Alarms - Mains Wired, Interconnected

[phatboy]

Maybe - but my point was that one needs to have a pretty well established fire before heat alarms are activated - so, particularly if the door to your kitchen-diner is open, whilst you may well be alerted to the fire when in your bedroom above, you might well find that the fire had spread extensively on the ground floor, such that you may find yourself without an easy (if any!) escape route.

We had a fire about a year ago. A candle left on the kitchen island at bed time. The heat detector caught it before any damage other than a smoke blackened ceiling occurred. They detect a rapid rise in temperature, not a 'hot day' scenario.

The heat detector noted a peak of 78degrees c - the 3000 series can log this data to an app, by pressing the test button for 10 seconds.

 

[JohnW2]

We had a fire about a year ago. A candle left on the kitchen island at bed time. The heat detector caught it before any damage other than a smoke blackened ceiling occurred. They detect a rapid rise in temperature, not a 'hot day' scenario. ....

Thanks. That's interesting and obviously not as 'bad' as I might have feared. However, I still suspect that a smoke alarm would have detected the fire a bit earlier?

The heat detector noted a peak of 78degrees c - the 3000 series can log this data to an app, by pressing the test button for 10 seconds.

That's also interesting, and something I didn't know. Do I take it that only works with wireless ones?

 

[ebee]

Thanks. That's interesting and obviously not as 'bad' as I might have feared. However, I still suspect that a smoke alarm would have detected the fire a bit earlier?

That's also interesting, and something I didn't know. Do I take it that only works with wireless ones?

I didn’t know that either, its interesting

 

[phatboy]

Thanks. That's interesting and obviously not as 'bad' as I might have feared. However, I still suspect that a smoke alarm would have detected the fire a bit earlier?

That's also interesting, and something I didn't know. Do I take it that only works with wireless ones?

I think there was very little smoke, from memory, at that point. It was 5am and all a bit of a blur.

No we aren't using wireless, all are mains interconnected. But we could have added expensive wireless interlink bases. You press the test button 3 times within a few seconds, and set the mobile app to listen for it. The alarm chirps for a few seconds, and the new data is downloaded. I did it this morning to share:



I imagine this is most useful for landlords, to prove regular testing.

 

[ebee]

Very interesting.
I must admit that it’s now at least 10 years since I’ve fitted them so that modification might have come afterwards or I had not noticed it!

 

[JohnW2]

I think there was very little smoke, from memory, at that point. It was 5am and all a bit of a blur.

Fair enough. Mind you, if you're suggesting that 'low smoke fires' are fairly common, then maybe we should be fitting heat alarms everywhere, not just in kitchens? Doesn't the fact that smoke alarms are advised everywhere else suggests that it is believed that they are better/quicker at detecting fires than are heat alarms?

No we aren't using wireless, all are mains interconnected. But we could have added expensive wireless interlink bases. You press the test button 3 times within a few seconds, and set the mobile app to listen for it. The alarm chirps for a few seconds, and the new data is downloaded. I did it this morning to share:

Again very interesting, but I'm still a bit confused. The implication surely is that, although you have chosen to hardwire the interconnection, they surely must have some wireless/WiFi functionality - otherwise how on earth could a 'mobile app' communicate with them?

I imagine this is most useful for landlords, to prove regular testing.

That's even more interesting, since it indicates that the alarms not only can communicate wirelessly but that they also have significant memory and data-processing capabilities. It looks as if I need to do some 'reading up'

 

[phatboy]

Fair enough. Mind you, if you're suggesting that 'low smoke fires' are fairly common, then maybe we should be fitting heat alarms everywhere, not just in kitchens? Doesn't the fact that smoke alarms are advised everywhere else suggests that it is believed that they are better/quicker at detecting fires than are heat alarms?

Again very interesting, but I'm still a bit confused. The implication surely is that, although you have chosen to hardwire the interconnection, they surely must have some wireless/WiFi functionality - otherwise how on earth could a 'mobile app' communicate with them?

That's even more interesting, since it indicates that the alarms not only can communicate wirelessly but that they also have significant memory and data-processing capabilities. It looks as if I need to do some 'reading up'

Not suggesting anything really, but you said you thought a heat alarm would only work with a fairly established fire, I said ours was just a candle.

Aico do a combined heat and optical smoke alarm, maybe that's the best way? https://www.aico.co.uk/product/ei3024-multi-sensor-fire-alarm/

No wireless internconnect. The mobile app records the audio that the alarm sends out when you press the test button quickly 3 times. It's entirely manual, and you download it as and when you need. It's called AudioLink+

They hold only the data shown I think, so the last trigger, and when it was, and a few other bits.

 

[JohnW2]

Not suggesting anything really, but you said you thought a heat alarm would only work with a fairly established fire, I said ours was just a candle.

I realise that - but, as I recently wrote, there presumably is some reason why smoke, rather than heat, alarms are recommended for all locations other than the few (like kitchens) where they could be problematical.

Aico do a combined heat and optical smoke alarm, maybe that's the best way? https://www.aico.co.uk/product/ei3024-multi-sensor-fire-alarm/

Yes, I'm aware of them, and 'belt and braces' has to be the ideal - but at a price.

No wireless internconnect. The mobile app records the audio that the alarm sends out when you press the test button quickly 3 times. It's entirely manual, and you download it as and when you need. It's called AudioLink+ ... They hold only the data shown I think, so the last trigger, and when it was, and a few other bits.

Goodness. I definitely do need to do some reading! I wonder if mine can do this - does "AudioLink+" come as standard in 3000 series alarms, or is it an 'optional extra' (and, if so, at what cost?).

 

[phatboy]

Goodness. I definitely do need to do some reading! I wonder if mine can do this - does "AudioLink+" come as standard in 3000 series alarms, or is it an 'optional extra' (and, if so, at what cost?).

It is standard - I didn't even realise until I read the instructions. The app is reasonable, allows you to test all alarms and then email a report - handy if you need to demonstrate regular testing.

 

[JohnW2]

It is standard - I didn't even realise until I read the instructions. The app is reasonable, allows you to test all alarms and then email a report - handy if you need to demonstrate regular testing.

Again ... my goodness. I clearly do need to have a good read of the instructions for mine

 

[ebee]

Well, if that app has been available for 10 years or more then I have missed it, i probably assumed it was one of those little things a user might be interested in but it was remiss of e not to understand it and pass a comment on to customers at time of install though

 

[JohnW2]

Well, if that app has been available for 10 years or more then I have missed it, i probably assumed it was one of those little things a user might be interested in but it was remiss of e not to understand it and pass a comment on to customers at time of install though

Same here - perhaps I haven't looked carefully enough, but I've never even 'noticed' (assuming it is there) any suggestion that this "Audiolink+" functionality or app has even existed!

 

[Risteard]

I realise that - but, as I recently wrote, there presumably is some reason why smoke, rather than heat, alarms are recommended for all locations other than the few (like kitchens) where they could be problematical.

Yes, I'm aware of them, and 'belt and braces' has to be the ideal - but at a price.

Goodness. I definitely do need to do some reading! I wonder if mine can do this - does "AudioLink+" come as standard in 3000 series alarms, or is it an 'optional extra' (and, if so, at what cost?).

AudioLINK has existed for many years. It's always been free.

 

[Rodders53]

Audiolink and Audiolink+ are two iterations of the idea.

AudioLINK+ | Aico

All you need is an AudioLINK+ enabled alarm, a smartphone or tablet and the free AudioLINK app.

www.aico.co.uk

2014 is mentioned on their website for first use, with CO alarms.

I have it on the alarms I fitted a few years ago. Very noisy. Ear defenders would be recommended. Tried it once. Never again!

 

[Risteard]

Audiolink and Audiolink+ are two iterations of the idea.

AudioLINK+ | Aico

All you need is an AudioLINK+ enabled alarm, a smartphone or tablet and the free AudioLINK app.

www.aico.co.uk

2014 is mentioned on their website for first use, with CO alarms.

I have it on the alarms I fitted a few years ago. Very noisy. Ear defenders would be recommended. Tried it once. Never again!

AudioLINK+ is MUCH, MUCH quieter (and MUCH, MUCH quicker) than the previous AudioLINK.