Hey, thanks, that was fast! As to how this thing ended up there, I have no clue, I couldn’t see any remnant of a DSC system anywhere in the building.. (though coincidentally the Ademco 623-12 that’s in my profile picture did come from a different DSC system) most security systems I see in my area often have ESL/Interlogix (*cough* Aritech) smoke detectors, so that’s a bit unexpected to say the least.
I can’t say for sure given how high it is but it looks almost like a heating sensor disk as found on some Hochiki detectors.
Now that you say it, yes it looks a bit of both, although with some chrome paint on them, here’s a better picture of one (original source):
I hope so, though given the ban on ionizarion detectors in my country, if they get uninstalled they’ll most likely be sent in to be dismantled, although there’s a tiny chance these might slip through the cracks (knowing some companies don’t bother and just leave them for the customer to dispose of), in which case, there’s a chance I might be able to save them.
Although, from what I could observe they were near a smoke vent, so perhaps those were never tied to the fire alarm system in the first place, I’ll have to go back there and check for myself, eventually.
Well as I said that’s what that diagram says so that’s what I’m going by at least.
Yeah. Can’t say I’ve ever seen that exact detector though (though that’s likely because it’s a European (or more specifically French)-market one).
Now why would that be done when it shouldn’t hurt anybody for them to simply be preserved as they are? (in fact it’d be beneficial for history (or at least preservation of history) of course)
Neat find! I wouldn’t have expected to see one of those in France. These DSC Meridian models appear to have been quite common in Canada; in my area, I’ve seen them at multiple small businesses (twice within the last month). It seems that they were discontinued years ago, probably at some point in the 2000s.
That, I agree with you, I think it’s kinda ridiculous, though as to why the ban even was enacted in the first place, it is hard to say, I’ve heard some people say that there’s concerns about having a orphan source incident, and there’s some others who claim this is all done as a big business ploy to upcharge customers to upgrade to photoelectric/optical detectors, although you could get existing detectors refurbished (up until 2021 I think?) to maintain existing systems, but now it’s “dispose of them or else get yearly increasing fines” (paraphrasing slightly here, but you get the idea). Seems like everyone has their own interpretation of “why” it became a thing.
Now as I had alluded earlier in my post, some did slip through the cracks, one of my friends even obtained a few detectors from a technician who had pulled them from a building, and among those, there was two ionization detectors, one of which made it to my collection (although I believe this one had its source removed so, it’s more of a fancy looking paperweight I guess?):
(it’s also an Universal Det UD09 [and not 03 as I wrote] although a first generation unit, with the extra shell on top of the chrome cover)
Anyways, going back to the store’s detectors, I’ll see what I can do to try and save them, it’s not gonna be easy but at least it’s worth a shot, IMHO. Maybe I’ll also ask around for that DSC detector in the process, even though I don’t have a panel to use it with.
Yeah I’m a bit surprised too, considering it’s an adressable unit (as @TheCarson116 said), I’ve seen some DSC security systems in my area, but if they had smoke detectors, it was usually ESL or Pyrotector smokes that were paired with (coincidentally, the Ademco 623-12 that is in my profile picture came from a DSC Power system that I saw being dismantled), although, wait a minute–
Ooooh searching for “DSC Meridian detector” I stumbled upon this:
Okay I guess that makes two possibilities, either it’s a AMS-220 OR a MN-240 (or any of its variants), well, I guess there is only one way to find out.
Wouldn’t surprise me if it was mainly to try & get photoelectric detectors be standard given how infamous ionization ones have become for, well, not detecting fires (though the commercial side of the industry has basically completely abandoned ionization by now already (not so much in the residential side though, at least in North America (probably because most manufacturers care too much about the profits they make from ionization-only detectors to care about discontinuing them given how unreliable they are in most kinds of fires). Also there’s nowhere near enough radiation in the average ionization smoke detector to hurt anyone, thus the “orphan source incident” excuse is likely just that: an excuse.
Glad they managed to save a few, though what a shame that the one you have doesn’t have its source (rendering it useless as anything but a display piece).
I honestly can’t say I know “Universal Det” or whatever company that “DTG” logo belongs to (but again: that’s probably because they’re French). Also you mean to tell me that they usually don’t have that plastic cover on them?
Alright: best of luck that you get all of them! (hopefully with the sources intact too, also-hopefully if you point out that they’re technically harmless)
Huh, didn’t know that was another model. Let’s hope it’s that one though so that it can be used with anything!
Interesting how the circuitry is not only not aligned with the cover (as can be seen in the first photo) but that in the second photo a FireX G-6 is not that far from it (though that’s probably because the DSC detector is a commercial one for the security system, whereas the G-6 is a residential detector with its own built-in horn).
We don’t right now, but we honestly ought to given how many people die in fires from having the wrong kind of smoke detector (heck maybe both single-element kinds ought to be banned so that manufacturers can only make dual-sensor (ionization & photoelectric) detectors, so that consumers & business owners alike have the best protection possible). I still say that entirely scrapping or desourcing ionization smoke detectors just because there’s an apparently-retroactive ban on them is nonsense though, especially since like I said they still make good collection, demonstration, & display pieces even if they can’t be used in actual service anymore, & the amount of radiation is them is insignificant in terms of harm.
Yes, only the first generation UD09 detectors have this extra cover, I believe. Oh and actually it has its source still intact, no I didn’t open it up, but I tested it and it took a few blasts of canned smoke, but it eventually detected something. There’s a sticker on the detector that says it was made in 1991 and refurbished in 2002. So I guess the source has decayed a fair bit
As for what Universal Det was, from what little information I have, it was a division of Esser (long they merged with Honeywell) specifically for the French market, although I’m not a hundred percent sure of this, considering that there’s another company (Novar) which was involved and I’m not sure what part they played in this whole mess.
Importing one? Erm… I’d rather not try and find out if my country’s customs will let that slide
(Also, nice username by the way, “Honeywell Glazer”? That caught me off-guard, you’ve made my day )
Oh hey, that’s a interesting combo (I kinda screwed up trying to quote the pictures, oops)
Wait what? They took it off on second-gen models? What the heck…(did they not realize that an additional cover helps protect both the detector & handlers of it?)
Oh? Great! Glad to hear that it’s not non-functional anymore like you thought it was.
Oh, okay. Is that “DTG” logo theirs by any chance? (even though the letters don’t match)
They seriously need to stop worrying given like I said the majority of ionization smoke detectors contain nowhere near enough radiation to harm anyone or anything, much less a human being.
Exactly, although that outside plastic cover is more cosmetic than protective, the outer shell of the detector (silver bit) is actually aluminum and shields the ion chamber’s protection cap is right below that. The plastic cover sits above the outer shell.
I have no idea, Universal Det’s logo was just a circled “U”, usually red, though on their thermostatic and on Photoelectric detectors that “U” was blue, so I’m not quite sure what’s that DTG standing for.
Agreed… Maybe they’ll go back and start granting exceptions on a case-by-case basis, but that’s very unlikely.
Anyways, with all that said, I’ll keep an eye out for detectors to post here, you never know what you’ll find out there in the field.
Oh, alright. Looks odd with the top of the detector being metal even though the rest of it is plastic though.
Oh, huh. Interesting detail with the letter color though.
Well I’m fine with ionization smoke detectors being illegal for life safety use given how ineffective they often are, but otherwise I see no reason to restrict them in any case (& even though Google tells me the reason that most countries in Europe have banned ionization detectors as a whole is apparently because they’re difficult to dispose of, to that I say just develop better & easier disposal methods then! (including of course letting us enthusiasts preserve them, heh).
)