Smoke Alarms Revisited - with New Updated Info
Da Vinci Remodeling – Safety Information
March 12, 2010
Here is the latest on smoke alarms. We published an article on this topic last March and feel it’s important to keep you up-to-date on this very important issue. This article is also much more detailed in scope.
Where smoke alarms should be located?
The building code currently in effect in most Colorado jurisdictions states the following:
“2006 IRC – R313.2 Location: Smoke alarms shall be installed in the following locations:
1. In each sleeping room.
2. Outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms.
3. On each additional story of the dwelling, including basements but not including crawlspaces and uninhabitable attics. In dwellings or dwelling units with split levels and without an intervening door between the adjacent levels, a smoke alarm installed on the upper level shall suffice for the adjacent lower level provided that the lower level is less than one full story below the upper level. When more than one smoke alarm is required to be installed within an individual dwelling unit, the alarm devices shall be interconnected in such a manner that the actuation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the individual unit.”
In addition to the above, you should follow the manufacturer's installation instructions for proper placement in the areas described above.
Notice we stated the “…code currently in effect in most of Colorado”. This is the 2006 IRC. Some Colorado jurisdictions are still under older code versions, but the 2006 is more stringent, so a better rule to follow. A few jurisdictions have adopted the 2009 IRC, but the only changes we noted in this section related to carbon monoxide (CO) detectors which we’ll cover in a separate article.
When and how should smoke alarms be maintained?
There are many brands and manufacturers of smoke alarms. We recommend and for the purposes of this article will discuss Kidde (pronounced “kidda”). If you have a different smoke alarm we would recommend that you consult the manufacturer's documentation for proper maintenance procedures.
Smoke alarms have a life and should be replaced every 7 – 10 years. We recommend the minimum life span as some manufacturers state that the effectiveness of the unit begins to deteriorate between 7 and 10 years.
Many smoke alarms are battery operated or have a battery that functions as a backup, should its main power source be terminated. These batteries should be replaced twice per year. We recommend this happen at the time changes each year, the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November.
Dust is also a major player in the operation of smoke alarms. Dust can block the contacts in smoke alarms and render them useless. Smoke alarm interiors should be cleaned at least once a year with compressed air or a good vacuum (do not take them apart to clean them).
What type of smoke alarm should you have?
There are dozens of different types. Here’s our recommendation for the best alarms and systems.
First, consider the system. The best is a hard wired, interconnected system, powered by house current with a battery back-up. This system is the most reliable and most effective once installed. Note the “once installed”. These systems are not easy or inexpensive to install, because they need electricity and hard wire interconnectivity. This is not always possible in older homes.
The next best alternative for a retrofit in an older home is a battery operated unit with wireless interconnectivity. These are no mess – no fuss units that require no hard wire installation. When one goes off all the others in range (they have a very good range) also go off.
Some Final Notes
If your new smoke alarm comes with a product registration, fill it out and send it in. Should there be a recall or defective model, Kidde is very good about notifying you.
Smoke alarm battery replacement, testing, and cleaning is included in all full-service House & Home packages. For full-service subscribers this article is informational. If you’re a House & Home Ultra Lite subscriber, please do not take this information lightly. Fires in the home kill way too many people each year. A properly placed and maintained smoke alarm system is a fairly inexpensive safety precaution.