‎Make smoke detectors interconnect! | SimpliSafe Support Home
 
nolanderer's profile

Monday, September 30th, 2024 4:47 PM

Make smoke detectors interconnect!

As it was explained to me today by a simpli safe chat representative the smoke alarms are NOT interconnected. Meaning that if one smoke alarm triggers due to sensing smoke it will activate that smoke alarm and the base station.   IT WILL NOT activate other smoke alarms to make sound.  Consider this scenario- you’re sleeping in your bedroom.  The livingroom smoke detector senses smoke, the base station in your dining room begins to alarm along with the smoke detector in the livingroom that sensed the smoke to begin with.  The smoke alarm that you are relying on to alert you in your bedroom does not activate per the SimpliSafe chat rep. Their solution was “when the smoke gets to the bedroom it will go off”. This is NOT a solution to this issue.  If one smoke alarm senses smoke all the smoke alarms on the system should sound to give occupants an opportunity to escape rather than the response of when the fire and smoke gets to you then it’ll alarm.   

additionally this does not meet modern building codes as interconnected smoke alarms are a requirement. 

Community Admin

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3.4K Messages

2 months ago

@nolanderer Our system is designed to meet industry standards for fire safety, specifically the UL-985 standard for fire safety warning systems. When one Smoke, CO, or 2-in-1 Smoke & CO Detector is triggered, it will sound, but so will the Base Station and any Wireless Sirens that you may have throughout your home. You will also receive a notification from the mobile app when a detector is triggered, as well as a call from our monitoring center (for those with a monitoring subscription).

And as always, we do recommend working with your local fire marshal to address specific requirements in your municipality. 

2 Messages

That provided a clear understanding of how the system functions.

I am dealing with a permitting requirement in MA that requires the house to be brought up to current code.

Unfortunately the Simplisafe system does not meet the interconnected requirements as defined by code. In addition the code requires a Heat sensor...  Simplisafe does not offer today a true heat sensor with continuous temperature detection.  Temp sensor I not realtime and readings are in  intervals of ~20 minutes ~ . This does not meet code requirements 

Unfortunately I am in need of a compliant system 

4 Messages

@mdenovellis​ exactly.  They cite a UL standard which is antiquated when compared to current building codes and best practices. I’m pretty well versed in fire detection systems as I’m a career firefighter and am pretty disappointed in the quality of SimpliSafes fire protection abilities.  It seems it would only be a software update to make all the smoke alarms activate with any smoke detection but they do not offer that.  Looking into other systems are more compliant 

2 Messages

21 days ago

Fully agree

I had a similar real life experience which made me aware of this system design flaw… 1AM a single smoke alarm went off in the basement due to a chemical reaction from a rag used with oil based stain that was sitting on a workbench in my woodshop area
Thank God my wife heard the faint sound of one smoke alarm 2 floors down . The SimpliSafe siren remote did not go off and no indication from base station… the only indication was a call that went to voice mail as we didn’t hear it…
The time I reacted, I had a basement and kitchen full of smoke and full combustion .. flames 3 ft high .. I was able to extinguish and move the outside.. a minute later would have been a different ending .

Ensure you have interconnected detectors.. code or no code

Community Admin

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739 Messages

@mdenovellis First, we do want to say that we're happy to hear that you and your family are okay. We also apologize to hear this story, the Base Station certainly should have sounded its alarm once the Smoke Detector sensed smoke. 

 

We have forwarded your case details to our escalated Support team to look into and ensure that your system is functioning properly. A senior specialist will reach out to you soon to help.

31 Messages

@mdenovellis​ purchase remote speakers. I have one in each bedroom. 

31 Messages

Good thing about the speaker is they sound to both fire alarms and burglary alarms. 

1 Message

12 days ago

Agreed!

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