SMOKE DETECTORS IN RESIDENTIAL GARAGE Eastern Tennessee

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howardrichman

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The framing/building inspector is making me install smoke detectors in 2 residential garages. I just moved and bought a house in Eastern Tennessee. Inspector gave me an option of a (heat detector/relay), or a smoke detector, but not the best choice in a garage. Would the better choice be to go photo electric in garage? I'll probably go with ion/ photo combo's for the common and bedroom areas. opinions welcome.


ps. There also requiring garage outlets, door opener outlet and the lighting on a dedicated line gfi protected. also, exterior gfi outlets must be dedicated, just as baths and kitchen, no other outlets on circuit.

Thank you...
HR...
 
Heat detector for garage. I believe even the smoke detector manufacturers recommend this as your option as they feel other smoke detectors may not be suited for the environment.

Door opener should be allowed on the interior garage receptacle circuit GFCI protected anyway aside of lighting circuit. As far as exterior receptacles may not need be dedicated just not on with garage interior receptacle circuit.
 
howardrichman said:
The framing/building inspector is making me install smoke detectors in 2 residential garages. I just moved and bought a house in Eastern Tennessee. Inspector gave me an option of a (heat detector/relay), or a smoke detector, but not the best choice in a garage. Would the better choice be to go photo electric in garage? I'll probably go with ion/ photo combo's for the common and bedroom areas. opinions welcome.


ps. There also requiring garage outlets, door opener outlet and the lighting on a dedicated line gfi protected. also, exterior gfi outlets must be dedicated, just as baths and kitchen, no other outlets on circuit.

Thank you...
HR...
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Smoke alarms are not usually listed for operation below 32°F, so unless the garage is heated this is not a suitable location. Yep, just checked Kidde and the low temp is 40°F. Their heat alarm, which can interconnect with their smoke alarms, is good to -20°F.
 
Heat detector and the rest sounds reasonable other than the lighting needing to be GFCI protected. Never heard of that outside a shower. Even outside lights don't need GFCI. Even a post light fed with a UF cable.
 
Unless you're in a municipality that requires more than the current (2008) code the state is on the inspector is wrong. You do have to have the door opener on a GFCI but not the lights. Also you can run outside circuits off the garage circuit. That rule is in a later code that we are not yet on.
I have never had to have any kind of detector in a garage.

ETA: Why is the building inspector telling you about electrical in the garage?
 
My state requires a heat detector in an attached garage. Smoke detectors are definitely NOT advisable in a garage due to the car exhaust and temperature extremes.
 
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