New multiple-interconnected smoke alarms – how are you handling issues.

[Delbert Blakney]

With the new building code requirements for multiple interconnected smoke alarms in residential properties, I’m writing to ask how people are dealing with responses to smoke alarms where all of the smoke alarms and strobes have activated for no apparent reason.  Obviously disconnecting the breaker to stop the noise may leave the occupants unprotected.  Perhaps the battery back-up will still function.  I need to gain more information about what occurred, just wondering if others have come across this and have a solution/recommendation?

[Kevin Meijerink]

Many of the alarms have a alarm memory feature that will allow the identification of the unit that started everything going off as long as power hasn’t been removed etc.

 

See attached image.  Each unit is different, so often the instructions are needed to determine the flash pattern of the LED’s on the alarm.

 

This particular example is from a Kidde unit.

 

 

[John Wilson]

I’ve run into problems with these alarms not being properly activated by the installing electrician. It was actually brought to my attention from one of my Landlords after having issues with one of his buildings. Speaking specifically about the Kidde brand (not sure the exact model), they need to first be connected to the 120 power source and then the safety seal pulled to activate the backup battery. If the safety seal is pulled before the 120 power, they don’t synchronise properly resulting in nuisance alarms.

[Author]

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