Texecom Smoke Detectors - Pretty Awful

[markharris35]

Hi guys,

I've got a Texecom Premier Elite system and want to also use it as a fire alarm, so I bought a Texecom Exodus OH (Optical & Heat Multisensor).

Having tested them with some small (but pretty ferocious) fires in metal bins (detector right above), I can't rate them as anything other than awful. So awful that a £4 Kidde detector went off a good 30-90 seconds before the Texecom detector, and it was 6+ feet further away than the Texecom! The cheap retail sensor was activated pretty much immediately and with very little smoke, whereas the Texecom needed the fire to be well-established. It pretty much ignored anything other than a TON of smoke.

The Exodus OH is described by Texecom as being an "optical and heat multisensor detects smouldering fires and fast flaming fires", so I presumed it would be a good all-round detector... but I wouldn't feel comfortable going to sleep and letting the Exodus OH protect me.

Am I missing something here? Are there other alarm-compatible detectors that wouldn't let the house burn down before notifying anyone?

Thanks in advance

 

[RF Lighting]

That sounds about right. Optical detectors are more responsive to smouldering fires, whereas ionization reacts best to fast flaming fires, so that's why the kidde went off first.

As an aside, I personally wouldn't trust my life to a burglar alarm controlled fire system.

Is it loud enough at your bed head for a start?

Stick with a proper interlinked mains smoke alarm system.

 

[markharris35]

That sounds about right. Optical detectors are more responsive to smouldering fires, whereas ionization reacts best to fast flaming fires, so that's why the kidde went off first.

So I'd need to get 2 separate 12v relay-compatible alarms - one for ionizating and one for optical? The Exodus is described as being a multisensor but doesn't seem to be very quick to respond.

As an aside, I personally wouldn't trust my life to a burglar alarm controlled fire system.

Is it loud enough at your bed head for a start?

Stick with a proper interlinked mains smoke alarm system.

I'm going to have several internal fire sounders, so noise shouldn't be an issue.

 

[TheAlarmMan]

Now I'm not starting a row, I just want to have my say.

There is no such thing as "burglar alarm controlled fire system.", there are smoke detectors connected to a intruder/burglar alarm. But a fire alarm is a completely different thing, if you want a fire alarm it needs to be designed and installed to regs by a professional and accredited installer.

Stick with a proper interlinked mains smoke alarm system.

Why? This is no different to having multiple smoke detectors on an intruder system.

Is it loud enough at your bed head for a start?

It is easy to add additional sounders to an intruder system to meet the 85db. Or loud enough to wake you.

As an aside, I personally wouldn't trust my life to a burglar alarm controlled fire system.

I would trust my life (and do) with multiple and different smoke detectors connected to my intruder alarm system. That is far better than having just one in the hall with the battery taken out and 100% better than having none.

 

[AdrianMealing]

Like I said on the other forum, this is purely your opinion, Texecom smoke detectors are kite marked and tested by BSI to all relevant national and international standards.