Smoke Detectors ARC Fault Protected

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AVD001

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Could someone please explain why the smoke detectors should be arc fault protected. I can see a problem where the breaker trips, the batteries run the smoke detectors for awhile and the homeowners does nothing about resetting the breaker. This would leave them unprotected. Can someone shed some light on this subject.
 
Re: Smoke Detectors ARC Fault Protected

Smoke detectors do not have to be arc fault protected always. A smoke detector in a hall or dining room does not have to be.

All outlets (anything that uses electricity) in bedrooms must be arc fault protected. This is supposed to open the circuit from a fault, before the house catches fire.

If the smoke detector is in the bedroom, then it needs to be arc fault protected. Also all smoke detectors need to be interlocked so that if one goes off they all do. So, the easiest way to do this is to put all the smoke detectors on one circuit. The bedrooms need smoke detectors, so they are put on an arc fault.
 
Re: Smoke Detectors ARC Fault Protected

I argued the same thing at various inspector meetings. It was explained to me, by the powers that be, that the thinking is "SINCE the smoke detectors have battery backup, you gain the AFCI protection of the circuitry in the bedroom (as required) without sacrificing the safety of the detector".
I won't even attempt to take stand, but, in regard to your statement, I think most folks would take some corrective action to stop the "beep- beep"..hopefully this action would be (a) to reset the breaker and repair the circuit if necessary and, not (b)take the battery out.
Another debatable idea might be to put the detectors on a circuit would some needed outlet that one would not leave off.
 
Re: Smoke Detectors ARC Fault Protected

We should propose a change to the code, and require that the smokes be put on the bedroom lighting circuit, and protected by arc fault. That would satisfy both situations.
 
Re: Smoke Detectors ARC Fault Protected

I understand why they want the receptacles on afci.But what made them make all outlets in bedroom be afci.The idea was because of cords.Seems we would do more good to protect receptacle all thru the house and leave hard wired items alone.Kinda stupid if you think about it 5 or 6 smokes in the house and only the ones in bedroom are at risk :confused:
 
Re: Smoke Detectors ARC Fault Protected

Smoke alarms are required to be installed inside and outside of sleeping quarters and to be interconnected.
By the fact that they are installed in the bedroom, outside the bedroom and interconnected they are required to be arc-fault protected. No need for a proposal.
:)
 
Re: Smoke Detectors ARC Fault Protected

Originally posted by jimwalker:
I understand why they want the receptacles on afci.But what made them make all outlets in bedroom be afci. The idea was because of cords.Seems we would do more good to protect receptacle all thru the house and leave hard wired items alone.Kinda stupid if you think about it 5 or 6 smokes in the house and only the ones in bedroom are at risk :confused:
Click to expand...
Where did you hear that it was to protect ONLY cords?
:confused:

Edited to add "only"

[ December 12, 2005, 05:25 PM: Message edited by: jwelectric ]
 
Re: Smoke Detectors ARC Fault Protected

Receptacles were all it required originally.The idea was to reduce fires from things like electric blankets and lamps.The source was here on this forum but no idea how long ago.
 
Re: Smoke Detectors ARC Fault Protected

I can see putting the smokes on a circuit that you could tell if the circuit trips (ie a lighting circuit). But in large homes with multiple levels I could foresee being over on the number of openings allowed on either a 15 or 20 amp circuit. As I said before, what if the circuit trips while the homeowners are gone and the batteries wear out, the only indication that the smokes are working would be the light on the smokes. Most homeowners only look at their smokes when they change their clocks at day light savings time. I just don't see the point.
 
Re: Smoke Detectors ARC Fault Protected

If the occupants were gone, they wouldn't hear the battery alert anyways.

Upon returning I would think they would notice the circuit being off when they tried to turn on the lights in a bedroom.

However, if the circuit was fed into an unused bedroom that was dedicated to that individual bedroom and the smoke alarms were on this circuit, I certainly see the problem.

Damn AFCI conspiracy. ;)

Roger
 
Re: Smoke Detectors ARC Fault Protected

Originally posted by jbwhite:
We should propose a change to the code, and require that the smokes be put on the bedroom lighting circuit, and protected by arc fault.
Click to expand...
Except for houses large enough that one lighting circuit is not enough for all of the bedrooms. To wit: we're finishing up a 7500+sq.ft. house with 14 detectors. We gave them their own circuit.

What about the breaker tripping? Believe me, no hearing person can ignore 14 chirping smokes!
 
Re: Smoke Detectors ARC Fault Protected

Originally posted by roger:
However, if the circuit was fed into an unused bedroom that was dedicated to that individual bedroom and the smoke alarms were on this circuit, I certainly see the problem.
Click to expand...
See above post.
 
Re: Smoke Detectors ARC Fault Protected

i agree that a chiping set of smokes will awaken everyone.I always use the master berdoom circuit to feed them.They will be the 1st to know when there is power out,Seperates circuits can go unoticedand hen trouble hits
 
Re: Smoke Detectors ARC Fault Protected

Larry, you missed the gist of my post.

The scenario is, the occupants are gone (say for a two week or more vacation) and the AFCI circuit that supplies the AC voltage to the smoke alarms is an individual circuit to an unused (junior went off to college) bedroom.

The 14, 16, 18, or maybe even 30 chirping detectors have stopped chirping by the time the occupants come back home, what say you now?

Roger
 
Re: Smoke Detectors ARC Fault Protected

The monthly testing that is recomended will reveal the problem Roger. ;)
 
Re: Smoke Detectors ARC Fault Protected

It passes test on friday 1 day before the vacation.Never gave it thought before but there is a major flaw in dedicated circuits for smokes.They should be on with some lights that would be missed my everyone.
 
Re: Smoke Detectors ARC Fault Protected

In Massachusetts you can not have the smokes on a dedicated circuit. They must be fed from a general purpose branch circuit.
 
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