Multi Family Smoke Detectors

[A/A Fuel GTX]

I know this really isn't an NEC issue but I thought I'd throw it out to our expert panel.

In a multi family dwelling, say 10 units, is there ever a requirement to inter connect ALL the detectors in every unit? I had a discussion with a fellow tradesman yesterday who told me he did a 56 unit condo with all the detectors inter connected. My first reaction was so when Emeril down the hall burns dinner, the whole complex would evacuate? I'm guessing that it is a design issue rather than a requirement.

 

[charlie b]

I have no facts to offer, but I would not be surprised if it were a requirement. Here's a story that relates to the question.

One of my worst "hotel experiences" was the night that someone overcooked something in their room (it was one of those long-term stay hotels with ranges in each room). They set off the detector in their room. That only alarmed in their room and in the master panel by the registration desk. Then they made the mistake of opening the door, to let out the smoke. That set off the hallway detector. With two or more detectors in alarm status, the master panel is programmed to activate the alarm in every single room (to tell people to evacuate).

That took some tens of minutes to resolve. In the mean time, some guest thought they needed a good night's rest, and wanted nothing to do with further "false alarms." So they took down the detector in their room. It was hard-wired and tightly screwed into the ceiling, not like most detectors in single family homes. Well, that set off all the alarms again. Everyone was up for another 20 minutes or so.

As is that wasn't bad enough, more guests decided it was time to disable their in-room detectors. Off go all the alarms again. This went on from about 11:00 pm to about 2:00 am.

The next day, I was talking with the on-duty manager. She told me that they had to replace more than 20 detectors because the guests had attempted to disable them.

So when you talk about interconnecting the alarms, I think the notion goes beyond the power sources to the detectors. I think it is all about communication links to the master panel.