smoke alarms compulsary on a board change

[topquark]

will check with BC in the morning. the builder has showm me some plans, it says smoke alarms must be fitted in accordance with regulation x or words to that effect but theres nothing on the drawings showing what they want.
also why does it say they have to be on their own circuit?? i was always taught to put on the lighting circuit so the tennants couldn't switch them off! makes sense to have them on the lighting circuit if you ask me, then if they are off you know they are off cos it's dark...
infact can someone explain why mains interlinked smoke alarms are better than battery smoke alarms?

Interlinking is simply so that all occupants are alerted, irrespective of where the fire/smoke/heat/CO is first detected. The AICO range has an add on that can tell you which device triggered the alert (in similar way to zoning on a panel does).

 

[ExArmy]

yeah i''ll agree with the interlinking, but can you not get battery interlinked smoke alarms?
and for my exstension tomorrow it does specify on the plans that they are to be installed on a dedicated circuit, but i am going to ask BC if it's ok to put on a lighting circuit.

 

[topquark]

Not that I'm aware of. Just pair them with the lighting for that area/room and use wireless interlink ones.

 

[topquark]

Aico 160 series: Smoke Alarms Mains + Lithium Back Up

 

[Jimmy Boy]

I can't see them allowing battery ones on an new extension, I agree with previous posts on the subject of them being on a commonly used lighting circuit so you know they are tripped, you will notice a light off, but if the dedicated circuit goes down on the smokes and your away for a few days the back up will be depleted and you may not know they are fubared, but then the regs do like as many circuits as poss on their own breaker..so I can see that point as well.
J

 

[ExArmy]

so from what i've read so far tonight (electricians guide to the building regs) it looks like i need to fit one at the bottom of the stairs and the top of the stairs. no reg states i have to install a HD in the kitchen it's just advised

 

[ExArmy]

another thing, I always thought it was acceptable to wire it in T&E for radio bases and 3 core if interlinking. i've used red stuff when i had it provided but never bothered buying it for my own jobs, am i right in thinking that the use or red cable is only advised, and not mandatory?
and another thing, page 123 of the electricians guide to the building regs it says

"otherwise, fire alarm system cables generally are required to be fire resistant and segregated per BS5839-1 and BS5839-6 to minimise adverse effects from :

installation cable faults, fire on other circuits, electromagnetic interference and mechanical damage"

so whats all this about?

 

[Jimmy Boy]

another thing, I always thought it was acceptable to wire it in T&E for radio bases and 3 core if interlinking. i've used red stuff when i had it provided but never bothered buying it for my own jobs, am i right in thinking that the use or red cable is only advised, and not mandatory?
and another thing, page 123 of the electricians guide to the building regs it says

"otherwise, fire alarm system cables generally are required to be fire resistant and segregated per BS5839-1 and BS5839-6 to minimise adverse effects from :

installation cable faults, fire on other circuits, electromagnetic interference and mechanical damage"

so whats all this about?

This is not my field but it's not a fire alarm system ? Thats a different ball game, FP200 is the usual I see for those systems
J

 

[Dave 85]

I've never known FP200 (the red stuff) to be used on a domestic job. Balls to what the regs say just use 3c&e

 

[topquark]

If you run alarm cables (the signalling one, in particular) alongside another cable you can get "false triggering" due to induction. Used to be particularly noticeable if you ran a lighting circuit with florries alongside the alarm cable.

BTW I think that if run from the lighting circuit it should have a separate means of isolation (not a reg, but in the on site guide), the ability to remove the head from base should satisfy that.

 

[ExArmy]

This is not my field but it's not a fire alarm system ? Thats a different ball game, FP200 is the usual I see for those systems
J

yep your right, it's been a long night i missed the paragraph before:

"other than for large houses, the cable for the power supply to each self contained unit and for the interconnections between self contained units need have no fire survival properties, and needs no special segregation"

but i'd still like to know the line on red sheathed cable for smoke/heat detectors. is it compulsory? ( i really hope it isn't!)

 

[sedgy34]

The bloke who talks alot is talkin out his arse!
No need to install smoke alarms on a db change wwhatsoever if you rewire a property it's best to install mains smokes if customer goes for them
and extensions labc want to see smokes interlinked so they all work when they press the button on the smoke. That's there little toy cause they don't know anything else with electrics other than the logo on the cert

 

[i=p/u]

makes sense topqueer

 

[ExArmy]

and sorry for causing confusion, i when i say red stuff i meant red sheathed T&E or 3C&E as opposedto grey sheathed . i've never used FP apart from in college!

 

[i=p/u]

in residential no red fp cable , grey stuff, 3c