Sealed Lithium Smoke Detectors

[Nickn]

I have a multi-unit project that we are currently rehab'ing in the Los Angeles, CA area. The inspector has allowed us to use the Sealed 10-year Lithium smoke detectors in the bedrooms. My question is about the CO/Smoke combos that are required in the hallways. Are these required to be 10-yr Lithium sealed as well?

My natural instinct was to say yes, and that is what I proposed. Now were about to start the project and both companies (BRK and Kidde) that we typically use, do not make a detector that is a 10-year sealed lithium battery smoke/co combo that same look as the standard sealed lithium smoke. Aesthetics are very important to my client. So that is what lead me to the code question. If the manufactures are not currently making them, then is it actually required?

Thank you,
Nick

 

[GoldDigger]

I would be surprised if you find 10 year rated CO detectors at all.
I thought the active element (and therefore the entire detector) had to be replaced more frequently than that.

Tapatalk!

 

[John120/240]

Your ten year lithium battery only gets my radar up. Here we are required to have 120 V power plus battery backup.
Do these have some type of wireless interconnectivity to sound all smokes when the first one goes off ?

 

[GoldDigger]

In most jurisdictions wireless and battery-only are allowed when retrofitting alarms into existing construction.

Tapatalk!

 

[GoldDigger]

Duplicate

Tapatalk!

 

[cowboyjwc]

The CA code allows retrofit of battery only, as long as it's a 10 year battery and the whole unit is to be replaced every ten years.

I would say that your combo unit would have a 10 year battery also.

 

[GoldDigger]

Have you actually seen 10 year CO?

Tapatalk!

 

[cowboyjwc]

Have you actually seen 10 year CO?

Tapatalk!

Nope, but haven't seen a 10 year smoke either, but since it's required to have a CO detector, it would just make sense.

 

[MichaelGP3]

The CO detectors I'm familiar with draw A LOT more current than smoke detectors.

 

[gadfly56]

Nope, but haven't seen a 10 year smoke either, but since it's required to have a CO detector, it would just make sense.

Except the CO cell is only good for 5-7 years. Says so in the instructions. Hence, no lithium 10-year combo units. Also what was said earlier, draws more current.

 

[ritelec]

curious..

I've been researching co alarms..
I see 5 and 7 year rated stand alone or combo's.

Did a search and see kidde has a 10 yr. It is straight battery (no need to change), no 120v. It claims 10 year on battery life, but I couldn't find info on it's "carbon monoxide" detecting life.

Don't want to high jack, but it's relative I think..

Caught between a rock and a rock..

Swapping out multiple unit smokes with either smokes or combo's...

I was asked to bid on replacing either smokes with smokes or combos . So I'm doing this and see life on the carbons are 7 years... ok ......

Then I read on the flier the organization sent out wanting them replaced every ten years...


Did I drop the ball?

argh

 

[gadfly56]

OK, now I feel stupid.:ashamed1::dunce: Kidde announced a combo smoke/CO with a 10-year life in April 2013. See here.

 

[ritelec]

OK, now I feel stupid.:ashamed1::dunce: Kidde announced a combo smoke/CO with a 10-year life in April 2013. See here.

Don't....

this stuffs all new, I also talked to BRK and their line is out....
Or rather it's all new so you will have to find it..I think..

But this unit, and the brk's aren't interconnected, 120v......that I can tell. where does that leave everything?

 

[Nickn]

Except the CO cell is only good for 5-7 years. Says so in the instructions. Hence, no lithium 10-year combo units. Also what was said earlier, draws more current.

We have been using this one. It is a 10yr sealed lithium combo smoke detector.
http://www.brkelectronics.com/product/PC910B

it just does not match the others we are using throughout the property.

 

[Nickn]

Don't....

this stuffs all new, I also talked to BRK and their line is out....
Or rather it's all new so you will have to find it..I think..

But this unit, and the brk's aren't interconnected, 120v......that I can tell. where does that leave everything?

The city is perfectly ok with the smokes not being interconnected. This is an existing apartment complex and doing that would require extensive sheetrock (all of which is asbestos laden) cutting and patching.
I am just looking to see if there is a perticular code or exemption that would allow me to use a 7yr battery carbon/smoke combo instead of the sealed 10yr.

 

[ritelec]

Gonna puke..

Been installing brk 7 yr co detectors and explaining to customer they don't make a 10 yr 120 v.

Turns out talking to kidde although there co detectors aren't labeled for 7 yrs they where good for 10 starting in feb. 2013.

So now today, I find out they make a model

http://www.kidde.com/Documents/Data-Sheet-900-0114A.pdf

120v 10 yr.

kidde says they've been around for a year. (even though googling for the past month didn't show them)


local supplier says he just started getting them 2 weeks ago.

So now, if I have to, how do I explain to the 40 or so customers that I explained they don't make 10 yr 120v co's , that well ok they do and they just came out but after I installed your 7 year.

argh.

 

[kwired]

Gonna puke..

Been installing brk 7 yr co detectors and explaining to customer they don't make a 10 yr 120 v.

Turns out talking to kidde although there co detectors aren't labeled for 7 yrs they where good for 10 starting in feb. 2013.

So now today, I find out they make a model

http://www.kidde.com/Documents/Data-Sheet-900-0114A.pdf

120v 10 yr.

kidde says they've been around for a year. (even though googling for the past month didn't show them)


local supplier says he just started getting them 2 weeks ago.

So now, if I have to, how do I explain to the 40 or so customers that I explained they don't make 10 yr 120v co's , that well ok they do and they just came out but after I installed your 7 year.

argh.

If you want to always be driving a brand new car, then that means you will have to buy a car at least once a year:happyyes:

They can replace them in 7 years when this will all be forgotten anyway. If they have you do it at that time you must not have been too much of a disappointment

 

[ritelec]

Thank you.