‎Next Generation Hazard Protection: Introducing the NEW 2-in-1 Smoke & CO Detector | SimpliSafe Support Home
 

Community Admin

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770 Messages

Monday, May 1st, 2023 6:30 PM

Next Generation Hazard Protection: Introducing the NEW 2-in-1 Smoke & CO Detector

SimpliSafe is proud to announce the latest advance in whole home protection: the new 2-in-1 Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector!

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Bringing together the benefits of our existing standalone Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detector, this new 2-in-1 component takes protection a step further, using advanced technology so it can detect real hazards - like actual fire and smoke - while reducing false alarms from non-threatening events like burning food. The new pre-alert function can produce a warning from your alarm system, so you can take action before low levels of smoke become a full fire alarm event. And just like the rest of your SimpliSafe system, it takes advantage of Fast Protect technology to get emergency assistance to your door when you need it most.

The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector is available now! Head over here to get yours today.

Official Response

Community Admin

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5.7K Messages

2 years ago

Hi all,

I’m so glad to see to much interest in our latest product! I see some important questions being raised in this thread, so I’ll endeavor to answer all in one post.

First, just like with our standalone CO Detector and Smoke Detector, the 2-in-1 Smoke & CO Detector is intended to work in tandem with your existing fire safety devices. The advantage is having a single device that warns of both fire and carbon monoxide, and is connected to 24/7 professional monitoring service. On top of that, the Smoke & CO Detector also features smart tech that can differentiate between different types of particles, which is how it can tell the difference between non-threatening smoke, and actually hazardous smoke.

It is possible for the Smoke & CO Detector to be set up for compliance with local regulations, and you should work with your local fire marshal for specific requirements in your area. That said, it does help to be more informed about how the Smoke & CO Detector works, and that’s what we’re here for!

For reference in terms of industry standards, the Smoke & CO Detector complies with UL-217 (for the smoke detector piece) and UL-2034 (for the CO detector piece), and with the alarm system can be configured for UL-985 as a fire warning system. When an alarm event is initiated, the Smoke & CO Detector that is triggered will sound a siren. When paired with a system, the Base Station and any connected Wireless Sirens will also sound. However, other smoke and CO detectors (including our standalone units) will not sound, unless they also detect hazards.

Keep those questions coming! We’re excited to finally be able to talk about the Smoke & CO Detector, and can’t wait to hear what you think when you have it in your hands.

3 Messages

@davey_d​ I hope it’s an improvement over the smoke alarm. I’ve had 4 false alarms, 2 replacements. Last nite got another false alarm. I’m returning 4 smoke detectors for refund 

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10 Messages

Same

742 Messages

2 years ago

I just received the email announcing the new "2-in-1 Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector" with a link to the product page:

https://simplisafe.com/smoke-and-carbon-monoxide-detector

I have a few questions:

1) Are the capabilities /features of the smoke and CO detectors in the 2-in-1 unit different (read: improved) than the capabilities of the dedicated smoke detector and the dedicated CO detector? If so, please explain how.

2) Why on earth didn't you all add AC power with battery as a back up to these units? This method of power (wired w/ battery back up) is a requirement in many areas so this can't replace existing wired solutions for many of us.

3) In the FAQ on the product page one of the questions is "If the Smoke & CO Detector siren is going off, will my other SimpliSafe sirens sound as well?" and the answer given is:

Yes, SimpliSafe Gen 3 products with sirens are interconnected meaning that your Base Station and other sirens such as your SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera or Extra Siren will sound in unison when there’s an emergency.

THis language is very clear that the base station and sirens will go off when the 2-in-1 goes off but it doesn't mention whether the dedicated CO detector, dedicated smoke alarm and the new 2-in-1 detectors will go off when the new 2-in-1 unit goes off. Can you please clarify the behavior here? I'm guessing this is no different than what we have currently and these will NOT all go off if one goes off.

3a) Assuming the answer above is what I expect and the other detectors do not go off if one goes off, why on earth didn't you all add this functionality? Just as with 2) above this is a building code requirement in many areas and once again you've released a product that can't replace a solution we have today.

Note: This comment was created from a merged conversation originally titled Questions About The New "2-in-1 Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector"

1 Message

2 years ago

This device doesn't meet California code for smoke detectors. Since 2014, California has required wireless smoke detectors to have a 10 year battery life with a sealed battery compartment. 

1 Message

2 years ago

This device does not meet Massachusetts code for smoke/carbon detectors

  • Must be photoelectric (it does not state if they are)
  • smoke detectors must be hardwired with a battery back up
  • smoke/carbon detector combos must be hardwired with batter back up
  • smoke detectors must be interconnected and have tones and voice to determine what they detect
  • heat detectors are required in attached/under garages for homes built (or any additions) starting 1/2008 - they must interconnect into the smoke detector system.

I would definitely replace mine with these when their 10 years is up which is not that far off. But they don't meet code so I cannot.

1 Message

2 years ago

Nice

742 Messages

2 years ago

Bump? It's been over 48 hours since I asked some simple questions about a new product that should be trivial to answer. Can we get a product manager or someone in the know to come here and engage with us?

32 Messages

2 years ago

Will and when will this be available in the UK?

As smoke and CO2 detectors can be easily 'falsely' triggered in normal working conditions in a domestic kitchen, have you considered adding a "rate-of-rise" temperature detector?

Community Admin

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5.7K Messages

@Streaky​ at this time, the Smoke & CO Detector is available in the United States only. We'll make sure you hear about it when we're ready to launch in the UK!

While the new detector features new tech that can distinguish between non-hazards (like burning your toast) and actual dangers (i.e. a real fire), we would still recommend that you install the unit at least 1.5m away from cooking appliances to reduce false alarms.

We currently don't have info for a potential heat-based detector, but we'll keep you updated if that is ever added to our pipeline!

1 Message

2 years ago

Bought 4 of them, they are working perfectly when tested. Hopefully I never have to actually need them. 

742 Messages

2 years ago

@davey_d​ 

https://www.kidde.com/home-safety/en/us/fire-safety/fire-safety-laws/

If you search for "interconnected" and "hardwired" and you'll see 40+ states require one or both of these things. 

You'll also notice the following for California specifically:

"Effective July 1, 2014, no person shall market, distribute, offer for sale, or sell any smoke alarm that is not operated by a non-replaceable, non-removable battery that is capable of powering the smoke alarm for at least 10 years."

Technically speaking, it seems you all are breaking the law (and have been since 2014), selling your smoke alarms in CA. You can find the text of the bill at https://openstates.org/ca/bills/20132014/SB745/ which says:

Existing law, commencing January 1, 2014, requires a smoke alarm to
meet prescribed requirements, including, but not limited to, the requirement
that it incorporate an end-of-life feature that provides notice that the device
needs to be replaced and that it, if battery operated, contain a nonreplaceable,
nonremovable battery capable of powering the smoke alarm at least 10 years
in order for the smoke alarm to be approved by the State Fire Marshal.
Existing law authorizes the State Fire Marshal to suspend enforcement of
this requirement for a period not to exceed 6 months.

This bill would recast those provisions to, instead, require commencing
July 1, 2014, a smoke alarm that is only battery operated to contain a
nonreplaceable, nonremovable battery capable of powering the smoke alarm
for at least 10 years in order to be approved by the State Fire Marshal. The
bill would also require, commencing January 1, 2015, a smoke alarm to
display the manufacture date, provide a place to write the date of installation
on the device, and incorporate a hush feature in order for the State Fire
Marshal to approve it. The bill would delete the authority for the State Fire
Marshal to suspend enforcement of these requirements, and would authorize
the State Fire Marshal to adopt exceptions through its regulatory process.

Y'all really seem to be struggling with CA laws. I'm still waiting, a year later, for an answer about the CA law you appear to be breaking regarding not providing an online method for people to terminate their service. Let that sink in, A YEAR LATER. If past performance is an indicator of future performance I'll still be waiting in a year for a response to this thread. (And, I'd probably wager $10 at least, a response to the other thread!)

Edit: If you go to the KIdde site above and also search for "non-removable" you'll see that in addition to CA there are laws in Illinois that also require a non-removable battery as of this year::

Chicago: Effective January 1, 2023, it is unlawful for a person to sell, offer for sale, or give away any smoke alarm that does not receive primary power from a building's wiring, or is powered by a self-contained, non-removable, long-term battery. On or after January 1, 2022, solely battery-powered smoke alarms installed in multifamily dwellings must be powered by a self-contained, non-removable, long-term battery. By January 1, 2033, solely battery-powered alarms in owner occupied dwelling units must be replaced by alarms powered by a self-contained, non-removable, long-term battery.

This comment was created from this reply

Community Admin

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5.7K Messages

Please check the pinned post here for our Official Response to the OP.

With regard to your other question about California regulations on Click to Cancel, we did respond to that here, and our answer and policy have not changed since. We are constantly reviewing processes and feedback, and while we are not able to comment on the legal side of things on this Community forum, SimpliSafe’s top priority will always be security for our customers.

(edited)

742 Messages

@davey_d

while we are not able to comment on the legal side of things on this Community forum

Then where can we have a discussion about how SimpliSafe has decided not to provide this functionality? To date, all of the responses seem to be focused on , "we don't believe you should be able to do this" and not "here's why we're not going to comply with CA law". We'd really like a response to the latter. 

31 Messages

2 years ago

Are y’all considering producing a Rate of Rise Heat Detector? Would love to purchase those. 

3 Messages

1 year ago

@davey_d​ I hope it’s an improvement over the smoke alarm. I’ve had 4 false alarms, 2 replacements. Last nite got another false alarm. I’m returning 4 smoke detectors for refund 

This comment was created from this reply

Community Admin

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5.7K Messages

@tompmad​ just like our Smoke Detector, the 2-in-1 Smoke & CO Detector's smoke detection piece is the photoelectric type. So it works by picking up microscopic particles that are passing through an inner chamber.


That does mean that false alarms can sometimes happen from things that are not smoke - like steam and vapor, small insects, and most commonly, dust. We've always recommended that if you're seeing a lot of false alarms, it would help to regularly clean around the grill of the unit with a vacuum cleaner. You should also place the detector away from bathroom doors, as well as air vents or air conditioning units that might blow dust into the compartment, and of course fireplaces and cooking areas.

But yes, one of the key innovations with the combo Smoke & Carbon Detector is that it can detect the difference between those different types of particles. While we still recommend the standard practices above, the new model does indeed offer built-in protection from false alarms.

10 Messages

Can we get an exchange for the previous version that goes off all the time even when I regularly clean.

31 Messages

@davey_d​ Will y’all be producing a fixed rate or rate of rise heat detector anytime in the future?

1 Message

1 year ago

Will this only work with the Gen 3 base station? How can you tell with base station you have? 

Community Admin

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5.7K Messages

@Happydays16​ yes, the 2-in-1 Smoke & CO Detector can only work with Gen3 SimpliSafe systems. The Gen3 and the Original Base Stations look completely different, so it's very easy to tell them apart. You can use this page as a guide!

1 Message

1 year ago

Hi. Do you have any documentation showing that the smoke detectors, and the system as a whole, meet NFPA 72 standards for fire monitoring? Twin Falls, ID fire department is requiring a hardwired system, but we're in a 40 year old home with no existing system. Huge undertaking to wire it if we can't find documentation to prove to them a SimpliSafe system would meet the NFPA 72 code.

Any help here is greatly appreciated.

1 Message

1 year ago

My daughter's new smoke/CO alarm went off last night while she was in the shower, with the bathroom door closed. The normal smoke alarm in the same space was not activated. Apparently this unit is sensitive to humidity and needs to be placed a good distance away from bathrooms, which in her case will put it farther away from the bedrooms, possibly defeating the purpose.

31 Messages

No smoke detector is designed to be placed in a bathroom due to high humidity. I have place a temperature sensor at the ceiling in lieu of smoke detectors for my bathroom and set the 

alarm temperature at 95°F. 

1 Message

11 months ago

Why does the Co/smoke detector have a flashing white light, that flashes randomly. The units are installed in living areas. A real sleep deprivation device.

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