Smoke alarms domestic !

Tokyo Joe · Oct 5, 2009

Can anyone confirm to me!!! ...... I received a A4 leaflet this year via the ECA stating that Smoke detectors in dwellings can be fed via a used lighting circuit ??????
I know and have read the stated stuff about being fed via own circuit etc etc !!!!
Of course in the perfect world their own dedicated circuit is a good idea !!!!!! BUT !!
What about the cases I have seen recently where there is a fault on the detector and the user simply turns the mcb off.... problem solved.
If the detector was shared with a well used lighting circuit this solution would not work !!!
Thus having it in the lighting circuit would make you resolve the problem and not just " switch it off "
Any thoughts !

Mac · Oct 5, 2009

BS 5839: Pt.6 states that a Grade D system (domestic mains smoke and heat alarms with a back-up supply) may be wired either from a dedicated circuit or from a regularly used lighting circuit; it also refers to radio- linked systems as being acceptably wired in this manner.
Wiring from a lighting circuit is advantageous as it is unlikely the user will deliberately or accidentally turn the circuit off, which is more likely in the case of a dedicated circuit.As stated,i always put my smokes on a dedicated circuit,that is just my preference mate,there is no right or wrong way of connecting them.