Smoke zoning suggestions for two apartments?

[slipnfall]

Hi Folks,

I've been working on a basement apartment for some time now, and I'm to the point of *finally* running some HA/security wiring. I'm looking for some suggestions on zoning the two separate living spaces. It's a split-foyer, so it's basically a rancher stacked atop another rancher, with a common entry-way.

Anyway, I had an friend of mine over this weekend who installs residential security/fire/some HA as a profession. He came to help with some of the trickier wiring/fishing (this guy made it look *easy*!).

In my dwelling, we daisy-chained the upstairs smokes from sunroom->kitchen/living--->spare bed->master bed->panel using 22/4 per his suggestion. I asked about separating each smoke to an individual zone, or zoning them further, but he said that the elk only had 1-2 smoke zones. I see this is true for 2-wire, but it looks like you can use any zone for 4-wires. To be fair I know he's only done one elk install (mostly GE/omnipro) once.

If I were to zone my dwelling, it would be sunroom + kitchen/living, then spare + master bed. With how the wiring is laid out, this can be easily changed in the attic. So from my very basic understanding, I would need to homerun each of these zones, install a EOL at the ends of each, and a line supervisor relay as well?

I have not yet chosen smokes yet BTW.

Now for the bigger question: what to do about the downstairs apartment? If the tenant (stranger, for all intents and purposes) has a fire, then sure I'd want to know. But at the same time, if they burn Thanksgiving Dinner, do I want to have the whole house triggered for nuisances? I'm just looking for opinions here.

My friend suggested that I segregate the basement with networked-smokes that do not communicate back with the ELK. Install one heat detector that does, in case of a real fire. His main problem with tying the *whole house* together was that the tenant would have to be able to reset the smokes from the KP, which I can't expect them to be able to do.

What are your thoughts here? I trust this guy has a good number of years experience, but I know he's more time/effort/price minded.

Thanks for reading,
Jamie

 

[PaulD]

Check you local building code. In my area, the code requires all devices to be on a single loop in new construction. Although your house may not be a new dwelling, if your current construction project requies a bulding permit, the inspectors may force that on you.
For me, I would want both units to be aware that an alarm went off anywhere in the building with the ability to turn off the entire loop if it was a false alarm.

 

[slipnfall]

Check you local building code. In my area, the code requires all devices to be on a single loop in new construction. Although your house may not be a new dwelling, if your current construction project requies a bulding permit, the inspectors may force that on you.
For me, I would want both units to be aware that an alarm went off anywhere in the building with the ability to turn off the entire loop if it was a false alarm.

Hi Paul,

The house was actually already mostly segregated into two dwelling units; I'm really just finishing it off. I do have drop ceilings in the basement so wiring is fairly easy at this point.

I agree with you on the last point - this is why I would like to at least somewhat zone the smokes. Can you describe the versitility of configuration if seperate zones were home-run back to the ELK? I mean, obviously it looks like it will use only one power source for clearing purposes, but can you selectively activate other smokes when an alarm/trouble condition occurs?

Sorry for the multitude of questions, I just want to be sure of my options before I get too far ahead on wiring.

Cheers,
Jamie

 

[carry15+1]

If it were me, I would want to know if a smoke detector went off BELOW me. I have our home as AREA 1 (partition) and two detached buildings as AREA 2. I have 4-wire smokes in the main house and the two separate buildings. Most are on their own zone. You are NOT limited to 1 or 2 zones with 4-wire smokes. As expected, any smoke will sound the common fire alarm. I have my system call my cell in the event of an alarm. There is only one zone for fire in the detached buildings. If that zone is secure, but there is a fire alarm, then I have a house fire and announce it accordingly. There is only one siren output on the M1G and it sounds for any AREA, fire or smoke.

 

[slipnfall]

If it were me, I would want to know if a smoke detector went off BELOW me. I have our home as AREA 1 (partition) and two detached buildings as AREA 2. I have 4-wire smokes in the main house and the two separate buildings. Most are on their own zone. You are NOT limited to 1 or 2 zones with 4-wire smokes. As expected, any smoke will sound the common fire alarm. I have my system call my cell in the event of an alarm. There is only one zone for fire in the detached buildings. If that zone is secure, but there is a fire alarm, then I have a house fire and announce it accordingly. There is only one siren output on the M1G and it sounds for any AREA, fire or smoke.

9mm I presume?

Anyway you more-or-less answered my question without me really knowing what to ask. The more I thought about it, I don't really care about nuisance alarms or how the alarm sounds, just as long as it *does*. The main reason I wanted to zone was to simplify wiring and for diagnostic purposes. I also have an outbuilding that would be bennefitial to have on its own.

I plan on using smokes with sounders - is there any way to keep the ELK from sounding as well?

Thanks,
Jamie