Detection: Simplified Process for Selecting Alarms
By Mark Conroy
Over the years, alarm products have become more complex, and today there is a wide range of products available to choose from. The selection process is usually pretty daunting, since catalogs and manufacturer literature is often not presented
in a logical manner. To make the selection process easier, Brooks has developed a series of user-friendly tables, assembled logically.
Selection of the most appropriate alarms is essential for achieving the protective objectives. The technology for smoke alarms is either ionization (for flaming fires) or photoelectric (for smoldering). Alarms are available as either battery
operated (only), or hardwired with battery backup. Years ago, replaceable battery alarms were the norm, but the industry is moving toward 10-year sealed lithium battery models. That is partly because smoke alarms require replacement every
10 years. Also lithium batteries are more reliable, since the batteries do not typically go dead within their 10-year life span. An additional consideration is the potential for carbon monoxide (CO) in some buildings. For those applications,
combination smoke/CO alarms are frequently installed, rather than separate alarms.
P/N |
Hardwire |
Replaceable Battery(s) |
10-Year Lithium |
Added Features |
9120B |
√ |
√ |
|
Silencing |
21006378 |
√ |
√ |
|
|
21006376 |
√ |
√ |
|
|
21006379 |
√ |
√ |
|
Light |
1279 |
√ |
√ |
|
** |
21010407 |
√ |
|
√ |
|
9000136 |
|
|
√ |
Hush |
914E |
|
√ |
|
|
915 |
|
√ |
|
|
918 |
|
√ |
|
Light |
919 |
|
√ |
|
*** |
**Hardwire and Wireless Interconnect ***Wireless Interconnect
P/N |
Hardwire |
Replaceable Battery(s) |
10-Year Lithium |
Added Features |
21006371 |
√ |
√ |
|
|
7139CSW |
√ |
√ |
|
* |
7139LS |
√ |
√ |
|
* |
21010161 |
|
|
√ |
Voice/Hush |
21010164 |
|
|
√ |
Hush |
21010167 |
|
|
√ |
Light/Hush |
PE9E |
|
√ |
|
|
*ADA Strobe and Temporal Tone
P/N |
Photo/CO |
Ion/CO |
Hardwire |
Replaceable Battery(s) |
10-Year Lithium |
21007624 |
√ |
|
√ |
√ |
|
21010170 |
√ |
|
|
|
√ |
21006377 |
|
√ |
√ |
√ |
|
21010408 |
|
√ |
√ |
|
√ |
COSM |
|
√ |
|
√ |
|
Every installation of smoke alarms or combination smoke/CO alarms necessitates careful evaluation. After determining the alarm type and power source(s), a choice can easily be made. These tables make the decision process quick and accurate,
which ensures the safety of building occupants.
Click Here to view a PDF version
Mark Conroy is an engineer and code compliance specialist in our Boston, MA office. © 2018 Brooks Equipment.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the above Tech Series article are the author’s only and provide limited information. Although the information is believed to be reliable, Brooks Equipment Company, LLC expressly disclaims any warranty with respect to the information and any liability for errors or omissions. The user of this article or the product(s) is responsible for verifying the information’s accuracy from all available sources, including the product manufacturer. The authority having jurisdiction should be contacted for code interpretations.