AboutSteven Burman Expertise Any question related to CCTV, ACS, IDS, PIDS, and Systems Integration
Experience 20 years in the design and installation of security systems. 7 years experience in port and maritime security systems.
Publications Government Security News
Education/Credentials Various Factory Certifications
Past/Present Clients Moffatt & Nichol, Engineers (Port of Long Beach, Port of San Diego, Alabama State Docks), Disney Studios, McDonnell Douglas, Various Celebrities
Question I have 3 hard wired smoke detectors, one on each floor and the one closest to the kitchen will go off if you burn toast. Yesterday they went off and would not shut off unless the breaker was shut off. Every time I turn the breaker back on the alarms go off. Any idea what may be causing this.
Thank you.
Answer Andy,
Absolutely. Some of that smoke that was in the air is now comfortably resting on the photo-electric (P/E) sensor in your smoke detector. Blocking of the P/E by particulate matter (smoke) is what trips the detector into alarm. Since the P/E is now "blocked" by the build-up of smoke residue, it is reading it as smoke in the air and going into the alarmed state. And these types of detectors are wired so that if one alarms, they all should alarm.
The solution is to clean the affected smoke detector. Consult the manufacturers instructions, typically there is a part you can remove and physically clean. If not, you will have to replace the detector.
For kitchens, you should not use a smoke detector anyway. I am a chef of great enthusiasm but not so great skill, so my kitchen is regularly filled with smoke!! There are devices called "Rate of Rise" heat detectors. These types of detectors monitor for fire by sensing any rapid increase in temperature within the room. These types of detectors are immune to smoke from burnt toast, etc. Talk to your local Fire Department, they fully support the use of residential fire detection devices, and they should be able to steer you in the right direction.
