What would you do.....

[c2500]

Ok, heres the situation. I am doing a job for a customer. Aside from electrical work, I am also a licensed builder. I am doing multiple upgrades. The service was ruined due to no top on the weatherhead. (I'll post some pics when I slow down) I replaced the service...which is subject to another post thanks to the POCO. I am rewiring a den, kitchen, and bathrooms. In the process, some subs are redoing the bathrooms resulting in accesibility to the upstairs. I included adding interconnected smoke detectors in my quote. She now wants to nix this, saying she will be fine with batttery operated ones. The cost is minor for the upgrade, but IRC
R313.1.1 says permited jobs that make things accesible require smoke detector upgrades as if they were new construction. (I don't know if there is a NEC cross reference, nor am I looking for it tonight :smile

I have ask her to reconsider. I have an email (BCC) to myself with the code section quoted, and asking her to reconsider. I have no way of knowing if the inspector will make me move forward with the smoke detectors.

What would you do?

c2500

 

[480sparky]

She may not have a choice at this point. Call the AHJ and have someone come out and give your their position on it.

 

[KevinVost]

She may not have a choice at this point. Call the AHJ and have someone come out and give your their position on it.

Agreed, the AHJ needs to make a determination then advise the HO as to what will be required. I would also think that at this point, she may not have a choice in the matter.

 

[LarryFine]

What would you do?

Make sure that, whatever you tell her, it'll match what she's going to hear from the inspector.

 

[Rewire]

Call or visit the inspector and get their requirements if they say it needs to be done then take it to the HO,I have had HO ask for deletions and I have to tell them it has to be this way and then they call inspector and he tells them yes it has to be this way.

 

[brichter]

An inspector recenty allowed me to use the new wireless interconnected smokes. Perhaps that may be an option.

 

[480sparky]

An inspector recenty allowed me to use the new wireless interconnected smokes. Perhaps that may be an option.

My guess is the HO doesn't want smokes period. Hard-wired or wireless. I'll bet money is the real issue, but she's claiming they're a visual distraction instead.

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

An inspector recenty allowed me to use the new wireless interconnected smokes. Perhaps that may be an option.

Remember that local jurisdictions may not all accept the wireless types.

If using the wireless types, the smoke alarm itself is still required to receive line voltage from the normal source. As far as I am aware, there are only two manufacturers producing these. That could have changed since I last looked.

 

[mivey]

My guess is the HO doesn't want smokes period. Hard-wired or wireless. I'll bet money is the real issue, but she's claiming they're a visual distraction instead.

Well, that panel and all those breakers are visually distracting as well, so does she want everything just spliced in to the service drop?

Rules is rules. Tell her you are required to put them in. If she wants to remove them and decrease her safety because she prefers looks over safety, that is up to her. But I wonder what her insurance provider would say if she had a subsequent fire.

 

[480sparky]

Well, that panel and all those breakers are visually distracting as well, so does she want everything just spliced in to the service drop?

Rules is rules. Tell her you are required to put them in. If she wants to remove them and decrease her safety because she prefers looks over safety, that is up to her. But I wonder what her insurance provider would say if she had a subsequent fire.

You can also install them in order to get a C/O, and she can take them out after that.

 

[c2500]

Fortunately, she has relented and I will be installing the smoke detectors. It was a cost saving measure on her part, since there were a few battery operated ones alredy there.

So, it has worked out.

Thanks for the input,

c2500

 

[wawireguy]

But I wonder what her insurance provider would say if she had a subsequent fire.

Without smoke detectors she won't have to worry bout the insurance company