Re: Pricing on Ademco Smokes

[Nomen Nescio <nobody@xxxxxxxxx>]

Frank Olson said:

>Incorrect. http://www.ademcoint.com/pdfs/ademco/5806ii.pdf
>
>
>
>> They just happen to have a wireless transmitter inside.
>
>They're designated "system smoke detectors" and are designed to function
>with a listed control panel (in this instance "QED control panels only").


No, what I said is accurate.  The 5806 smokes are UL listed under UL 217,
the standard for single and multiple station smoke alarms.  They are not
listed under UL 268 as system smoke detectors.  (The 5808 smokes are listed
under 268, by the way):

http://database.ul.com/cgi-bin/XYV/template/LISEXT/1FRAME/showpage.html?nam
e=UTGT.S1428&ccnshorttitle=Single-+and+Multiple-station+Smoke+Alarms&objid=
1074303620&cfgid=1073741824&version=versionless&parent_id=1073994256&sequen
ce=1

Technically, this means the 10 year service limitation given in NFPA 72
applies, since the 5806 is a smoke alarm and not a system smoke detector.
As I understand it, one of the distinctions between UL 217 and 268 is the
operation of the test button:  in a smoke alarm, the button often just
connects the battery to the horn, while in a system smoke detector, the
test button tests at least some of the detection electronics.

The 5806 instructions do not mention sensitivity testing, so presumably it
is not possible to test this without using the big and expensive universal
testers.

By the way, the instruction sheet does not say Ademco "suggests"
replacement after ten years, as you stated.  It says "recommend".


I realize I'm picking nits here.  However, if you happen to be an
anal-retentive NFPA standards buff, you'll want to replace all those smoke
alarms every ten years whether they need it or not.  For the rest of us,
we'll break out the canned smoke and see if they still work.

- badenov