February 17, 2011
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Comments
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Hi Ken,
I have attached a scanned document right out of the box of a system sensor 4wtb smoke detector.
As you can see, (the second from last bullet) says it is recommended that residential smoke detectors SHALL be replaced every 10 years.
What more can I say?
Greg Cholka
Walworth County Security Alarms, LLC
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Ken,
As usual, you have uncovered an interesting topic that manages to get many different perspectives. I thank you for that as I do not know of another venue that does what yours does! I am attaching for your review and perhaps re printing a PDF document that is the actual document from System Sensor. This document is inside every smoke detector that they sell / distribute. It is stapled to the manufacturer’s instructions and would therefore seem to be a part of the manufacturer’s instructions and U.L. Listing. I will leave that piece of the debate for the educated legal minds to decide.
There seems to be two sides to this discussion. One is centered on whether of not there is a legal requirement (Code and or Standard) to replace the smoke detectors every ten years as it is stated in the attached document. The other discussion seems to be centered on routine service and customer maintenance. It always intrigues me when I hear someone say “I am not going to do it unless someone is (forcing) me to do it” via a Code or Standard. This obviously plays out not only from “our” clients in the world, but also the many different service companies that provide alarm services. The big question I think is “Why would you not want to replace the smoke detector in ten years”? These devices are for life safety. I do not take this subject lightly, as I have already experienced a fire in my own residence twice. Both times, I was alerted by the smoke detectors installed within my home alarm system and minimized the damage. People are relying on all of us to make sound judgments on there behalf to protect their families. That is a huge responsibility placed on every one of us that installs residential and commercial fire alarm systems.
It reminds me of an NTS instructor from Connecticut that I have had the honor of working with many times during Level I training sessions. He will paint a visual picture of getting on an airplane with our families to go on vacation. Just before boarding, there is a large sign that simply states “This Aircraft was built using the minimum required materials and the minimum possible standards for its construction”, “Enjoy your flight”! I believe his point was dead on. All of the codes and standards that we have are just the minimum guidelines that we must adhere to. We should be striving for better than that. It is good business to keep your clients alarm systems up to date and maintained. Leaving a detector in place for twenty years because it still goes into alarm when “I push the button” is bad business and you are not doing your client or your business any good.
I hope the attached document helps with this discussion.
Regards,
David Wilson, President
Berkshire Alarm
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A few spewed thoughts,
System Sensor’s language for the i3 smoke detectors as written in “Limitations of Fire Alarm Systems”, a sheet that is included in the paperwork that comes with the detectors, states: “Although designed for long life, fire alarm devices including smoke detectors may fail at any time. It is recommended that residential smoke detectors shall be replaced every 10 years.”
When you present this information to a customer that has 10 year old smoke detectors, and they elect not to replace the detectors, the next time the customer asks for a certificate for insurance, the certificate should reflect that the customer has NO/OBSOLETE Fire Protection.
Possible reason for time limitations:
If I’m not mistaken, Photoelectric smoke detectors use an Light Emitting Diode as the light source (photo=light). Proper operation would depend upon the life expectancy of the LED. An LED’s life expectancy is typically rated in hours. 10 years equals 87,600 hours. Most LEDs that I have seen are rated for 50,000 hours. Towards the LED’s end-of-life, the light source just gets weaker which will typically result in hypersensitivity or a faulty sensor.
Danny Dunson
Direct Alarm
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comments on alarm companies settle California fire loss case for $4.6 million
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comments
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This case raises more questions than it answers. Why didn’t the occupant simply pick up the phone and call 911 when the fire department didn’t arrive in a timely manner? If they were awake enough to answer the call from the alarm company, why didn’t they evacuate the house? Why wasn’t the person (or their estate) who dropped the cigarette sued? What about proximate cause? The alarm company didn’t start the fire. And again, the contract. Wasn’t there one between the customer and the alarm company and one between the customer and the central station.
Bob B, NJ
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Ken,
Unfortunately our society has become so money hungry on lawsuits.. Wonder if they tried to sue the cigarette company since it was the initial cause of the blaze.. My question to you is if we are charging so little for monitoring services, our contracts show limited liabilities, how can they get such a settlement??
Gordy Neumann
Always Secure Alarm Protection, Inc
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This case leaves more questions than answers. First, the residents caused the fire, then they didn't leave the burning house. That forced the firefighters to enter the house and try to save lives which killed them all. It is hard to say anything about the case without more info, but it looks like the residents caused multiple deaths by plain stupidity. Shouldn't dumb people be required to buy "stupidity insurance"?
Dusan