LBZ: Smoke detectors for garage?

[Dozerboy]

I recently had a neighbor get killed when his garage got caught fire. And it really got me thinking that I should have a smoke detector in mine. With all the chemicals in there the house would be a blaze shortly after any sort of fire would start since it's attached and under the second floor. The problem is I doubt I would ever hear a smoke detector going off in my garage from the house. So I'm looking for some sort of fire detector that has a Bluetooth or something remote alarm. That I could put that I could put in a central location in the house to alert me to a fire in the garage. I've googled them but I haven't really found much online anyone have any suggestions?


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[SwitchBack]

Kiddie makes a set that all interlock together wirelessly. I have them in my house and they work pretty well. Just a little annoying when my wife burns dinner and it screams throughout the house...

 

[2004LB7]

Look for the ones that interconnect. Many of the detectors have a wire (orange?) That you wire from one detector to another. When one goes off it will set the others off.you could wire it up to one inside where you could hear it

I did this once for an insulated projector room. If the smoke detector went off you could not here it from out side. With the two connected it was quite easy to hear

Also, for a garage, get a heat detector or ionization smoke detector vs the photo detector type as thay are more resistant to dust and contaminates.

ionization - faster responce to flames with less smoke, ie gas, chemicals, etc. Good contaminate resistance
Photo detector - good for slow smoldering fires with lots of smoke before flairing up. Can cause false alarms in dusty places
Heat detector - best for kitchens or areas with lots of dirt, dust or non dangerous smoke. Slow responce time for actule fires

Bluetooth or other wireless tech it not reliable enough for fire protection in my mind.

 

[pornstar dancin]

Not sure what your code standards are but where I'm at interconnected smoke/heat combo is required. You just run 12/3 wire

 

[Dozerboy]

I was thinking that to tie into the ones in the house would be too much of a pain but now that you say that. If the floor Joists run in the right direction there is one in the hallway next to the garage.


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[zakkb787]

Use the kidde detectors. I use them about every day at work. Great product and failrly inexpensive. If the joists are running the right way just get a cut in box with ears NOT the kind with the big plastic ring and wings on them. Lowes super blue boxes has the one I'm talking about. 3 5/8 hole saw and boom you're good to go. No need for 12/3. Just run a piece of 14/3. If I was you I'd put a carbon monoxide in the hallway just because if it's that close to the garage you never know what could happen. Kidde makes them too but they're $50ish. Black to black. White to white. And red to red. The carbon will work with the smoke so if one goes off the other does too.

 

[Dozerboy]

Thanks for the advice.

Since you brought it up what do you think about BRK smoke detectors? That's what I have in my house now. They act crazy. Only once in my life before I had these have I had a smoke detector fail and just go off for no reason. I've been in my house 10 years and 3or 4 times now I've had one fail. Its sets them all off. It's not fun walking around your house at 2am removing all the smoke detectors while they are going off trying to find the bad one.


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[ALLY Fox]

Most home security installations will use wireless sensors. I have an old G.E. Simon system with remote smoke, motion and intrusion detection in both the garage and hangar (the hangar is over 200 feet from the alarm console). These days, it's a good idea to have an alarm system to protect your home and family from theft and fire.

 

[zakkb787]

Thanks for the advice.

Since you brought it up what do you think about BRK smoke detectors? That's what I have in my house now. They act crazy. Only once in my life before I had these have I had a smoke detector fail and just go off for no reason. I've been in my house 10 years and 3or 4 times now I've had one fail. Its sets them all off. It's not fun walking around your house at 2am removing all the smoke detectors while they are going off trying to find the bad one.


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I've honestly never used their detectors I don't think. Pop one off and if they have 3 wire ran to them (black red white and bare ground) I'd probably recommend replacing them all at once while adding the other. Not much more cost. It's a good idea to have a carbon/fire combo on each level just in case. I'd definitely put a carbon on the one closest to the garage but NOT in the garage itself. If they are acting wonky then I wouldn't trust them to save my family.

 

[Dozerboy]

Thanks

We have an alarm it's just not wireless. That might be another option though.


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[bfmine]

I'm an electrician and I do smoke alarms all the time. In all honesty we've stopped using BRK brand alarm because we have too many callbacks/problems with them. We switched to KIDDE and have had much better luck.

 

[zakkb787]

I'm an electrician and I do smoke alarms all the time. In all honesty we've stopped using BRK brand alarm because we have too many callbacks/problems with them. We switched to KIDDE and have had much better luck.

Ayeeee another electrician :beer

 

[Dozerboy]

I'm an electrician and I do smoke alarms all the time. In all honesty we've stopped using BRK brand alarm because we have too many callbacks/problems with them. We switched to KIDDE and have had much better luck.

Damn it. I should of known the issues I'm having ain't normal.


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