We've dropped the price on our Quell smoke alarms based on the new movement for photoelectric smoke alarms in QLD but this offer is available Australia-wide.
Smoke Alarm Includes:
Hush button
Test button
9V battery
10 year warranty on alarm unit (excludes battery)
That's an ionisation one, not a photoelectric one.
https://www.masters.com.au/product/101187281/quell-smoke-ala…
$51 pick up at Masters. So basically a free shipping deal.
Apologies, can't say I've ever actually been in a Masters store. I've dropped the price to save them dollars.
extra $4 you can get the HUSH button!
https://www.bunnings.com.au/family-first-9v-photoelectric-sm…
Ohhhhh to have a hush button!
The hush button requires the use of a broom handle to press it, and quiet it.
For the other alarms without the 'hush button', there is a hidden "STFU Button" functionality that is activated using a cricket or baseball bat.
unless ur tall
ARE Ionisation ones are the better ones?
also, those fire alarms with batteries last 10 years are all Photoelectric
ARE Ionisation ones are the better ones?
No, they detect a different kind of "fire particles" than Photoelectric. The best protection is when you have BOTH types.
also, those fire alarms with batteries last 10 years are all Photoelectric
No, they aren't. You can get Lithium Battery in both kinds, you can get Alkaline Battery in both kinds, and you can get Mains Powered in both kinds. The mains powered are heaps better as they can be linked, and the batteries pretty much last for shelf life (the alarm itself doesn't draw power from the battery to run)
The photoelectric alarms are the recommended ones but it doesn't say whether this alarm has the 10 year lithium battery so i suspect it doesn't.
The photoelectric alarms are the recommended ones
By whom? The sellers of smoke alarms? LOL
Photoelectric detects smouldering fires faster, Ionisation can take up to 10 mins
Ionisation detects flame (which spreads quickly) must faster, Phtoelectric doesn't really detect this at all.
If you want the best detection, install dual-sensor. Or even better, install more than the mandatory minimum! A cheaper way is to install a mixture of single types so that each "area" is covered by a number of sensors for both kinds of fires.
The way we did (about 15 years ago) was Photoelectric in all the bedrooms (mattress smouldering) and one each of Ionisation and Photoelectric in the hallways to berooms. Kitchen and adjacent area uses photoelectric (never have ionisation near kitchens!). Every other room has one type or the other, alternated.
Thus - 1 alarm per room, 2 in bedroom hallways. One of each type in the roof cavity as well. The whole lot mains powered and wired together so if one goes off, they all go off. When it's triggered, it'll wake the dead LOL
Have to head off to work, but I'm sure I've seen the CFA or someone high up with with a fire brigade letter head recommend the Photoelectic in an open letter about smoke alarms.
Really have to go to work, but I will have a look when I get home if nobody finds something about this while I'm out.
At the end of the day, something is better than nothing, so at least get something in your homes people.
Have to head off to work, but I'm sure I've seen the CFA or someone high up with with a fire brigade letter head recommend the Photoelectic in an open letter about smoke alarms.
Probably paid by some detector manufacturer to say so. Look at the cost of those things.
more 'good' advice from the firefighters
https://solar-safe.com.au/dc-isolator-recall/the-greatest-de…
In mid-‐2010, Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade investigator Rod East, responding to dubious claims of solar panel-‐caused house fires, called for tighter regulations. Specifically, Mr. East wanted “rules to ensure an isolation switch to turn off any electric current was located both at the switchboard and near the device.” A DC isolator was already required at the switchboard, but the firefighters’ demand compelled some state regulators and power companies to mandate the additional rooftop DC isolator next to solar panels. The practice was widely adopted. [2]
bravo fire-investigating moron (next time stick firmly to what you know)
I found this Choice article helpful in providing independent advice on smoke alarms.
https://www.choice.com.au/home-improvement/safety-and-securi…
I'm sure I've seen the CFA or someone high up with with a fire brigade letter head recommend the Photoelectic
Photoelectric are considered better for detecting smouldering fires, which are generally more common in domestic homes. The old "smoking in bed and dropped the ciggie when I fell asleep" kind of thing.
So, given a choice of one either of Ionisation OR Photoelectric, then Photoelectric is better.
- Only better for smouldering fires.
- And it will not detect flames and hot fires.
- But it won't false trigger as much when you burn the toast.
Remember - most homes have the absolute minimum of smoke alarms installed. In that case, you need to go with the best all round product. However, there is huge difference between "absolute minimum that I can get away with" approach by builders, and "what's the best I can achieve at a reasonable cost" approach that most people would be wiser to take.
for commercial applications e.g offices you need photoelectric.
seems most fires start with smoke and smouldering and the photoelectric picks it up better. Guess if you have accelerants and flames the ionisation is better. I have moved to photo ones in passage way and ionisation in kitchen….. more likely to get smoke triggering the alarm inn the passage way.
more 'good' advice from the firefighters
https://solar-safe.com.au/dc-isolator-recall/the-greatest-de…
I think the death of innocent lives due to fires caused by DC isolators sitting next to your solar panels shouldn't be downranked. We are the only moron country that do this.
All thanks to lying idiots at the top of the firefighting food chain.
For those who downranked, it's great to see you don't regard this as a real issue.
No other country does this but us.
more 'good' advice from the firefighters
It's a nice cause that you are fighting, and I can see your point. Personally I also disagree with a lot of what "Firefighters" say, especially this "Photoelectric detectors are best" stance that they are taking.
The misinformation is almost certainly the result of misinformed PR people and internal politics.
I work in a similar field with heavy safety regulations and Government subsidies. I've found that in many cases the regulators end up dumbing down a more complicated situation to the point where the end result is a far worse outcome than what would have happened without their interference.
However, the majority of people here are just going to read your comments as being totally irrelevant to this thread and deal ona couple of generic smoke alarms.
Jumping on from the thread above - I'm one of those dumb firies that should stick to their job. The general unofficial advice given is photoelectric are much more sensitive and as a result 'more effective at detecting the first stages of combustion - giving your family the best chance to be alerted to a fire and act accordingly. Where as they are much more prone to false alarms from steam, sprays, or even fine dust. Ionization are less sensitive, and when they go off, there is a good chance something is actually burning, or at least past the smoldering stage.
If you want to avoid more false alarms, install ionization in the kitchen, and photoelectric everywhere else. If you want the highest safety, and lowest risk, avoid ionization.
So really it's a personal preference thing. I go all photoelectric at the moment as we haven't had any issues in our kitchen except the odd burnt toast, which is a good reminder to me to never do it again.
If you want to avoid more false alarms, install ionization in the kitchen,
You got that completely arse-about.
If you want the highest safety, and lowest risk, avoid ionization.
Wrong, completely wrong.
The best is Dual-Sensors that combine both Ionisation (detecting flames) and Photoelectric (detecting smoke).
The poor-man's version of Dual Sensor is to install MORE smoke alarms, and mix them up.
You get better detection from 2 alarms per level than one alarm per level. And 3 alarms per level is better than 2 alarms. etc etc
Good advice, install both.
I have ionisation in kitchen and photoelectric in hallway near beds.
I think the main point is regardless of what you choose, make sure batteries are changed every year (regardless of whether you think they are still good or not)… and of course press the test button afterwards.
Quell are a part of Chubb, or is it the other way around?
Either way, they had a promotion and failed to honour it.
There is NO WAY I will knowingly trust anyone's lives in the hands of a company with such low ethics, period!
Quell are a part of Chubb, or is it the other way around?
Either way, they had a promotion and failed to honour it.
Well, that certainly is a pretty random comment. It hardly seems relevant to this deal.
Consider what's being spruiked here, what its purpose is and the brand.
There's one thing that skimping upon is not worth it and that's anything that potentially risks or saves your or others lives.
It is after all, why there are global standards, supplemented by Australian standards.
Consider what's being spruiked here, what its purpose is and the brand.
I see - so you're confirming that what you're rambling about is totally irrelevant.
Work for the opposition?
@llama:
Rather than argue with an idiot, I'll bow out and leave you to your hollow "victory".
Enjoy.
@086:
Woo Hoo! I finally win… something.
It's most certainly a hollow victory, since I still have absolutely no idea what you were talking about. Who got a promotion, and why didn't they have any honour?
I'm pretty certain I got 2 for either $20 or $25 at Costco the other day, may have been on sale but not by that much, comes with Duracell Batteries also, and was definitely Photoelectric.
Somebody would make a fortune if they designed a Smoke Alarm that suited AA Eneloops, rather than 9V LOL
https://www.bunnings.com.au/quell-9v-ionisation-smoke-alarm_…