Smoke detectors for the elderly

Posted by Robert Green on October 4, 2009, 11:32 am

> Ashton Crusher wrote:
> ...

> > The wired smoke detectors in my house are not high pitched at all ...

> Maybe you could ferret out the manufacturer for OP????

What he said! (-:

--
Bobby G.

Posted by Robert Green on October 4, 2009, 11:32 am

> The wired smoke detectors in my house are not high pitched at all and
> I'm sure the builder didn't pay more then a small amount for them.
> They make a loud buzzing sound, sort of like the emergency broadcast
> sound you probably have heard on your TV and radio.

Would you mind telling me (if you can reach them) what make and model they
are? Are they hardwired 110VAC or battery powered? Thanks!

--
Bobby G.

Posted by G. Morgan on October 3, 2009, 1:33 pm

<x-posted to alt.security.alarms>

wrote:

>I was at an elderly friend's house the other day when the smoke alarm went
>off. It was quite loud and I reacted instantly to the noise. My friend, a
>former Army marksman in his 70's, who's suffering from profound high
>frequency hearing loss, heard nothing!!!
>Then I started looking around for alarms that used lower frequency sounders
>but the only thing I could find were specially converted smoke detectors
>that cost $300!!!!
>I'm wondering why COTS alarms operate at such a high sound frequency,
>especially when it's well known that older adults lose their high frequency
>hearing first. I have been thinking of just unsoldering the Sonalert
>sounders in low priced alarms and replacing them with lower frequency
>sounders, but that could compromise the detector's ability to sense smoke if
>the replacement sounder has sufficiently different electrical
>characteristics.
>Does anyone know of a *reasonably* priced smoke detector whose sounder is
>audible to people with high frequency hearing loss? I'd like to buy a
>couple of such detectors for him, but the price on the only unit I've found
>would bring the bill to over $1200 for four detectors, and that's just
>unreasonable. I know what goes into making a smoke detector and 10x the
>cost of the parts still wouldn't bring the price that high.
>The idea that smokes use sounders that can't be heard by a lot of elderly
>people seems pretty unreasonable to me as well.
>Surely someone out there makes a smoke detector or combo smoke/CO detector
>(even better) that makes a sound people with typical hearing loss could hear
>a little better.
>BTW, we can skip flashing light smoke detectors. BT, DT, GTS! He's got a
>phone ringer/flasher that he never hears or sees. The unit's flasher can't
>really be seen in daytime easily and the electronic ringer again uses a tone
>in the 5000Hz and above range and is inaudible to him. FWIW, based on some
>simple tests I did with CoolEdit, a PC program that allows you to create any
>audible tone, he can hear most stuff below 4000Hz. Yes he has a hearing aid
>but no, he does not sleep with it in.
>Thanks in advance for your help.

Robert,

That issue has been addressed by the NFPA. See here:
http://www.hearinglossweb.com/tech/alrt/smoke/code.htm

Maybe someone in ASA can get you a deal on some units.

Posted by Robert L Bass on October 3, 2009, 7:57 pm

"G. Morgan" wrote:

> Maybe someone in ASA can get you a deal on some units.

In my previous home there were 110V smokes in each room they were
interconnected and with 9V backup. They had very low-pitch buzzers --
definitely not piezos. I don't recall the make or model and I suspect they
were pretty old. I replaced them with System Sensor detectors.

You've probably seen the outrageously overpriced detectors from "LoudnLow" --
a company that makes it's money by gouging hearing deficient victims. There's
a company that makes a low-frequency sounder which responds to the high-pitch
noise from conventional smokes. It's called Telex. Their product is also
pricey but at least you won't be out $1200. I can't speak for the quality of
their product as I haven't tried one. Here's a link:

http://www.teltex.com/Home.asp

Hope that helps.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

==============================>

Bass Home Electronics
DIY Alarm and Home Automation Store
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
Sales & Service 941-870-2310
Fax 941-870-3252

==============================>

Posted by mleuck on October 4, 2009, 1:50 am

wrote:

> "G. Morgan" wrote:

> > Maybe someone in ASA can get you a deal on some units.

> In my previous home there were 110V smokes in each room they were
> interconnected and with 9V backup. =A0They had very low-pitch buzzers -- =

=A0

> definitely not piezos. =A0I don't recall the make or model and I suspect =

they

> were pretty old. =A0I replaced them with System Sensor detectors.
> You've probably seen the outrageously overpriced detectors from "LoudnLow=

" -- =A0

> a company that makes it's money by gouging hearing deficient victims. =A0=

There's

> a company that makes a low-frequency sounder which responds to the high-p=

itch

> noise from conventional smokes. =A0It's called Telex. =A0Their product is=

also

> pricey but at least you won't be out $1200. =A0I can't speak for the qual=

ity of

> their product as I haven't tried one. =A0Here's a link:
> http://www.teltex.com/Home.asp
> Hope that helps.
> --
> Regards,
> Robert L Bass

I wouldn't call $159 per unit "gouging" for such a specialized product

https://darro001.secure.omnis.com/products.php

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Smoke detectors for the elderly - Page 3