Hard wired smokes

[Del91574]

Its not X is better than Y or vise versa. Your builder supplied alarms are simple, and sensitive, typically ionization types. Replace the battery when they beep and your good to go. They are designed to go off quickly, even burnt toast will do it. They will wake you up and get you out of the house. The next person the buys your house can figure them out as well, so they don't die.
 
A panel can certainly wake you up to, but they are designed to be monitored, so the fire department is called. They are carefull, and only call the fire department when its REALLY a fire. Some verify the alarm, and most are photoelectric type, less bothered by the burnt toast. The fire department doesn't like to be bothered by toast.

Ano,
 
UL holds smoke detectors to a higher standard and listing compared to smoke detectors and connection to a FACP. Nature of the beast. There's a ton of items a smoke alarm does not do, functionally, that a detector has inherently built in.

The difference usually between the two is the technology, as you alluded to, however there are system detectors that are ionization that are just as sensitive as the standalone units you cited.....the difference is usually the host panel and if there's intelligence involved. The main reason you're not going to see a proliferation of ion heads installed is usually both the false alarm factor and the hazmat disposal of the units at EOL.
 
Local alarms are just that...designed to get an occupant out or awake, no other purpose and nuisance alarms are part of the territory. The choice as to what units get installed by the builder and EC are traditionally economic, not design.