Hi, I am considering installing a smoke alarm in the loft but do not know if this is :- 1) a good idea and worth doing? 2) if it is, then whether it should be battery or mains operated? any recommendations (for either)? 3) if it's mains, can I connect it to the loft light circuit? 4) will the smoke alarm be affected, for example, by the high temperature of the loft in the Summer so that is doesn't go off accidently? Your advice is appreciated. Thanks.
Hi, I am considering installing a smoke alarm in the loft but do not know if this is :- 1) a good idea and worth doing? Yes it is cannot have too much fire protection. 2) if it is, then whether it should be battery or mains operated? any recommendations (for either)? Mains is the way to go 3) if it's mains, can I connect it to the loft light circuit? Yes you can fixed live from the supply NOT switched as per the lamp. 4) will the smoke alarm be affected, for example, by the high temperature of the loft in the Summer so that is doesn't go off accidently? Nope Your advice is appreciated. Thanks.
If the loft is unconverted, it's known as an aggressive environment and therefore no go area for smoke alarms, because of dust etc The correct alarm is a Heat Alarm as here Big Dee: Way 2 Go!!
Hi, Thanks to you all for your advice so far. To confirm, my loft is unconverted. I will take up Sparky's advice on the cabling. Thanks Smokey for the link. Nice one. OK, so the 'Heat Alarm' is what I should go for. Would this be OK: http://www.screwfix.com/prods/48227/Security/Alarms/Heat-CO-Alarms/Mains-Heat-Alarm and I assume I would need this too: http://www.screwfix.com/prods/30152/Security/Alarms/Smoke-Alarms/Dicon-Surface-Mounting-Kit Thanks.
By the way the <u>Slick</u> ones on that page have integral terminal block, so you don't normally need a surface kit.
Nah * they.. This is what you want all the sparks love em..:x http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/TLSD144.html [Edited by: admin8]
The 2007 update to Part B building regs B1 dwellings (domestic) requires all smoke and heat alarms to have a backup power supply. Although NIC do not appear to have adopted this policy yet. Still if certifing to building regs i.e. part P registered then you would have to provide backup to all alarms or the building inspector will hunt you down Espicially if someones house catches fire during a power cut!
Never, had a prob, with a smoke alarm, in the old loft! Modernised or not! YOU, WILL NEED ONE HELL, OF A DRAUGHT!
Hi Tootyfruity, I'm not "scared to death". I wanted to add extra smoke alarms in the house and the one for the loft was something I was considering. Sorry, a bit confused now, which alarm should I think about, smoke or heat? Thanks.
The dust in the loft will kill an ionisation or optical alarm. Problem with heat detector is that your loft could well approach the trigger temp on a hot sunny day. A couple of years back when it was 37*C I don't think it would be unreasonable to suggest a loft temp would be nugging high 50's. Anyway give these could folk a bell: http://www.eielectronics.com/contactus.php
I'd repeat, if an <u>unconverted loft</u> space you need 57 deg C fixed point heat alarm http://www.kiddefyrnetics.co.uk/utcfs/Templates/Pages/Template-54/0,8063,pageId%3D1542%26siteId%3D405,00.html
Hi Jimbo, I called eielectronics and this confused me, they told me to install an ionisation alarm (EI141) as he said it's less prone to nuisance contamination eg dust. The optical and heat alarms were not recommended. Hmmm, not the response I was expecting as it differs from what the others have said in this post. I thought the call would reinforce what you guys have said.