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Message |
    
Joe R.
Citizen
Username: Ragnatela
Post Number: 118
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 2:45 pm: | 
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I don't know how many of you have gone through this, but in the past 5 months we have twice had the experience of having our contractors trigger the Slomins smoke alarm...in the first case while refinishing the floors...in the second, wall prep for interior paint job. Both contractors are highly regarded on these pages and did great work, but for some reason, they didn't take into account or ask about the smoke alarm. Result in both cases is ear splitting alarm and embarassing visit from MFD. I'm sure those guys are sick of me by now. Please point out your detectors to your contractors and have them tape a bag over the device when any kind of work which can generate dust is going on. This is what Slomins advised in any event. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 3523
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 6:18 pm: |
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Joe-
This is pretty common. Fine dust will do this. I wouldn't really hold it against a contractor.
Rather than have the bag taped over (which can impede sanding & ceiling prep efforts), call your alarm company and have them disable the smoke detector zones during the contractor's working hours. Then, you don't have to worry about taking the plastic off & on during the project. I have been very displeased with the quality of Slomin's customer service and tech support lately. Case in point is their failure to tell you about the disable option. |
Michael K. Mc Kell
Citizen
Username: Greenerose
Post Number: 489
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 5:12 pm: |
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As a contractor we too have set many of an alarm off either by soldering or what's been mentioned above.
From a liability stand point if I forget to remove, plug in or to call the service to reactivate the system then God forbid something happens..... Who's going to catch hell? Me.
You make a very good point and I plan to discuss this with my partner so that we addressed the issue going forward.
Thanks..... Mike |
doublea
Supporter
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 817
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 9:13 pm: |
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Most hard-wire smoke detectors now come with a plastic cover to put on the detectors exactly for this reason. Also, even if the alarm doesn't go off, the dust collects in the detector and makes it more sensitive in the future. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 3532
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 11:11 pm: |
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Mike-
With our alarm company, we called and had the alarm disabled from 8a-5p for a set number of days. It automatically was restored at 5p. I believe they programmed the system from the central office. No one had to remember to turn it back on. |
swato
Citizen
Username: Swato
Post Number: 131
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 22, 2004 - 5:22 pm: |
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Regarding smoke detectors,
If you don't cover the smoke detectors during renovation work especially when sanding wood floors or sheet rock walls it’s not a question of will my alarm go off but when will it go off. By the way the alarm always goes off when your NOT home.  I agree that calling the alarm monitoring station to place your system in test is the right thing to do but you MUST cover the smoke detector. You can use the cover that came with the unit or in a pinch you can use a sandwich bag or a disposable shower cap. If you do not cover the smoke detector during such renovation work the smoke sensing chamber gets loaded with dust partials thus making it more sensitive to false alarms. Trust me I’ve been on many a service calls and cleaned many detectors due to this very problem. But don't forget to remove the covers at the end of the day so that you and your family are protected in the event of a fire. Also watch your motion detectors; they also can cause a false alarm when dust gets inside the sensor.
Swato AKA “The alarm guy” 
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