:
This is timely information for me. I was recently looking at interlinked alarms for my own house (in England).

I came to the conclusion that the replaceable battery model would be better as AICO only stand behind their 10 year models with a 5 year warranty. This would now appear unwise if England adopts similar regulations.

Does anyone know if the wired radiolinked alarms can be placed next to existing light fittings and connected to the lighting ring for power? I had discounted wired alarms as I don't want my house torn apart to install new cabling.

Yes, you can supply alarms from lighting circuits. I actually prefer this way because if your mcb or rcbo trips then you would know that your alarms also aren't powered if the lights don't work.

New builds, rewires tend to have a dedicated mcb/rcbo for the alarm circuit. Depending on the manufacturer you would only know this circuit has tripped when the internal battery starts to go flat and you hear the beeps.

Eddie2k · 17 Nov 2020 at 12:38

Also keeping in mind AICOs siting instructions

Fourstar · 18 Nov 2020 at 15:52

Thanks for the info.

I noticed some of the AICO wired alarms have 9V alkaline or rechargeable lithium backup batteries. The product pages mention 10 year lives for these. Are there regulations on the lifetime of these units like there are for the batteries in emergency lighting?

lewism · 19 Nov 2020 at 22:02

Fourstar said:
Thanks for the info.

I noticed some of the AICO wired alarms have 9V alkaline or rechargeable lithium backup batteries. The product pages mention 10 year lives for these. Are there regulations on the lifetime of these units like there are for the batteries in emergency lighting?

I have fitted literally thousands of Aico Alarms over the years. Currently replacing ones that were fitted in 09/10/11 for the new range. The 10 year battery is offered due to them being rechargeable. Not every detector ever manufactured makes it to ten years, it's an educated guess really. But for the relatively small amount of money they cost you're not going to be out of pocket if the battery gives up the ghost in 7 years time.