Nest smoke detectors

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

Mike Hughson

Member
I have a client that is demanding we use Nest smoke/carbon detectors. Anybody know how many units can be used together, or any experience with using them. Thanks for your input.
 
I believe its 18.

They need to be activated before they are installed. You need to scan a QR code on the back or enter the ID number into the app. You will need active WiFi for initial activation.

If I supply the units I will frequently just hand them to the homeowner and have them pull the battery tab's, activate, remove the batteries and label the boxes where each unit goes. If the customer supplies I tell them to activate before giving to me. If the customer wants you to activate they will need to set up a Nest account, if they don't already have one then give you their login info. Do NOT set up your own nest account and activate or the devices will be associated to you instead of the customer.

The devices communicate between each other over wireless communication (not WiFi). WiFi is only required to set up and alerts. They do not use the 3rd interconnect wire. You can mix 120 volt and battery only models.
 
curt swartz said:
I believe its 18.

They need to be activated before they are installed. You need to scan a QR code on the back or enter the ID number into the app. You will need active WiFi for initial activation.

If I supply the units I will frequently just hand them to the homeowner and have them pull the battery tab's, activate, remove the batteries and label the boxes where each unit goes. If the customer supplies I tell them to activate before giving to me. If the customer wants you to activate they will need to set up a Nest account, if they don't already have one then give you their login info. Do NOT set up your own nest account and activate or the devices will be associated to you instead of the customer.

The devices communicate between each other over wireless communication (not WiFi). WiFi is only required to set up and alerts. They do not use the 3rd interconnect wire. You can mix 120 volt and battery only models.
Click to expand...
If the NEST front end supervises the detectors so that if one fails or goes off line for some reason it lets you know, that number goes up to 64, of which 42 can be smoke detectors. NFPA 72 (2016) 29.8.2.2.(3)
 
I've installed them for a few of my customers. They don't need to be activated before you install them (it is much simpler if you do though) as long as you have recorded where each on is located (I would write it on the box it came out of, it has the serial number on it.
I then give it to the customer to activate.
 
I'm not seeing what the advantage is in using these sd's. So, if you're on vacation in the Bahamas and your smoke alarm goes off, you get a notification on your smart phone that your house is on fire ?
 
goldstar said:
I'm not seeing what the advantage is in using these sd's. So, if you're on vacation in the Bahamas and your smoke alarm goes off, you get a notification on your smart phone that your house is on fire ?
Click to expand...
If the NEST system meets the requirements for supervising the connected devices, you can use more than 12 smoke detectors in your home. Some places are so large that you need more than 12, and previously the only way to do that was to install a full-blown fire alarm panel.
 
goldstar said:
I'm not seeing what the advantage is in using these sd's. So, if you're on vacation in the Bahamas and your smoke alarm goes off, you get a notification on your smart phone that your house is on fire ?
Click to expand...
Well it would allow you to be miserable from the moment your house is burning instead of finding out later.

Roger
 
goldstar said:
I'm not seeing what the advantage is in using these sd's. So, if you're on vacation in the Bahamas and your smoke alarm goes off, you get a notification on your smart phone that your house is on fire ?
Click to expand...
Yes, but in that case you might want to extend your vacation a bit.
 
goldstar said:
I'm not seeing what the advantage is in using these sd's. So, if you're on vacation in the Bahamas and your smoke alarm goes off, you get a notification on your smart phone that your house is on fire ?
Click to expand...

I am right now working on a fire job that the owner had one of these installed.
He just left the house an hour prior and all of a sudden he gets a notification on his phone, he immediately contacts the fire department and they got there before the fire even breached the room. ( not so much for the smoke damage though )
I was impressed though.
 
Knuckle Dragger said:
I've installed them for a few of my customers. They don't need to be activated before you install them (it is much simpler if you do though) as long as you have recorded where each on is located (I would write it on the box it came out of, it has the serial number on it.
I then give it to the customer to activate.
Click to expand...
That can be done but I'm not willing to install non activated smoke alarms. They either need to be pre-activated or activated as installed. If you simply install the devices and give the customer the ID numbers you have no control if they ever get activated. The alarms will work independently but will not communicate until activated.
 
mopowr steve said:
I am right now working on a fire job that the owner had one of these installed.
He just left the house an hour prior and all of a sudden he gets a notification on his phone, he immediately contacts the fire department and they got there before the fire even breached the room. ( not so much for the smoke damage though )
I was impressed though.
Click to expand...

What would have happened if he was in an area at that time where he had no cell signal? Don't you think the money would have been better spent on a monitored system?

curt swartz said:
That can be done but I'm not willing to install non activated smoke alarms. They either need to be pre-activated or activated as installed. If you simply install the devices and give the customer the ID numbers you have no control if they ever get activated. The alarms will work independently but will not communicate until activated.
Click to expand...

Very good point. By law we are supposed to install smoke alarms which means that they have to be operational when we leave. I assume that there is going to be liability on your part if you hand them over to the customer, there is a fire and the customer says that they never got around to activating them.

I think if it were my customer that insisted on Nest, I would be forced to install conventional wired alarms, then put the Nests next to them. Either that, or tell him that he can go around himself and replace my alarms with the Nests after he gets the C of O.

If the customer rebels, just tell them that that's what you get for using techi DIY garbage. I'm not putting my license and livelihood on the line so you have a toy to play with.

-Hal
 
curt swartz said:
That can be done but I'm not willing to install non activated smoke alarms. They either need to be pre-activated or activated as installed. If you simply install the devices and give the customer the ID numbers you have no control if they ever get activated. The alarms will work independently but will not communicate until activated.
Click to expand...
That's good practice.
I am. It depends on my relationship with the customer.
I don't leave the job site until the are programed.
 
hbiss said:
What would have happened if he was in an area at that time where he had no cell signal? Don't you think the money would have been better spent on a monitored system?



Very good point. By law we are supposed to install smoke alarms which means that they have to be operational when we leave. I assume that there is going to be liability on your part if you hand them over to the customer, there is a fire and the customer says that they never got around to activating them.

I think if it were my customer that insisted on Nest, I would be forced to install conventional wired alarms, then put the Nests next to them. Either that, or tell him that he can go around himself and replace my alarms with the Nests after he gets the C of O.

If the customer rebels, just tell them that that's what you get for using techi DIY garbage. I'm not putting my license and livelihood on the line so you have a toy to play with.

-Hal
Click to expand...

There is something to be said for simplicity. It’s reliability. I just don’t want my smoke alarms crashing when I need them most.

With that said, they technically should have passed some sort of certification process to prove they are reliable before being released into the open market... no? Assuming it has then customer should have a choice what product they get.

I would think for liability and reliability they would have to sound regardless if they were connected to a network/nest account or not.

Can they be programmed to automatically unlock all the doors if a smoke alarm goes off so first responders have quick and easy access to the house, pets, and occupants?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
pjones said:
With that said, they technically should have passed some sort of certification process to prove they are reliable before being released into the open market... no?
Click to expand...

Likely all they had to pass was the requirement to provide an audible alarm just like any other detector. The internet notification stuff is just fluff and of questionable reliability.

As far as unlocking the doors, you could do that through your phone given the installation of door releases, etc. But now you are getting into security issues.

-Hal
 
hbiss said:
What would have happened if he was in an area at that time where he had no cell signal? Don't you think the money would have been better spent on a monitored system?



Very good point
Click to expand...
hbiss said:
What would have happened if he was in an area at that time where he had no cell signal? Don't you think the money would have been better spent on a monitored system?



Very good point. By law we are supposed to install smoke alarms which means that they have to be operational when we leave. I assume that there is going to be liability on your part if you hand them over to the customer, there is a fire and the customer says that they never got around to activating them.

I think if it were my customer that insisted on Nest, I would be forced to install conventional wired alarms, then put the Nests next to them. Either that, or tell him that he can go around himself and replace my alarms with the Nests after he gets the C of O.

If the customer rebels, just tell them that that's what you get for using techi DIY garbage. I'm not putting my license and livelihood on the line so you have a toy to play with.

-Hal
Click to expand...
I totally understand the paranoid of being sued aspect to your concerns.

I believe you would waisting your customers money by installing the two smoke alarms side by side.
The nest is supposed to as a traditional smoke alarm with or without a WiFi connection.
They would still initiate between each other via radio frequency but not to your devices that you programed to reach.
The customer should understand that so it would work like a traditional smoke alarm. If no one is ear shot then no one will hear it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top