[Hai-users] RE: Heat Sensor for Aegis

[Neukranz, Bill]

I just worked this for my own residence - here's what I learned to pass
along.

I don't know if there are differences between one company's detector
products and another.  I chose System Sensor products simply because
that's what my Fire Monitoring company (UL Listed) installs into new
installation.

One thing I did learn is that both my Fire Monitoring company and System
Sensor recommend smoke detector replacement every 10 years.

My project included adding/replacing smoke detectors, and adding heat
detectors.  Code for my municipality now requires a smoke detector in
each bedroom, but at the time my house was built only a hallway smoke
detector was required.  I added 4-wire smoke detectors to all bedrooms,
a large walk-in closet that has a lot of electronic gear, and other
rooms not immediately adjacent to the kitchen.

The smoke detectors I used, as recommended by the Fire Monitoring
company, have 195 degree non-rate-of-rise (ROR) heat sensors too.

Remember that you'll need an End-Of-Line Relay and 1000 ohm resistor if
you plan to create another fire zone in addition to what you already
have.

With respect to heat detectors, I used 195 degree everywhere, again
based on recommendation.  I put them in for kitchen, master bath, attic
(storage areas and furnaces), hot water heater closets, and garage
areas.

I used ROR heat detectors only for the garage.  My Fire Monitoring
company cautioned against using ROR elsewhere.  For example, while the
chance is remote, still, weather changes could conceivable change fast
enough to false alarm ROR detectors in the attic.  Likewise a caution
for using ROR in the kitchen.  In the garage they make sense because of
flammables.

I also went ahead and put in zoned fire alarm notification as part of
the project.  My house is now divided into seven fire zones.  The Fire
Monitoring company gets notified which zone # is in alarm, and can thus
advise the fire department what may be waiting for them (Master
BR/Bath/Closet, Other Bedrooms, Study, Living/Dining,
Family/Kitchen/Utility, Garage, Attic).  Note that this zoning is by
area, not by type of sensor (i.e., some zones have both heat and smoke
detectors on the same circuit.)

In my case I still use the long discontinued HAI 1503 (Ver. 2) panel.
For this fire detection upgrade project, I put into use a spare
expansion 1502 enclosure, and dedicated it to fire protection.  It's
here that all but one of the fire zones are wired into (the other fire
zone is the existing Zone 16 on the 1503 panel).

If you're going to do a lot of fire detector wiring, you'll need a good
amount of 4-wire 18 gauge fire certified cable.  I was able to purchase
a 1000 foot spool for about $115 via an Internet search.

I also included in the project installing Carbon Monoxide (CO)
detectors.  I used a Macurco product, again as recommended by my Fire
Monitoring company.  I needed three to cover halls leading to bedrooms
and garage.  The detectors have a built in sounder (horn).  I don't have
the detectors configured as fire zones, based on Fire Monitoring company
recommendation.  So a high CO level will sound the (built-in) alarm but
I don't have the detector's contact closure programmed to do anything
yet other than to turn on all of the lights.

Lastly, I also purchased a Natural Gas (NG) detector (again a Macurco
product) since we have all gas appliances (stove, water heaters, clothes
dryer).  I this case, though, while there's a contact closure at the
proper NG limit, there's no built in sounder (horn).  Just like the CO
detectors, my Fire Monitoring company does not recommended NG detectors
be set up as fire zones.  So, I haven't figured out yet how I'm going to
provide notification if the NG detector goes into alarm.  I'll probably
purchase a separate sounder (horn) and program it to turn on upon a NG
detector contact closure.

Hope all of this helps.

Best regards,

Bill Neukranz

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2007 10:49 AM
Subject: Heat Sensor for Aegis

A recent catastrophic fire in my neighborhood made me realize that I 
had no fire sensors in our garage.

I realize that a smoke sensor would probably have a lot of false 
alarms in a garage. What is the recommended heat sensor that would 
work with an Aegis.  ...