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Smoke alarms, are they appropriate.

Sparkingchip
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Part of the communal areas of purpose built sheltered housing flats on three floors with a lift that has a full monitored fire alarm system, that closes the internal fire doors and opens the exterior doors when activated. 


Each individual flat has a heat alarm in its hallway connected to the communal alarm system and also has an Aico interconnected smoke and heat alarm system that is connected to the intercom system allowing the call centre to monitor them and speak to the tenants to ask why they have been activated. 


Can you think of any justification for installing very basic domestic battery operated smoke alarms in the communal areas?


Because I cannot think of any way their installation can be justified, particularly as they will not be monitored in any way and should not be required. 


Andy B
Parents
  • 0
    At a stretch....

    The main alarm has no UPS/power back up and

    in the event of a power loss these would be the (last and) only defense ?


    AFAIK, Battery backed versions should (these days) be the 10 year Lithium versions (if only to reduced maint' costs) not the standard 1-2 year that was acceptable some 10-15 years ago, and perhaps once the 10 year /label warranty went those were replaced with the same instead of the current 10 year battery version - typically maintainence Co and Contracts merely say replace with same not improve.

    Afterall FRA prepared by external 'experts' are of very variable quality, yet are only advisory after all - despite a belief that it transfers responsibility from the owners/directors of the institution, so may not have raised it as an issue.


Reply
  • 0
    At a stretch....

    The main alarm has no UPS/power back up and

    in the event of a power loss these would be the (last and) only defense ?


    AFAIK, Battery backed versions should (these days) be the 10 year Lithium versions (if only to reduced maint' costs) not the standard 1-2 year that was acceptable some 10-15 years ago, and perhaps once the 10 year /label warranty went those were replaced with the same instead of the current 10 year battery version - typically maintainence Co and Contracts merely say replace with same not improve.

    Afterall FRA prepared by external 'experts' are of very variable quality, yet are only advisory after all - despite a belief that it transfers responsibility from the owners/directors of the institution, so may not have raised it as an issue.


Children
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