Shop smoke/firealarm

[nateswoodworks]

I have looked before and always it ended up on the backburner but thanks to Onboards great topic it is back in my mind. My shop is a seperate structure about 100ft away from the house so if God forbid there was a fire I would have no way of knowing until it was too late, does anybody know where I can get an alarm that would alert me in the house?

Nate

[Beechwood Chip]

BRK makes alarms that can be interconnected - when one goes off, they all go off. But, they use a wire to communicate, so you'd need to pull a wire from your shop to your house. Remember to buy through the WoodWhisperer link if you use Amazon.

[Kenny]

Great idea, got me surfing this morning...this one looks interesting, though I haven't yet found out the range,

my shop is 30 or so feet from my back door and I never thought about not being able to hear the shops

alarm from inside the house.

wireless alarm

[SignWave]

This is, indeed, an important topic.

Regular smoke detectors don't work properly in areas that are dusty, or subject to humidity and temperature extremes. If your workshop is climate controlled, well insulated, and your dust control systems are robust, that might be fine. But absent optimal conditions, you might consider a heat detector instead. These are set to trigger an alarm when a certain temperature is reached (not adjustable, varies by unit) or if the temperature rises quickly. Unfortunately, I don't know of a wireless heat detector.

From the install manual in DogHouse Dweller's link, above:

WHERE THIS ALARM SHOULD NOT BE INSTALLED

Do NOT locate this Smoke/CO Alarm:

• In garages, furnace rooms, crawl spaces and unfinished attics. Avoid

extremely dusty, dirty or greasy areas.

• Where combustion particles are produced. Combustion particles

form when something burns. Areas to avoid include poorly ventilated

kitchens, garages, and furnace rooms. Keep units at least 20 feet

(6 meters) from the sources of combustion particles (stove, furnace,

water heater, space heater) if possible. In areas where a 20-foot

(6 meter) distance is not possible – in modular, mobile, or smaller

homes, for example – it is recommended the Smoke Alarm be

placed as far from these fuel-burning sources as possible. The

placement recommendations are intended to keep these Alarms at

a reasonable distance from a fuel-burning source, and thus reduce

“unwanted” alarms. Unwanted alarms can occur if a Smoke Alarm is

placed directly next to a fuel-burning source. Ventilate these areas

as much as possible.

• Within 5 feet (1.5 meters) of any cooking appliance. In air streams

near kitchens. Air currents can draw cooking smoke into the smoke

sensor and cause unwanted alarms.

• In extremely humid areas. This Alarm should be at least 10 feet

(3 meters) from a shower, sauna, humidifier, vaporizer, dishwasher,

laundry room, utility room, or other source of high humidity.

• In direct sunlight.

• In turbulent air, like near ceiling fans or open windows. Blowing air

may prevent CO or smoke from reaching the sensors.

• In areas where temperature is colder than 40° F (4° C) or hotter than

100° F (38° C). These areas include non-airconditioned crawl spaces,

unfinished attics, uninsulated or poorly insulated ceilings, porches,

and garages.

• In insect infested areas. Insects can clog the openings to the sensing

chamber.

• Less than 12 inches (305 mm) away from fluorescent lights.

Electrical “noise” can interfere with the sensor.

• In “dead air” spaces. See “Avoiding Dead Air Spaces”.

This is for a Smoke/CO detector. I believe that there are fewer restrictions on a Smoke detector without CO.

[Keggers]

I have looked before and always it ended up on the backburner but thanks to Onboards great topic it is back in my mind. My shop is a seperate structure about 100ft away from the house so if God forbid there was a fire I would have no way of knowing until it was too late, does anybody know where I can get an alarm that would alert me in the house?

Nate

Hello Nate,

My shop is also separate from my house and about the same distance away as yours is. I put motion lights on all the sides of my shop that have windows, but I still couldn't sleep well at night for fear someone would break in and clean me out. So, I invested in an alarm system which not only covers all possible points of entry - it also has an interior motion detector as well as a fire alarm. If anything sets off the alarm a loud siren installed in the attic of my house goes off alerting me to a problem. At the same time, a call is automatically placed to the alarm company. The alarm company calls me first and then will call the proper authorities if needed. They will automatically call the proper authorities if they can't reach me. The alarm gives me comfort at night and when I'm not home, as well as a small reduction in my insurance premiums.

This is a wireless system and all the controlls are in the house.

This is a local company but I'm sure there is something similar near you.

Hope this helps.