MA smoke detectors for 2 family homes

[kendog]

Good morning everyone its been a while since my last post. I have a question dealing with smoke detectors in MA. I have a 2 family home that shaires a common FOYER. MA state code article 3603.16.1 staes under the exception that smoke detectors that serve common areas as in a common hall, basement or stairway shall have a smoke detector installed out side of dwelling unit doorway. The device must be audible in all bedrooms with intervening doors closed. with that said here is my problem. the bedrooms are up stairs. Clearly you would not be able to hear the smoke detector going off down stairs in an isolated fire rated section of the building. I contacted MA about this and they said to interconnect the smoke detector with the dwelling units. Which MA code strictly prohibits. I also asked about installing 2 smoke detectors one for each dwelling unit in the common foyer and the reply I got was you can not do this because if you have a common foyer the smoke detectors are all to be interconnected. How can I sufice one code with out leagaly breaking another. Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[LarryFine]

Re: MA smoke detectors for 2 family homes

I'd press MA to answer this question, since they are the ones enforcing both sides of the conflict.

To add: Is there a house panel that could supply the entire, common smoke circuit?

[ January 12, 2006, 08:58 AM: Message edited by: LarryFine ]

 

[kendog]

Re: MA smoke detectors for 2 family homes

no but I don't see how it would help since you wouldn't be able te hear the smoke detector form the common foyer in the upstairs. The only way I see to meet this requirement would be to interconnnect them which is a violation of their code. What to do what to do>

 

[LarryFine]

Re: MA smoke detectors for 2 family homes

I asked about a house panel to suggest that the entire building's smoke-detector system be powered independently from either unit's panel.

I repeat that the authority requiring that which it prohibits should be consulted for an acceptable solution to the quandry they're causing:

Originally posted by kendog:
I contacted MA about this and they said to interconnect the smoke detector with the dwelling units. Which MA code strictly prohibits.

Have them put the instruction to interconnect in writing on the same piece of paper that has the prohibition on it. In other words, document their words.

 

[electricmanscott]

Re: MA smoke detectors for 2 family homes

Kendog, I just read through the requirements. What it looks like you need is smoke detectors in the common areas that also sound a horn of some type inside the dwellings.

I have wired smokes in two and three family houses may times. The normal installation is interconnected units in all common areas. These are powered from a separate landlord panel and meter.
Inside the units are battery powered smokes.

This is for existing dwellings.

I have never installed a remote horn inside a unit to sound with the common area devices nor have I been required to.

Who did you talk to? State fire marshall?
What about city or town fire prevention officer?
All that said I guess I don't know the answer.

 

[JohnE]

Re: MA smoke detectors for 2 family homes

If you are using 120v interconnected smoke alarms, your only choice would to see if the manufacturer makes a compatible (and listed, I believe) sounder to wire into the smokes.
Otherwise, you might be better off using a fire alarm system so you could install mini sounders in the required locations. In MA, that is basically what is required for buildings with over 2 units.

 

[JohnE]

Re: MA smoke detectors for 2 family homes

Someone just told me that Firex makes a listed relay to wire into 120v detectors from which you can run standard notification appliances such as a mini sounder.