The economics of fitting mains-powered smoke alarms are about to change, A whole new generation of devices, still mains-powered but which interconnect by radio, is set to offer specifiers both very real cost savings and speed up installation time. Hard-wired interconnection has long been viewed as a necessary evil. BS 5839 Part 6 recommends that smoke alarms in the same dwelling are interconnected and, to comply with the standard, until now hard wiring has been the only method available. Few specifiers would disagree that interconnection is an essential safety feature. Otherwise, if a fire starts downstairs in the middle of the night, the occupiers - sleeping upstairs behind a closed bedroom door - may simply not hear the alarm sounding downstairs. It could take minutes for the smoke to reach the upstairs landing and trigger the alarm there - minutes that could mean the difference between life and death. Interconnecting smoke alarms means that the moment the downstairs alarm sounds, the upstairs alarm is triggered too. The people upstairs receive the earliest possible warning - and more chance to escape. The trouble is that hard-wiring interconnection can be a long, expensive and messy business. Forget about the cost of the interconnect cable, or even the installer time spent linking up alarms. The real cost is in making the job look presentable. It can take hours to sort out the mess. Trunking may have to be applied and new wallpaper may be necessary. Areas may need re-painting or re-plastering. Floorboards may need relaying and new carpeting laid down if it gets damaged. And that redecoration cost is going straight on the bill. With the new generation of radio interconnected smoke alarms, however, that will all be a thing of the past. Of course, these devices will cost more than regular mains-powered smoke alarms but the installation time saved will more than compensate for that.
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