Wireless Interconnected Smoke Detectors

[mkgrady]

In Massachusetts we have requirements that hardwired smoke detectors be installed when a home is substantially renovated or if a bedroom is added to a home. I realize my question might only apply to Mass but I don’t know where else to ask.

I’m thinking hardwired smokes are inferior to some of the wireless ones that can not only talk to each other but can notify you as to which detector is going off. They can also talk to a central station. These systems just seem far superior to plain old hardwired smokes. I’m trying to determine if these systems could be installed instead of the typical hardwired interconnected type.

Any suggestions? A couple of local building inspectors have found the question interesting. I take that to mean they think it would be a good system but they are not sure it would meet the requirements.

 

[gadfly56]

In Massachusetts we have requirements that hardwired smoke detectors be installed when a home is substantially renovated or if a bedroom is added to a home. I realize my question might only apply to Mass but I don’t know where else to ask.

I’m thinking hardwired smokes are inferior to some of the wireless ones that can not only talk to each other but can notify you as to which detector is going off. They can also talk to a central station. These systems just seem far superior to plain old hardwired smokes. I’m trying to determine if these systems could be installed instead of the typical hardwired interconnected type.

Any suggestions? A couple of local building inspectors have found the question interesting. I take that to mean they think it would be a good system but they are not sure it would meet the requirements.

Before the 2009 edition of the International Residential Code, it was impossible to install ONLY a wireless or wired fire alarm control panel for home smoke detection. That edition allowed you to put in a panel as long as the homeowner owned the panel (sorry, ADT!). I have a couple of the Kidde KN-COSM-B-RF detectors. Sealed, ten-year battery, one goes they all go, wireless connection, compatible with the Wink! app. But my home was built in 1975 and hard-wired detection wasn't needed. NJ lets you use battery-only smoke alarms in that case, but I don't know if you could do this in a new build. You still can't put more than 12 smoke alarms together, but they are SO close to a virtually unlimited wireless install. All they have to do is add device supervision and they'd be king-of-the hill (64 devices, 42 of them smoke alarms).

 

[growler]

In Massachusetts we have requirements that hardwired smoke detectors be installed when a home is substantially renovated or if a bedroom is added to a home. I realize my question might only apply to Mass but I don’t know where else to ask.
.

You never know when it comes to smoke detectors what they will accept until you ask.
Most of the time they want hard wired but then sometimes they will back off to a certain extent. I have been told that if I hard wire the first in the series I can use the wireless for the hard to get to areas where cutting and doing unnecessary damage would have to happen.

Around here you need to ask whatever jurisdiction your working in what the rule of the day is.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I disagree with the assertion that wireless are superior to hardwired. There are hardwire units, such as Nest, that can do anything the wireless can do and have a battery backup also.

 

[curt swartz]

I disagree with the assertion that wireless are superior to hardwired. There are hardwire units, such as Nest, that can do anything the wireless can do and have a battery backup also.

The Nest are hybrid wired/wireless. The hard wired version gets local power but all communication is done over wireless. They do no have an interconnect wire.

 

[mkgrady]

I disagree with the assertion that wireless are superior to hardwired. There are hardwire units, such as Nest, that can do anything the wireless can do and have a battery backup also.

I agree with that. I was referring to the type of hardwired smokes that are interconnected but don’t do anything else.

 

[mkgrady]

The Nest are hybrid wired/wireless. The hard wired version gets local power but all communication is done over wireless. They do no have an interconnect wire.

In a case like that nobody would even know that some are not hardwired.