Ei Professional Smoke Alarms and Smoke Detectors

Information for Installing Ei Alarms

Smoke alarms are absolutely not difficult to install. In most cases all you need is a screwdriver. Be sure to follow the manufacturers' directions as set out in the instruction leaflet. If you are uncomfortable standing on a ladder, you should get a neighbour or friend to help you install. If one decides to fit mains powered smoke alarms, a qualified electrician should be contracted to install and again it is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Smoke alarms should be installed on the ceiling [at least 30 centimetres (12 inches) away from any wall or light fittings]. Be sure to follow the manufacturers' directions as set out in the instruction leaflet supplied with the smoke alarm. Do not fit a smoke alarm in the kitchen (cooking fumes may trigger a nuisance alarm) or bathroom (steam may trigger a nuisance alarm) or in a garage (exhaust fumes may set it off). In these cases we would recommend a heat alarm to provide extra protection. You should fit a Smoke Alarm in all rooms except kitchen, bathroom, garage i.e. living room, bedrooms and hallway and landings also.

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General Information for Ei Alarms

A smoke alarm is a self-contained electronic device that incorporates a means of detecting smoke (the smoke sensor) and a means of giving an audible alarm (the alarm or sounder or buzzer). By sensing smoke in the early stages of a fire and sounding a loud warning alarm, a smoke alarm gives an early warning of fire and buys you those precious few minutes for you and your family to get out safely. There are two types of smoke alarm - Ionisation and Optical (also described as Photoelectric).

Ionization smoke alarms are very sensitive to small smoke particles, produced by flaming, fast fires such as from a chip pan. They are marginally less sensitive to slow burning and smouldering fires, which give off larger quantities of smoke before flaming occurs.

Optical smoke alarms are more effective at detecting larger smoke particles produced by slow-burningfires such as smouldering foam-filled upholstery and overheated PVC wiring. They are marginally less sensitive to flaming fires.

Each type looks similar and is powered by a battery or mains electricity or by a combination of both. Some have additional features such as an escape light (can light-up the escape route) and a silencer button (for use where false alarms can be a nuisance e.g. when cooking). Some are interconnectable so that smoke detected by one smoke alarm will cause all the other units to alarm.

As one's home is liable to have both types of fire - fast flaming fires from cooking and slow burning smouldering fires from furniture upholstery or wiring, ideally as a minimum level of protection one should fit at least one smoke alarm of each type i.e. one Ionisation and one Optical.

As a minimum level of protection, one should fit two smoke alarms - one Ionisation and one Optical. If your home has more than one floor, at least one smoke alarm should be fitted on each level. A combination of optical and ionisation, preferably interconnected will give the best protection. For maximum protection a smoke alarm should be fitted in each room of the house (except kitchen, bathroom or garage - heat detectors are recommended for these rooms). Again a mix of optical and ionisation alarms is recommended and ideally should be interconnected.

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Wiring Diagrams

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Click on the descriptions to download the wiring diagrams in PDF format:

• Multiple Alarm Connection with Relay Base and Strobe/Sounder
• Multiple Alarm Connection with Relay Base and Magnetic Door Hold
• Wiring for Modifire System
• Multiple Alarm Connection with Locator Switch
• Multiple Alarms Connections
• Multiple Alarm Connection with Remote Test and Hush Switch
• Single Alarm Connection

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