On Tue, 30 May 2006 17:18:06 +0100, "Christian McArdle"
wrote:

A centralised 'hush' switch is very useful if the installation is prone
to nuisance alarms.

That is bad design. The alarm system should be designed not to have nuisance
alarms, as they seriously damage the usefulness of the system. My system has
gone off just once since it was installed 3 years ago. This was when the
toaster set on fire. If my smoke alarm system went off, I would be
immediately convinced that there was a fire. Compare with a poorly designed
system with inappropriately chosen locations and sensor types that goes off
every time someone has the full English and is completely ignored by
residents.

I agree that Nuisance alarms seriously damage their usefulness.
However I have never managed to find alarms that do not have false
alarms. About a year ago we had some mains smoke alarms
professionally fitted (I have checked they have been fitted correctly)
and they still go off occasionally when we cook or when I do some DIY.

The false alarms have gradually increased in frequency since they were
fitted. And we do vacuum them out regularly.

Mark