Howdy.
I was recently thinking about the new 520Hz low frequency requirement for notification appliances in sleeping areas, and that got me thinking about the i3s and i4s System Sensor has that have built-in sounders. I wonder if now they’re going to make low-frequency versions of them now that it’s a requirement. I don’t know about you, but I’d install those in my home.
Any thoughts?
System Sensor came out with 520hz stand alone horns, ones built into their bases will follow. Other manufacturers have already done it.
I know about the new sounder-strobes; what I’m wondering is if the new sounders will be on the heads or bases. The current one has it in the head.
For the current conventional ones, my best guess is they will keep it in the head. No reason to make people replace their existing bases, and I’m not sure the 520hz is a requirement for residential yet. Only for hotels/dormitories built after Jan. 1st, 2014.
Intelligent detectors have the sounders in the bases for a few reasons, power being one (can’t power 200 sounders on an intelligent loop through the SLC, although some manufacturers have loop powered sounder bases now that can have 6 or 12 on a loop). The other major reason is the majority of intelligent smoke detectors are installed in commercial applications where sounders aren’t required, so why add the extra expense to all of the heads when they can just add it to a few bases? The i3/i4 series on the other hand is aimed more at the residential market where sounders are required throughout (lack of horns/strobes/etc to take their place) so it makes sense to have it built into every detector.
The issue with that is the physical size of the sounder. The System Sensor and Wheelock models utilize a fairly large tone generator and speaker, larger than the smoke detector itself. I’m not sure how they’ll manage to cram all of that into the space reserved for residential smoke detector sounders.
Funny you mention this… A several years ago we were installing a security system in a home with integrated fire protection - it was a standard residential security panel that was listed for household fire alarm use, included the old System Sensor 2100 series smoke detectors and some heat detectors. For good measure threw in a couple CO detectors that were not required at the time. The smoke detectors DID NOT have the internal sounders. We installed a couple of speakers in the house driven by an Elk voice siren driver that was LOUD - one speaker was right outside the bedroom doors in the hallway. Anyway, during the final inspection, the inspector wanted to test the smoke detectors. Set them off, the system went into alarm, he failed us. Asked why and his response was “you don’t have any audible alarms in the bedrooms”. I asked him to show me the code reference that stated we needed audible devices inside the bedrooms. Long story short, he couldn’t find it. Basically, we needed 75dB (or 15dB above ambient) at the pillow and that’s all that was required - we had tested this before the final and had more than enough. He was so used to your standard household smoke alarm system of 120V interconnected devices that this threw him for a loop! We even went back and retested the system after the homeowner had placed his furniture and drapes, closed the door, turned on a fan, put the dB meter right on the pillow and still had enough sound level to pass.
So audible devices are required if they’re 120V interconnect detectors? I plan to replace my residential smoke alarm system soon. Like I said, I was thinking of getting i3s or i4s with low-frequency sounders (if/when they are made)
No no, not quite. The 120V detectors always have sounders built in because they are designed to be standalone. Sound in the bedroom is always required, but like Lambda said, just 15db above ambient, or 75db, whichever is louder is required at the pillow. If this comes from a smoke detector in the room or a horn/speaker outside the room it doesn’t really matter, but in a residential application its almost always built into the smoke head! The inspector was just confused because he’s never ran into a smoke without a sounder before, he’s probably used to the 120v variety being installed in homes.
Turn off your system and the 120v detectors should still operate as normal, they just won’t have a panel with a monitoring company monitoring them anymore, which is fine in most places.
Just as FYI if you want low frequency be prepared to pay ALOT more for it. For the proper 520Hz sound pressure you must use a specially made speaker instead of a buzzer.
On the commercial fire side the difference between a standard sounder base and low frequency sounder bases is about 2.5x the price
This creates a challenge for the residential market. Low frequency isn’t a requirement and no one wants to spend more for a special audio output.
With more education on the benefits of low frequency on how it wakes up children, old people and the impaired (drunk) there might be a market for these manufactures to start investing in.