Heat Detector/Alarm in Boiler Room

[infinity]

When I purchased my home there was an interconnected combo CO/smoke alarm in the boiler room. Since the boiler and HWH are natural gas I removed it. I was considering installing a heat detector/alarm in its place, would there be any real benefit to doing so? The box/wiring is already in place so it's just a question of purchasing the device.

 

[hbiss]

Why do you feel that a combo CO/smoke wouldn't be indicated in this instance? Nat gas produces CO. Matter of fact I believe the smoke alarm literature recommends a CO/smoke in the boiler room. Only place I remember them recommending a heat is the attic.

-Hal

 

[infinity]

I believe that there is a minimum recommended distance from fuel burning appliances this unit is 3' from the boiler.

 

[hbiss]

Where not to install: Do not install in garages, kitchens, furnace rooms or bathrooms! INSTALL AT LEAST 5 FEET AWAY FROM ANY FUEL BURNING APPLIANCE.

I stand corrected. This is from a Kidde instruction manual for a combo alarm.

-Hal

 

[Beaches EE]

In a former house I had heat detectors in the attic, garage and utility room interconnected to the smoke and combination smoke/CO alarms in the other areas of the home. This passed both electrical and fire protection inspections after the remodel.

 

[gadfly56]

I stand corrected. This is from a Kidde instruction manual for a combo alarm.

-Hal

I can understand the garage, kitchen and bathrooms, but not the furnace room. Unless they mean basically a closet that the furnace is shoe-horned into. That, I'd understand.

 

[infinity]

I remember reading somewhere that installing them in a closed room near a gas fired appliance or two was not recommended and that is one of the reasons that they're not required there.

 

[gadfly56]

I remember reading somewhere that installing them in a closed room near a gas fired appliance or two was not recommended and that is one of the reasons that they're not required there.

That's a little bizarre, since the code requires that CO detectors be installed in residential applications where there is a fossil-fuel burning appliance. Why should it not be close to the potential source?

 

[goldstar]

When I purchased my home there was an interconnected combo CO/smoke alarm in the boiler room. Since the boiler and HWH are natural gas I removed it. I was considering installing a heat detector/alarm in its place, would there be any real benefit to doing so? The box/wiring is already in place so it's just a question of purchasing the device.

If it makes you feel comfortable or safer then go ahead and install one. IMHO, I don't see a benefit unless you're of the frame of mind that "something is better than nothing." If possible I would have placed the combo unit at the base of the stairs where there is an up-draft.

That said, I believe the heat detectors that are 120V-inter-connected are fixed temperature and not rate-of-rise type (but I could be wrong). If they are fixed temp they are either 136 or 190 degrees (but I'm sure you know that already)

 

[infinity]

I believe the heat detectors that are 120V-inter-connected are fixed temperature and not rate-of-rise type (but I could be wrong). If they are fixed temp they are either 136 or 190 degrees (but I'm sure you know that already)

Given the construction of the room with wood studs and wood ceiling joists either one of those fixed value detectors would probably have little value in the event of a fire in that room. There is a combo CO/Smoke alarm outside of the room already.

 

[kwired]

I can see possibly eliminating false alarms by keeping CO detector certain distance away from natural convection draft appliances you might get occasional back draft that won't really hurt anything.

Blower induced draft appliances shouldn't let any exhaust gas escape inside the home and shouldn't matter how close you would place a CO detector.