I was just thinking it'd be really nice if smoke alarms had to have the year they were manufactured printed on the front of them, so I could see how old they are when I walk under them, instead of having it on the back of the bracket, which I'd never see. It just seems like it'd make sense for the manufacturers of these to do this, since me seeing it's an old unit would trigger the building owner to go out and buy a new one. Any thoughts why they haven't thought of this one yet?
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Dates on smoke alarms.
- Thread starter kasa
- Start date
mark handler
SAWHORSE
There is a date printed on the backs of smoke alarms.
The expiration date for smoke alarms maybe stamped inside too.
All smoke detectors have a recommended service life of 10 years.
The expiration date for smoke alarms maybe stamped inside too.
All smoke detectors have a recommended service life of 10 years.
Yes. And I was thinking, all the $ they could make would not happen if only one manufacturer did it. If the cheap-skate is looking at the store, and sees one that advertises exactly when he's gotta buy a new one, and then there's one that won't, he'll chose the one that won't. So, it'd have to be a code that made them do it, and I don't know who'd be the advocate for that code but inspectors (me). Any studies done on how many people's smoke alarms were expired in a fire? I see expiration dates on the bottoms of self-illuminated exit signs, and I think I'm probably making someone some money out there every time I order some replaced. Aside from just knowing what models of smoke detectors look older-than-dirt, there is no efficient way to check them.
Mark, Yeah I know it is there, but you have to pull it down to see it. I'm also prohibited from helping anyone even remove them to check. I see hundreds of smoke alarms in a week even. Just a lot of obstacles that having the date on the outside would really help with.
BSSTG
Gold Member
Greetings,
I recently went to change batts in mine and found that 1 wasn't even working. Spooky. Mine are about 9 years old so I changed out the whole lot. I didn't know that the service life is 10 years. good info.
BS
I recently went to change batts in mine and found that 1 wasn't even working. Spooky. Mine are about 9 years old so I changed out the whole lot. I didn't know that the service life is 10 years. good info.
BS
I don't know if I'm getting the right tone in your reply, but I don't take any offense either waycda said:
Just want to clarify really, I am an inspector, and I was told that I can't touch any equipment, devices, etc. I had been pushing the test button on emergency lights for an older lady, and a manager who was observing me for the day said that's not allowed due to liability issues.
fatboy
Administrator
Your job is to inspect, the manager's liability issues wouldn't come into play here. JMHO
mark handler
SAWHORSE
By the way that expiration date is for both hard wired and battery operated units
I have encountered detectors that were so old that they crumbled when I tried to remove them....it happened with my ten year old plug in co detector.
No have similar problem not as badkasa said:I don't know if I'm getting the right tone in your reply, but I don't take any offense either way
Sometime I act and ask permission later
I do not like to take down the old ones, it disturbs the sleeping roaches
Oldfieldguy
Bronze Member
The 10 year expiration date provision for smoke alarms was deleted from the 2013 edition of NFPA 72.
mark handler
SAWHORSE
The revisions proposed in 3.) are made to provide correlation between the requirements of 14.4.7 (14.4.8 in the 2010 edition) and the requirements of 29.10 as modified by Comment 72-415. The provisions of 14.4.7 address replacement of smoke alarms in one- and two-family dwellings and require that smoke alarms in one- and two-family dwellings not remain in service longer than 10-years from the date of manufacture. The provisions in 29.10 as modified by Comment 72-415 would require the 10-year replacement of all smoke alarms not just those in one- and two-family dwellings. The revisions proposed for 29.10 by this TIA remove the conflicting requirement and return the language to that in the 2010 edition.Oldfieldguy said:
http://www.nfpa.org/Assets/files/AboutTheCodes/72/ProposedTIA1050NFPA72.pdf
mark handler
SAWHORSE
Manufacturer's still recommended All smoke detectors have a service life of 10 years.
Oldfieldguy
Bronze Member
Thanks Mark, I stand corrected.
97catintenn
Bronze Member
That's why you're suppose the replace CO detectors every seven years. lolICE said:
Not to change the subject, but to what Fireguy said: The monthly test is 30 seconds. The annual test, the 90 minute one, I've always told people they can shut it off at the panel, but caution them to watch that they haven't just shut off a fridge or alarm or something with it. I just saw a receipt from some company charging $18.50 for each unit for the 'annual test', and in total it was like over $900, and separate charges listed to fix broken ones. That I don't really understand.