WI FI smoke detectors

[Hendrix]

New construction, single family home, home owner wants wifi smokes. 120vac non interconnecting through the wiring.
I say nay, what say you?

 

[GoldDigger]

What says local codes? The NEC is not the only factor in play.
Most allowances for non-wired interconnect are for retrofit in old work.

 

[Hendrix]

What says local codes? The NEC is not the only factor in play.
Most allowances for non-wired interconnect are for retrofit in old work.

As I said, this is new work, a new home.

 

[zbang]

I wouldn't trust WiFi-interconnected* smokes, too many possibilities for failure. If it's new construction, what's their objection to real wires?

*is this actually WiFi or some other wireless system?

 

[curt swartz]

The building codes requires smoke alarms to be powered from the buildings electrical system with a backup battery.

Let me guess......Nest??

 

[gadfly56]

The home owner is out of luck. See here for NH requirements. He can probably also put in the wifi devices, but still needs the 120 AC interconnected devices, unless he goes to the state fire marshall for a variance. See 907.2.11.3 in the building code regarding interconnection.

 

[eprice]

The IRC may or may not be the adopted residential code in your area, and if adopted it may have been amended, but here is a quote from Section R314.5 of the 2012 IRC:

"...Physical interconnection of smoke alarms shall not be required where listed wireless alarms are installed and all alarms sound upon activation of one alarm."

 

[iwire]

The home owner is out of luck. See here for NH requirements. He can probably also put in the wifi devices, but still needs the 120 AC interconnected devices, unless he goes to the state fire marshall for a variance. See 907.2.11.3 in the building code regarding interconnection.

If they are AC powered and wifi interconnected I think they pass the requierments.

 

[gadfly56]

If they are AC powered and wifi interconnected I think they pass the requierments.

Hmmmm, I hadn't thought of that. I didn't think anyone would bother putting wifi on top of a hard-wired smoke. I took a cue from a comment further up thread and looked at the Nest units. They offer a hardwired smoke/CO with wifi interconnect. The IBC doesn't say the interconnect has to be hardwired, so I think you've got it just right.

 

[curt swartz]

I didn't realize Nest was making a hardwired version now. At least that is a step in the right direction. Previously we had to tell customers we could not install the Nest since they were battery only.