Question:
In the April 2005 issue of SSI, Al Colombo suggests using a relay to connect 110VAC smokes to a monitored alarm system. Al, a veteran poster to this website suggests that every 110V smoke detector manufacturer provides a relay which is listed for the purpose. Unfortunately, this is not correct. To the best of my knowledge there are currently no such relays which have been listed for use with fire alarm control panels. There is at least one relay of which I am aware that was designed to connect 110VAC smokes to external devices such as magnetic door holders. However, the manufacturer of this unit states that the relay is NOT to be used with a fire alarm control panel. Al's monthly articles in SSI are always interesting and informative, but this one probably needed further consideration before you went to press. It is a code violation to connect non-listed devices to a FACP. It is also a violation to connect listed devices in a manner for which they have not been listed.

Answer: Firex does make a relay that is listed for use with their smoke detectors. The problem with this is that it is a 110vac relay, if the power to the smokes goes out the relay will not operate. I am not sure what the intended use of the relay is but I do know some companys use it to monitor the smokes through their burglar panel.