The National Fire Protection Association's Fire Prevention Week is October 6,2024-October 12, 2024. This serves to remind us that the basics matter. Things like testing your smoke detectors every month are part of the NFPA's guidance.
Have you considered how old the smoke detectors in your home are? The NFPA recommends replacement of smoke detectors every 10 years, regardless of functionality. If your home was built prior to 1977 and has not been extensively renovated; chances are you have battery only, non-communicating/stand-alone devices. These could be replaced by the homeowner. The date of manufacture is printed on the back of smoke alarms.
Since 1977, new homes were required to have hardwired, interconnected battery-backup smoke detectors. These should be replaced by a licensed electrician. If your home does not have these type of smoke detectors, consider updating your home's fire alarm system. In a modern home, smoke detected in the basement would activate alarms in the sleeping rooms. This is a much safer system than stand-alone smoke detectors.
Current codes require a smoke detector in each sleeping room, and a smoke/CO detector in the hallway leading to sleeping rooms, within 10 feet of sleeping room doors. It is also important to have smoke/CO detectors on every habitable level of the home.
If your smoke alarms are chirping, not responding to a test, or the age is unknown consider calling Mc Caffrey Electrical Contracting today!
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