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Subject Author Date
Testing a smoke detector Walter R. 04-23-2008
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Posted by Smitty Two on April 27, 2008, 2:35 am

> Smitty Two wrote:
>
> >> Do NOT use candles, cigarettes, matches, (flashlights!?!) or anything else
> >> that was suggested by some of the respondents. You could damage the
> >> sensitivity of the unit.
> >
> >Huh? Are you the manufacturer of "smoke in a can?"
>
> No. But I am a licensed professional alarm installer.
>
> >I'd say anything that
> >produces smoke should work to test a smoke detector.
>
> And you would only be half right. Sure, you'll find out if it worked but it
> can damage the detector. When real smoke gets inside the unit's sensing
> chamber it leaves a residue. Smoke residue along with dust and other
> particles can affect the sensitivity of the unit. Worst case is the
> sensitivity is decreased and a fire is not detected fast enough. The other
> scenario is potential for false alarms.
>
> It is recommended to clean or replace the sensing chamber of smoke detectors
> following the manufacturers directions annually..
>
>
> > As far as my
> >flashlight note, I didn't just pull that idea out of my ass. The
> >directions that came with the unit specifically say to test that unit
> >that way.
>
> If you say so. I don't deal with cheapo smoke detectors.

Then how would you be qualified to give advice about how to test them?

Posted by G. Morgan on April 27, 2008, 3:02 pm
Smitty Two wrote:

>> If you say so. I don't deal with cheapo smoke detectors.
>
>Then how would you be qualified to give advice about how to test them?


So now you just want to argue...

I'll quote myself:
        " I am a licensed professional alarm installer."

And...

I was replying to the OP who wrote:
        "I am having a security system with smoke detectors installed.
        The magnetic switches and infrareds are easy but, how do I test the
        smoke detectors? (Without setting the house on fire.)"

Good enough, cheapo flashlight smoke detector man?






--

I kill all Google Group posts, you can too.
Take back Usenet <--> http://improve-usenet.org

Posted by Smitty Two on April 27, 2008, 3:21 pm

> Smitty Two wrote:
>
> >> If you say so. I don't deal with cheapo smoke detectors.
> >
> >Then how would you be qualified to give advice about how to test them?
>
>
> So now you just want to argue...
>
> I'll quote myself:
>         " I am a licensed professional alarm installer."
>
> And...
>
> I was replying to the OP who wrote:
>         "I am having a security system with smoke detectors installed.
>         The magnetic switches and infrareds are easy but, how do I test the
>         smoke detectors? (Without setting the house on fire.)"
>
> Good enough, cheapo flashlight smoke detector man?

I wasn't trying to be rude, just cynical. Maybe your professional line
of smoke detectors gets finicky when subjected to harsh environmental
conditions, like cigarette smoke or cooking smoke or cat fur, and needs
frequent professional cleaning, adjustment, testing, alignment, maybe an
expensive service and maintenance contract to remove all the accumulated
"residue and dust."

OTOH, your basic $10 job from K-mart can stand up to all kinds of
typical household abuse for twenty years and work just fine with nothing
but a fresh battery every five years.

Posted by G. Morgan on April 27, 2008, 5:10 pm
Smitty Two wrote:

>I wasn't trying to be rude, just cynical. Maybe your professional line
>of smoke detectors gets finicky when subjected to harsh environmental
>conditions, like cigarette smoke or cooking smoke or cat fur, and needs
>frequent professional cleaning, adjustment, testing, alignment, maybe an
>expensive service and maintenance contract to remove all the accumulated
>"residue and dust."

They just need to be tested annually, and a sensitivity test every 3 years.


>OTOH, your basic $10 job from K-mart can stand up to all kinds of
>typical household abuse for twenty years and work just fine with nothing
>but a fresh battery every five years.

Not a good idea. The batts. should be replaced annually whether they are
chirping or not (exceptions for Lithium-Ion batts.). And every detector must
be replaced every 10 years.

"Section 8-3.5 of NFPA 72 now requires all single-station and multiple-station
smoke alarms to be replaced every ten years. This is because buildup of grease
and dust, insect infestations, and normal failure rates dictate replacement.
This requirement does not apply to system powered smoke detectors that are
commonly found in commercial/industrial establishments because they are
sensitivity tested to the requirements of Chapter 7 of NFPA 72."

http://www.nfpa.org/faq.asp?categoryID=925&cookie%5Ftest=1#23015
--

I kill all Google Group posts, you can too.
Take back Usenet <--> http://improve-usenet.org

Posted by David Nebenzahl on April 28, 2008, 2:17 am
On 4/27/2008 2:10 PM G. Morgan spake thus:

> Not a good idea. The batts. should be replaced annually whether they are
> chirping or not (exceptions for Lithium-Ion batts.). And every detector must
> be replaced every 10 years.
>
> "Section 8-3.5 of NFPA 72 now requires all single-station and multiple-station
> smoke alarms to be replaced every ten years. This is because buildup of grease
> and dust, insect infestations, and normal failure rates dictate replacement.
> This requirement does not apply to system powered smoke detectors that are
> commonly found in commercial/industrial establishments because they are
> sensitivity tested to the requirements of Chapter 7 of NFPA 72."
>
> http://www.nfpa.org/faq.asp?categoryID=925&cookie%5Ftest=1#23015

Well, that not only seems to be "the law" but makes sense as well.

However, I have a hard time believing, as you assert, that a device
designed to detect smoke can be damaged by, and must be discarded when
exposed to ... smoke. You make it sound as if they are one-shot devices
that should be discarded if they ever go off.


--
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute
conversation with the average voter.

- Attributed to Winston Churchill

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