Add Smoke Detector to Mechanical Room?

[bad_idea]

I am in process of building out the mechanical room in my home. I absorbed a chunk of the master closet into the mechanical room to add space for a server rack (geeking out with the home network / automation stuff). The room is now 6'x7' and houses the air handler, water heater, water softener, main power panel and the server rack.

My house was built in 2005 and has hardwired smoke detectors in each bedroom, the main hall, and the living room. I am thinking it would be a good idea to add a smoke detector into the mechanical room - my thought is the equipment in the room is a likely source of a fire. Would I be adding a source for nuisance trips of the alarms? The nearest detector is the one in the living room which is in the middle of the run. Do the alarms need to be in series, or can I tap into a sensor in the middle of the run?

 

[purplezr2]

I would, if anything in there utilizes gas I would get a CO detector as well.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I am in process of building out the mechanical room in my home. I absorbed a chunk of the master closet into the mechanical room to add space for a server rack (geeking out with the home network / automation stuff). The room is now 6'x7' and houses the air handler, water heater, water softener, main power panel and the server rack.

My house was built in 2005 and has hardwired smoke detectors in each bedroom, the main hall, and the living room. I am thinking it would be a good idea to add a smoke detector into the mechanical room - my thought is the equipment in the room is a likely source of a fire. Would I be adding a source for nuisance trips of the alarms? The nearest detector is the one in the living room which is in the middle of the run. Do the alarms need to be in series, or can I tap into a sensor in the middle of the run?

will there be air conditioning in there? that will get really hot for servers

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

I would add a heat detector instead of a smoke detector inside the mechanical room interconnected to the house detectors.……… CO detectors usually get placed in the vicinity OUTSIDE of the bed rooms but adding a CO detector OUTSIDE of the mechanical room would be a good idea.

 

[sparky 1971]

You can tap off of any of the smoke detectors, hopefully the ceiling joists run the right direction or there is attic space. I don't know of anything that would cause nuisance alarms, those are from being too close to kitchens and bathrooms. Basements need at least one SD and here, most homes are built without the basement being finished so the SD is in the "same room" even though the distance could be quite a bit. I don't know about now, but at one time smoke detectors were brand specific in order have them interconnect with each other. Even if that's not the case any longer, if the smokes are still original, it's probably time to change them out.

 

[bad_idea]

will there be air conditioning in there? that will get really hot for servers

I'll monitor temps in there with a heat/humidity sensor. If there is an increase in temps from the rest of the house, then I'll add a vent in there. I don't plan to run any high heat producing equipment in there, so hopefully it will be fine.

 

[mm08822]

Definitely time to change them out. 10 years is the recommended time, but at 20 years I wouldn't think twice to change them all.

Make sure to add CO detection whether a combined feature or separate device.

 

[bad_idea]

You can tap off of any of the smoke detectors, hopefully the ceiling joists run the right direction or there is attic space. I don't know of anything that would cause nuisance alarms, those are from being too close to kitchens and bathrooms. Basements need at least one SD and here, most homes are built without the basement being finished so the SD is in the "same room" even though the distance could be quite a bit. I don't know about now, but at one time smoke detectors were brand specific in order have them interconnect with each other. Even if that's not the case any longer, if the smokes are still original, it's probably time to change them out.

I have easy access to the attic, will be wicked simple to tap in another one. I just replaced all of them in the house a couple months ago. I'll get another one of the same series.

 

[bad_idea]

I would add a heat detector instead of a smoke detector inside the mechanical room interconnected to the house detectors.……… CO detectors usually get placed in the vicinity OUTSIDE of the bed rooms but adding a CO detector OUTSIDE of the mechanical room would be a good idea.

My house is all electric, no gas appliances in the house. From my research, a CO detector is not needed in my application.

Why do you suggest a heat detector?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I'll monitor temps in there with a heat/humidity sensor. If there is an increase in temps from the rest of the house, then I'll add a vent in there. I don't plan to run any high heat producing equipment in there, so hopefully it will be fine.

an air handler (in the winter), water heater, and even the servers themselves all can heat up the room they are in.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

My house is all electric, no gas appliances in the house. From my research, a CO detector is not needed in my application.

Why do you suggest a heat detector?

No CO detector is needed if the house does not have gas appliances, even so I highly suggest a CO detector in the vicinity outside of the bedrooms…….. Cheap insurance especially if you have an attached garage.
I suggested a heat detector (135*) for the room because of the equipment that is being used and when I see a "mechanical room" that usually means a non conditioned space that is not maintained or occupied on a regular basis and the room could be dusty or spider occupied and that can "trigger" a smoke detector, not to mention that a mechanical room could be hot or cold if not a conditioned space.

BTW! If you have a wood burning fireplace (not gas) you should have a CO detector even if you have an "old house" where smoke alarms were not required.

 

[Metal-Marc]

I'll monitor temps in there with a heat/humidity sensor. If there is an increase in temps from the rest of the house, then I'll add a vent in there. I don't plan to run any high heat producing equipment in there, so hopefully it will be fine.

Famous last words.

 

[dave*99]

Plan ahead....
I have a closet with:
NVR, 48 port switch, Cable modem, router, alarm panel, Ooma box, small UPS. There is a triple muffin fan at the top exhausting into the laundry room. Also an 14"x14" intake grate at the bottom.

It runs at 75 degrees in the winter when the laundry room is at 68. The total load in there is about 100W. I initially had a single muffin fan and the temperature was significantly higher.

 

[lovetap]

Since you have home automation stuff why not just add a battery powered Zwave smoke/CO detector? I like knowing I can get an alert from Home Assistant if anything is fishy.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Plan ahead....
I have a closet with:
NVR, 48 port switch, Cable modem, router, alarm panel, Ooma box, small UPS. There is a triple muffin fan at the top exhausting into the laundry room. Also an 14"x14" intake grate at the bottom.

It runs at 75 degrees in the winter when the laundry room is at 68. The total load in there is about 100W. I initially had a single muffin fan and the temperature was significantly higher.

yup all that stuff puts out a lot of heat