I'm all for smoke detectors alerting a resident to smoke.
I'm not in favour of the system dispatching 911 before talking to the home owner that is standing the kitchen.
Systems in hotels, where the desk person is present 24/7, have the protocol for the alarm company to call the desk before dispatching fire.
Our local hospital's system does not activate a call out on a pull station or a detector activation. That is why you have staff for.
That is how the residential systems should be.
The alarm is to initiate evacuation to save lives, not to save the house.
I am well aware of the speed of a fires spread.
Unless you live next to the station, the house will likely be lost but they build new ones every day.
Often the priority after the safety of the residents is protecting the adjacent exposure.
At every fire chief meeting, seminar and conference that I attend the common complaint of every department is alarm systems.
If you don't believe me, stop at a fire station some time, ask their opinion then let us know on this thread what they have to say.
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