Proper maintenance is crucial to building safety. There is a need to perform regular inspections in homes or businesses to ensure that equipment are all in good working condition in order to avoid hazards or prepare for emergencies.
One part of basic home and building maintenance is checking smoke detectors. These devices are protective systems against smoke and fire emergencies and are easily maintained. The National Fire Prevention Association reports that homes without working smoke detectors will cause residential fires to be more than twice as likely to turn deadly.
Functional smoke alarms serve as an early warning during a fire incident and can save lives. ServiceMaster by Disaster Relief has listed some tips to ensure that your smoke detectors are working properly.
How to Check Smoke Alarms
Regular inspection and testing of smoke detectors is important. Here’s how to properly conduct a smoke detector check in your home or office.
Know the kind of smoke detector you own
- Homes and businesses usually utilize two categories of smoke detectors: battery-operated and AC-powered.
- Battery-operated smoke alarms are common installations in homes and can be installed anywhere.
- AC-powered smoke detectors are suitable for long-term use and are typically utilized in businesses. They require a battery backup to remain functional in case of a power outage or an electrical fire
Inform your family, employees and/or customers
- High-pitched sounds from smoke detectors may be frightening or irritating for some people. Be sure to warn everyone before conducting a smoke alarm test to help them prepare for the sound.
Know the range of the smoke alarm sound
- Have someone stand away when performing a smoke alarm test to see if it is loud enough to hear in another part of your property.
- If the sound is muffled or low, add another smoke alarm in that area.
Conduct a monthly test
- Perform an inspection at least once a month using the integrated test button. Flashing or solid lights in some newer models indicate that the device is getting power. Some models are interconnected which enables you to test them all at once.
- Testing smoke alarms in businesses must only be done by a specialist. They should be made aware to prevent the fire department from responding to a false alarm.
Change the batteries
- Check smoke detectors with removable batteries and replace these batteries once a year. Don't wait for your alarms to chirp before changing the batteries.
- One trick you can use to remind yourself to change batteries is changing them along with your clocks during daylight savings time.
Test your detector's capability to detect smoke
- Working batteries do not mean that your device can properly detect smoke. To test your smoke detector, use lit matches and blow the flame out near the alarm and make sure that it goes off.
- You may also use smoke detector tester cans to trigger the smoke alarm.
Clean your smoke alarm
- As you inspect your device, remove accumulated dust and dirt using a brush or a vacuum.
- Cleaning is important for places which produce a lot of dust or debris, such as a warehouse or an industrial plant.
Make replacements every 10 years
- To ensure that you're utilizing the latest smoke detector technology and accessing the best protection available, replace your entire smoke detector every 10 years or 87,000 hours.
- Replacements are necessary to remove contaminant buildup from the internal sensors.
Install smoke alarms in appropriate places
- Place smoke alarms on every floor, in the hallways of sleeping areas, kitchens and stairways based on the proper fire regulations.
- For small or medium-sized business, building code determines the fire sprinklers, pull boxes and other types of smoke alarm requirements.
Comply with regulations
- Check fire prevention codes and requirements as maintained by the NFPA. For the latest information, check the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code and the Life Safety Code.
Follow manufacturer instructions
- Maintain and check smoke alarms according to model-specific instructions. Keep all documentation for reference.
Contact Us for Smoke Removal Services in Clearwater, Florida
ServiceMaster by Disaster Relief is of service to completely cover property damages from fire and smoke through professional remediation and restoration. We are on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (813) 295-7797. You may also connect with us online to schedule an appointment. We serve residential and commercial properties in Clearwater, Florida and the surrounding areas.
- Highly skilled technicians
- Preferred by insurance companies in Florida
- IICRC-certified firm
The sooner our professional team comes in, the sooner your life could return to normal. Don’t know what to do next? We do. Contact us today.
