Domestic Smoke Detector Recommendations

[charlie76]

Looking for advice on reasonably priced, reliable smoke detectors to fit the following, any recommendations would be appreciated:

• Mains operated
• Radio/Wireless Interlink
• Battery Backed

 

[charlie76]

If budget isn’t an issue the Nest smoke alarms are rather neat

Unfortunately budget is an issue, doing it for a landlord.

 

[Cadgey123]

Unfortunately budget is an issue, doing it for a landlord.

Aico it is then, decent to install and very reliable

 

[elsparko]

Yes this is why I am going for wireless. They are rental properties so are tenanted and I thought it would be a nightmare to try and run interlinks and end ups costing more than a wireless base.

time to lift carpets/floors remove plasterboard, fish cables etc i agree the radio link makes a saving cost wise, would you rather 2 hours extra to run a communication cable or pay a bit extra for a radio base and little disruption to existing decor, id go radio everytime

unless its a bungalow

 

[elsparko]

Yes this is why I am going for wireless. They are rental properties so are tenanted and I thought it would be a nightmare to try and run interlinks and end ups costing more than a wireless base.

time to lift carpets/floors remove plasterboard, fish cables etc i agree the radio link makes a saving cost wise, would you rather 2 hours extra to run a communication cable or pay a bit extra for a radio base and little disruption to existing decor, id go radio everytime

unless its a bungalow

 

[charlie76]

Cheers everyone, gone with the Aico. I normally fit these but wire interlinked so I'm happy with the Aico unit. I was just surprised how much the wireless bases were so wondered what you guys were installing. I've quoted the landlord but not had a reply, I guess he's fallen off his chair and not got up yet.

 

[JK-Electrical]

Unfortunately budget is an issue, doing it for a landlord.

Aye ..... and this is why I see so many of those cheap and nasty BRK abominations installed in rental properties. Yuk.

 

[elsparko]

Cheers everyone, gone with the Aico. I normally fit these but wire interlinked so I'm happy with the Aico unit. I was just surprised how much the wireless bases were so wondered what you guys were installing. I've quoted the landlord but not had a reply, I guess he's fallen off his chair and not got up yet.

best to visit the job first and see how difficult linking would be vs radio, cost of decor etc mounts up, plus the time taken to run said cable, depending on how the joists are run you may get away with fishing the cable through from room to room and radio linking some of them

some landlords have a no trunking policy, others dont mind, some will let you cut out patches etc

 

[JK-Electrical]

unless its a bungalow

....... or a top-floor flat!

 

[elsparko]

Aye ..... and this is why I see so many of those cheap and nasty BRK abominations installed in rental properties. Yuk.

see alot of those fire angels aswell, B&Qs got them well stocked for penny pinching landlords

remove alot of battery only fire angels, landlords dont seem to understand they have a duty of care to provide a decent fire alarm system

 

[elsparko]

did one job where the landlord had 3 interlinked hardwired 230v alarms, wired in speaker cable, no heat in kitchen, no alarm in lounge, no co2 detectors and he was fighting against my assessment of the smoke alarms, all 3 fire angels were in the top hallway, not one of them within 3metres of any door, hidden in corners as best they could be

this place had a bath that had carpet all around it , that green bathrooms from the 70s green

 

[JK-Electrical]

see alot of those fire angels aswell, B&Qs got them well stocked for penny pinching landlords

remove alot of battery only fire angels, landlords dont seem to understand they have a duty of care to provide a decent fire alarm system

Landlords tend to know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. Some of them are tighter than a nun's snatch.

 

[JK-Electrical]

did one job where the landlord had 3 interlinked hardwired 230v alarms, wired in speaker cable

When they went off did they play a tune?

 

[elsparko]

When they went off did they play a tune?

didnt even waste my time testing them lol, started fresh with a whole new system, kept me busy as the layout of this place was strange

even if it costs them a grand to get them done, its paid for itself when it comes time to sell the property as its only going to add value