Maintenance

Why do smoke detectors only last 10 years?

DIN 14676 deals the deathblow to every smoke detector. The standard stipulates that you must replace smoke detectors with new models after 10 years at the latest. Why this deadline? Because the smoke detectors are getting more and more dusty, so that the sensors are no longer reliable. There are already smoke detectors that compensate for pollution. The threshold for the alarm adapts to the pollution of the smoke chamber of the device. This means there are fewer false alarms. Nevertheless, you must also replace these smoke detectors after 10 years.

10-year smoke alarm: advantages and disadvantages

The 10-year smoke detectors breathe their lives without your intervention. More or less reliable after 10 years. These smoke detectors have a built-in lithium battery. They are therefore more expensive than smoke detectors with a battery that can be replaced.

The biggest advantage of the long-term smoke detectors is that you no longer have to worry about changing the batteries. If that doesn't bother you, you can continue to use regular smoke detectors. You then only have to observe the period of 10 years.

The long-term smoke detectors offer landlords more protection because there can be no problems with weak batteries. With good reason, the "Stiftung Warentest" only examines 10-year smoke detectors.

What needs maintenance on smoke detectors?

Regardless of whether it is a normal or long-term smoke detector, you both have to wait. It is best to read the operating instructions for your smoke detector. DIN 14676 prescribes an annual check to the following extent:

See that the device is damaged? Then please exchange it.
Does the smoke detector inform you of a fault via the LED or a signal tone? Then please check which fault is present. If you can fix them, keep using the device. If not, please replace it.
Are the smoke inlet openings free of dust, lint and cobwebs? If not, you can wipe away the dirt with a damp cloth. I would rather advise against the vacuum cleaner because it can pull the dirt into the smoke chamber on the opposite side.
Press the test button on the smoke detector. Do you hear a loud alarm sound? If no, please replace the battery. If the sound is still too low after this, please replace the smoke alarm.
Are objects within a 50 cm radius preventing the smoke from entering the smoke chamber? If so, please remove these obstacles.

How do you test a smoke detector?

Test the smoke detector using the test button

Press the test button on your smoke alarm. If you don't hear a loud sound after a few seconds, you should replace the battery first. Then repeat the test. Still not hearing anything? Then the device is broken and you need to replace it.

Test spray

There are also test sprays for smoke detectors. You shake the can of test spray and briefly spray it directly into the smoke chamber. If the alarm goes off, everything is fine. If not, either the batteries are too weak or the device is defective. It is unclear whether test sprays are useful. Manufacturers such as "EI Electronics" (pdf file, page 20) point out that a test with actual smoke or test spray is "neither useful nor necessary".

Remote maintenance

Tenants must make an appointment each year to have their smoke alarm serviced. This is extra work for both landlords and tenants. Remote maintenance also costs less than having to have a technician on site. How nice would it be to have remote maintenance of the smoke detectors! There are already providers for this as the company Techem.

This requires wireless smoke detectors that technicians can service without having to enter the apartment. The DIN 14676 standard for smoke detectors does not yet provide for remote maintenance. In this respect, despite all the advantages of remote maintenance, you are entering a legal gray area - also with regard to data protection.

In a nutshell: summary of the main points

Buy 10 year smoke alarms if you want to make your life safe and easy.
Test your smoke detector regularly with the test button.