Smoke alarms in the attic?

Question

Just doing a few of those un-finished jobs, and I'm now on the smoke alarm bit.

I previously ran T&E for mains power with another run of 2pair screened in case I went from low voltage panel powered stuff, So I have gone mains powered using data ware for interconecting alarms.

My current dilema is the attic. Typical un-inhabited attic with (currently) no insulation as wiring jobs to finalise.

As I have LAN server and a few bits (a lot of mains wiring and LV halogens for ceiling below as living area is on top floor bedrooms downstairs) in the roof, I would like a smoke alarm up there.

Would I be right in going for an optical alarm rather than an ionising alarm? I am under the impression optical is less prone to triggering by dust. Also, would such a device be fine with high summer temps typical in a roof space with insulation on the floor rather than under tiles?

Cheers Pete

RW · Accepted Answer

""  wrote in message news:fsm8a1$jk2$                Why not use a "Rate of Rise" detector?

SantaUK · Answer

Better still, use this one and connect it to your house alarm. in one detector - choose with dipswitches.

Sparks · Answer

These look just like what I am after!Seen as they are for detecting fires, should special cables be used for the runs to the panel and to the sounders?Like this, for example?

www.GymRatZ.co.uk · Answer

They do look good, espicially for attic use.

Bit of an overkill for a domestic situation IMHO

I would suggest that their (heat/smoke detector) use would pre-empt temperatures/conditions that would lead to destruction of the feed/signal wire, and once control panell has had a signal then everything would kick off anyway. :¬)

Tournifreak · Answer

I would check the lower and upper ambient temperature spec for this. I have 10 Kidde spoke alarms in my house. I had one fail after 2 years - the one in the loft. Only afterward did I notice it had a lower temp spec of 5degC. I reckon my loft must get close to that on a cold day (although I've not measured it). Don't know if the cold was the cause of failure, but somethign to be aware of anyway.

Jon.

Smoke alarms in the attic?

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