Smoke Alarm + Steam?

[imroberts]

I have two Fireangel ST-622 Thermoptek Smoke Alarms, one downstairs and one upstairs.

The one upstairs is on the landing outside the bathroom (as there is no other convenient position for it) and, after having a shower, it has gone off a couple of times, presumably due to the steam from the bathroom. I swapped the smoke alarms over to confirm it wasn't faulty and the problem continued with the other, and the one now upstairs has started going off randomly at other times, so I have had to take it down.

1) Does it seem feasible the the smoke alarm has been permanently damaged by the steam?

2) Would I be better off with a different type of alarm, e.g. an optical or a heat type? I was thinking heat would be less prone to the problem but also probably slower to react in the event of a fire downstairs causing smoke to come up the stairs?

Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[stillp]

Check it isn't full of dust that had absorbed moisture from the steam.

 

[flameport]

Would I be better off with a different type of alarm, e.g. an optical or a heat type?

No.
An optical one will still be affected by moisture. A heat one will not, but won't react to smoke either.

 

[endecotp]

I think ionisation alarms are supposed to be more tolerant of steam.

Your "thermoptek" alarm is supposed to measure both temperature and optically, which is supposed to be less prone to false alarms than pure optical alarms. But obviously not perfect.

 

[Spark123]

Do you not have any ventillation in the shower rm?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Steam will trigger a smoke detector, be in no doubt about that.

 

[flameport]

If the location is that much of a problem, note it is not compulsory to put them at the top of the stairs - inside each bedroom is another option.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

If you put one in a hotel room right outside the bathroom, and that bathroom has a steam room function, then when you open the bathroom door once steam is up the alarm goes off.

 

[Spark123]

If you put one in a hotel room right outside the bathroom, and that bathroom has a steam room function, then when you open the bathroom door once steam is up the alarm goes off.

Voice of experience BAS?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Yup.

What was really worrying was when I immediately phoned reception to tell them that the alarm had been triggered by a sudden steam cloud, they said "what alarm?"