Which type of smoke alarm ?

[Vagrant No2]

Dont know if anyone on here knows anything about smoke alarms . We got 4 240v interlinked Dicon smoke alarms fitted in the house . So far 2 have gone pop and been taken out . I need to replace the 4 as a matter of course . There are 2 types I have seen but dont know which is best . Both types are interlinkable so hopefully would be a simple reinstalation of the old units .
The 2 typres are Photo electric/optical or Ionasation .
Any help anyone ?

[Gamedawn]

This should help I think http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndC...fety/DG_071751

[Sancho]

Dont know if anyone on here knows anything about smoke alarms . We got 4 240v interlinked Dicon smoke alarms fitted in the house . So far 2 have gone pop and been taken out . I need to replace the 4 as a matter of course . There are 2 types I have seen but dont know which is best . Both types are interlinkable so hopefully would be a simple reinstalation of the old units .
The 2 typres are Photo electric/optical or Ionasation .
Any help anyone ?

Go for optical. Ionisation ones go beep all the time (toaster, grill, farting dog), optical only go when there is actual smoke in there.

[Vagrant No2]

This should help I think http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndC...fety/DG_071751

Spot on Roger , just the info I wanted .

Go for optical. Ionisation ones go beep all the time (toaster, grill, farting dog), optical only go when there is actual smoke in there.

Yep got those setting the things off but the farting aint the dog !!

[That Ruddy Squirrel]

Spot on Roger , just the info I wanted .


Yep got those setting the things off but the farting aint the dog !!

Is Tam that bad ?

Sorry Tam couldn't resist

[Predictable Bob]

The recommendation is to install both types as they're sensitive to different types of trigger event - one sort is best near/in the kitchen and the other upstairs/away from the kitchen but don't ask me which one goes where !

[fatfires]

The recommendation is to install both types as they're sensitive to different types of trigger event - one sort is best near/in the kitchen and the other upstairs/away from the kitchen but don't ask me which one goes where !

optical near the kitchen ionisation elsewhere, have you tried contacting the local fire service many fit free smoke alarms and do a house safety check for free too, look on thier website....and you get to be visited by hunky firefighters!!
Norfolf fire & Rescue HQ 01603 810351 or your local station

[Vagrant No2]

optical near the kitchen ionisation elsewhere, have you tried contacting the local fire service many fit free smoke alarms and do a house safety check for free too, look on thier website....and you get to be visited by hunky firefighters!!
Norfolf fire & Rescue HQ 01603 810351 or your local station

Ooooo , hunky Firemen . Better get my Mankini out !!
Can the 2 types be interlinked ? The old ones were interlinked and the wiring is still there . I dont want to have to rewire the system .

[fatfires]

Ooooo , hunky Firemen . Better get my Mankini out !!
Can the 2 types be interlinked ? The old ones were interlinked and the wiring is still there . I dont want to have to rewire the system .

you should be able to get both types interlinkable, however I might have been a bit hasty....before making a decisionsee if you can find the american? study into kids hearing smoke alarms, it turns out that the majority of kids either slept through them or woke but went back to sleep, work is being done with alarms that you can record your own voice with a 'get up we have a problem' type alarm - they were found to be far more successfull in rousing the kids, sorry I have lost the link but It might have been on utube
think this is the report, but sure there is a film of the results
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/h...m-study_ov.htm

[blackpoolsparks]

Yes Sancho is correct in the sense than the optical alarms are less prone to false alarms near a heat source.

If you have a detector in the kitchen ,then use a heat detector there, "Rate of Rise" is probably your best option.

You can mix different dector types on the same system and the brand of choice for me is Aico

http://www.aico.co.uk/

some good info on their site.

you can also add some more as radio linked to further expand the system, however 4 in a single dwelling is probably sufficient, unless you have a rather large dwelling. The objective is to cover the evacuation routes.


EDIT - dont forget CO detectors also

[Vagrant No2]

Thanks for the further info , very helpful .