Smoke Detector In Garage

Fire Alarm General Discussion
1

I have a Cerberus Pyrotronics PE-11 photoelectric detector in my garage, and I was wondering if that wasn’t a smart thing to do since smokes are not recommended for this area, but there is not much dust, heat, and it only houses one car which isn’t much of an issue…so should I leave it up or not…

2

My garage, I wouldn’t put a smoke detector in it. But then I do cut wood occasionally, leave the door open (it does get cold or hot/humid around here), and there is rated wall and door between the garage and living area. But there is a 135°ROR heat detector installed. It’s more of an issue because of dust or extreme temperature fluctuation. You can do what you want, but NFPA doesn’t require it, and I would just install a heat detector. Less potential headaches. I have heat detectors installed in any potential hazard areas where a smoke would be impractical (kitchen, laundry, garage, crawl space, and attic). I’ve never installed or recommended a smoke detector in a garage, only heats.

3

Yeah I was just gonna replace it with a 194 heat

Thanks!

4

Put in a 135° Rate of Rise. If the ceiling temperature gets at or above 135°F, you’ve got problems! If you are worried about opening up a hot vehicle hood and tripping the ROR, use a fixed temperature. I would only use 194° detectors in attics and that’s about it.

5

It is a 194 fixed and ROR…135 wouldn’t be ideal because it gets well over that temperature in the summer, 110 degrees outside equals a lot more in my garage…but yes it is rate of rise

6

I never really thought that the ceiling temperature during a fire can get that hot in those areas. Now I feel even more sorry for the people of The Station nightclub fire.

7

Fires can reach room temperature up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit

8

Sprinklers activate at 155°F (red bulb). They have 135° heads (orange bulb) but they are rare. So it doesn’t take much heat on the ceiling before fire sprinklers activate. Remember too, smoke and toxic fumes from the burning foam was a huge contributing factor in the Station fire that caused many of the people to become incapacitated well before the heat got to them.