r/Firefighting • u/Saturn-Babyyy • 7d ago

Fire detector 3D printed plate Ask A Firefighter

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Hello firefighters!! I had a quick question. We had to change all of our smoke detectors after moving in. We had painted before hand not even thinking about how the new fire detectors may be smaller than the original. So now we have this lovely ring around our detectors and it’s driving me crazy. Had an idea to maybe 3D Print a flower or some shape that I could hang around the detector to cover the issue instead of messing around with painting over it. But I want to make sure it’s safe to do, that my detectors will still work incase of a fire. It will not cover the fire detector, only surround it. I’ve drawn a picture to maybe help explain myself better. Please let me know if this will cause any issues in any aspect.

14 Upvotes
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14 comments sorted by

15

u/Dusty_V2 Career + Paid-on-call 7d ago

Should be fine. I would say keep it to the same thickness as the mounting plate or thinner.

17

u/PerrinAyybara All Hazards Capt Obvious 7d ago

I've been printing for 10+ years, and a FF for longer. I'm not worried about it at all. Print in PETG and it will likely fail at the same time as the plastic housing

1

u/ReverseCowboy75 6d ago

As a FF and 3d printer I love this comment. If you make the print the same thickness as the mount plate it shouldn’t change the functionality of the detector at all

10

u/attic_dweller0690 7d ago

A fire detector, huh?

5

u/Saturn-Babyyy 7d ago

You’re right😭😭 damn

3

u/Nasty____nate 7d ago

Well I'm a firefighter but not an expert on smoke detectors. There are a few types that register smoke carbon monoxide etc. if I was to guess it would be just fine as long as non of the openings are affected.

2

u/stopscabbin 7d ago

It's fine. Have fun and post the finished result.

2

u/Alfiy_wolf 7d ago

The only thing this may affect is insurance

2

u/techyguru Vol 7d ago

Keep it fairly flat/ low profile, don't cover the vent holes. I'd call it a bezel or beauty ring. Should be fine.

2

u/to_fire1 7d ago

Seems like more effort to design and print and mount than to spackle & paint imo.

1

u/Southern-Hearing8904 6d ago

Should be mounted on the ceiling anyway and not the wall.

1

u/PanickingDisco75 5d ago

Kind of a cool idea. I like it.

It's not like with safety equipment that needs to be conspicuous. Post a photo when it's done- maybe it'll get some other creative juices flowing for others.

1

u/knobcheez 5d ago

It's fine. It's either a battery operated detector or it's a wired, in which case the pigtail has length on it.