smoke alarms on own circuit?

[greenjourneyman]

I don't have access to nfpa 72 @ the time. Do smokes have to be on own crk? If it matters it is a remodel.thanks

 

[ptonsparky]

No.

 

[Little Bill]

I don't have access to nfpa 72 @ the time. Do smokes have to be on own crk? If it matters it is a remodel.thanks

You are inviting the HO to defeat the alarms by turning off the breaker and removing the batteries to "shut them up" if you run them on their own circuit!:happyyes:

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Some local codes require them on their own breaker and others prohibit them from being on their own breaker.

 

[kwired]

You are inviting the HO to defeat the alarms by turning off the breaker and removing the batteries to "shut them up" if you run them on their own circuit!:happyyes:

And if they would happen to not be ones with a battery, you just don't have any protection at all if the circuit is off for any reason and could go unnoticed for a long time. I like to put them on with some lighting circuit so that this will not happen.

 

[RICK NAPIER]

2007 NFPA 72 Household Smoke Detectors
11.6.3 AC Primary Power Source. The ac power source shall
comply with the following conditions:
(4) AC primary (main) power shall be supplied either from a
dedicated branch circuit or the unswitched portion of a
branch circuit also used for power and lighting.

and if not a household

4.4.1.4.1 Dedicated Branch Circuit. A dedicated branch circuit
of one of the following shall supply primary power:

 

[iwire]

2007 NFPA 72 Household Smoke Detectors
11.6.3 AC Primary Power Source. The ac power source shall
comply with the following conditions:
(4) AC primary (main) power shall be supplied either from a
dedicated branch circuit or the unswitched portion of a
branch circuit also used for power and lighting.

and if not a household

4.4.1.4.1 Dedicated Branch Circuit. A dedicated branch circuit
of one of the following shall supply primary power:

When is a smoke alarm used outside a household?

 

[construct]

The ICCEC or Appendix 'K' of the IBC (if adopted) section K111.6 says; Single- and multiple-station smoke alarms required by this code and installed within dwelling units shall not be connected as the only load on a branch circuit. Such alarms shall be supplied by branch circuits having lighting loads consisting of lighting outlets in habitable spaces.

 

[Ragin Cajun]

South Carolina amended the NEC such that smokes could NOT be supplied from AFCI breakers. Forces one to have a dedicated breaker.


RC

 

[ptonsparky]

South Carolina amended the NEC such that smokes could NOT be supplied from AFCI breakers. Forces one to have a dedicated breaker.


RC

There has to be some sort of reasoning or rational for this change but I am just not seeing it.

 

[infinity]

2007 NFPA 72 Household Smoke Detectors
11.6.3 AC Primary Power Source. The ac power source shall
comply with the following conditions:
(4) AC primary (main) power shall be supplied either from a
dedicated branch circuit or the unswitched portion of a
branch circuit also used for power and lighting.

and if not a household

4.4.1.4.1 Dedicated Branch Circuit. A dedicated branch circuit
of one of the following shall supply primary power:

When is a smoke alarm used outside a household?

Bob I think that you meant to ask about a smoke detector.

 

[iwire]

Bob I think that you meant to ask about a smoke detector.

Actually no, smoke detectors are for use with fire panels.

Smoke alarms are what we install in homes, at least that is how they are listed.

But you you did make me look at the posted code more carefully and now I wonder why that section says smoke detectors.

Single- and Multiple-station Smoke Alarms
(UTGT)

USE

This category covers single- and multiple-station smoke alarms intended
to be employed in indoor locations where sensitivity testing and maintenance
of alarms, per section 10.4.4 of ANSI/NFPA 72, ??National Fire Alarm
Code?? (2007), is required by code, Authorities Having Jurisdiction, or other
requirement.

This category also covers single- and multiple-station smoke alarms that
have been performance tested to a minimum 10-year extended battery life
under normal ambient conditions. Unless otherwise noted in the individual
Listings, the alarms are intended for flush-mounted installation only, and
are not intended for use on surface-mounted boxes.

This category also covers supplementary devices and accessories for use
with these units, such as a remote horn. These products are identified in the
individual Listings.

DETECTORS, AUTOMATIC FIRE
(UPLV)

These are either individual devices or prescribed combinations of
devices designed to detect flame, heat, smoke, or combustion gases resulting
from a fire and to automatically operate electrical signaling contacts.
The signaling contacts may be integral parts of an individual device or
parts of a separate device to which the detecting element is connected as
an extended component.

The signaling contacts of the detector are intended to be connected to
the circuit conductors of fire protective signaling systems recognized by
the National Fire Protection Association Standards, so that the fire alarm
signal initiated by the detector will be indicated by the system.

 

[mjf]

I don't think I've ever done it, but it's good to (now) be aware that smoke alarms are not intended to mount to surface-mounted boxes.


BTW- I'm surprised they didn't use more definitive wording like "is prohibited" as opposed to "is not intended".

 

[ptonsparky]

Makes me wonder about those SDs hanging on boxes in areas that are not sheetrocked as in unfinished basements. No fires originate in those areas nor, if someone would happen to be in the area, would they need notification...