Preferred Mains Smoke Detector brand?

[Noob2013]

Hi all,

What's everyone's preference on mains interlinkable smoke/heat detectors taking into account price, reliability and look?

Ive used Aico several times and never had a problem but they are expensive and quite bulky!

Cheers

 

[Harni]

Aico all day long for me. Bearing in mind im a fire alarm engineer so install a lot of these in domestic properties, Aico devices seem to be the best made and most reliable considering the price.

 

[Dave OCD]

Aico for me too, the only small criticism I'd mention would be that the terminal block 'compartment' doesn't give you much space to connect neatly,still much better than a deep ugly pattress or cutting a dry lining box into the ceiling though.

 

[123]

Aico for me, nothing else comes close. The terminal block can be a pain, especially if trying to get 3 cores into one terminal when fitting replacements. I've had to replace a lot of Kidde detectors faulty well before the replace by date on them, local fire brigade has said they get loads of false alarms from the Kidde stuff especially the CO detectors.

 

[Harni]

Only thing i will say is avoid the Aico sealed 10 year battery devices in favour of the PP3 versions. I seem to end up replacing a fair few of the sealed ones well under their 10 year life.

 

[Dave OCD]

I always buy the 9v replaceable battery back up version, much cheaper too !

 

[Dcf]

Aico for me
as harni the rechargeable 10 year version is 2x the price of the 9v version and i also have changed a fair amount that were well before 10 years old.
the new ones are quite nice aesthetically .
the multi sensor ones are good and are just the job for open plan kitchen /diners
I would also recommend aicos training course if one comes up in your area as it is quite informative and you get a nice pack with some good info in it that can't be picked up at the trade counter

 

[Hellmooth]

The BRK and the old Kiddie, don`t actually meet BS standards, as there is no form of safe lockable isolation

In what way? Surely isolating the supply would be enough?

 

[tazz]

Most mains detectors have a locked sliding isolation base....this meets BS requirements of safe isolation for maintenance, and lockable using key or tool to remove detector. If a detector requires dissconnection from a terminal block, then this does not meet part 6.

 

[Hellmooth]

Most mains detectors have a locked sliding isolation base....this meets BS requirements of safe isolation for maintenance, and lockable using key or tool to remove detector. If a detector requires dissconnection from a terminal block, then this does not meet part 6.

Even the cheap Hi-spec ones are a pull out connector block so these would comply with part 6?

 

[steamboatwilly]

Aico....great build quality and excellent range of types. For this type of item I'd not worry about a few quid price difference, safety (and quality) first.

I've fitted LOADS and never had any issues at all.