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The Vacaville Fire Protection
District has developed a fire protection plan that includes public
and private responsibility. The District has established a "normal
fire control capability" by building a fire suppression force,
providing firefighting equipment, and by developing support
services necessary to cope with an anticipated fire risk. Above
that anticipated level of fire risk, built in protection will be
provided by the private sector.
AUTHORITY
Section 1001.5.1.3 of the Vacaville Fire Protection
District Fire Code requires the property owner to maintain and
service smoke detectors to ensure that they are operational at all
times.
EXPLANATION
All new construction now requires that smoke detectors be
hard wired into the building's electrical system (A.C. powered).
Some smoke detectors are both A.C. powered with battery backup. In
existing dwelling units, where A.C. powered smoke detectors were
not required, the Vacaville Fire Protection District allowed the
use of battery powered smoke detector(s) when it was impractical
to install A.C. powered models.
All smoke detectors shall be listed and approved by the State
Fire Marshal and detectors shall be installed in accordance with
the manufacturer's instructions. This policy establishes the
minimum responsibilities of the properly owner for maintenance
and servicing of battery powered smoke detectors.
RESPONSIBILITY
The Vacaville Fire Protection District requires that
battery powered smoke detectors be checked at least once every
three months (quarterly), batteries must be replaced at
least annually, or when needed, and a record of the maintenance
checks and battery changes must be kept. It shall be the
responsibility of the property owner to inspect, test, maintain,
and service all battery powered smoke detectors once every three
months (quarterly).
EXCEPTION: Listed and approved smoke detectors having a
service life of at least ten (10) years, such as non removable
lithium battery powered detectors, shall be inspected and tested
at least annually.
The property owner can delegate this responsibility, in
writing, to a responsible person/agent (property manager, on
site manager, complex maintenance person) or organization.
- Three (3) of the four (4) required quarterly checks (visual
inspection for damage and test detector by pushing the test
button) can be delegated, in writing (could include in
rental/lease contract) to the tenant when they are given proper
instructions and training.
- You cannot delegate the responsibility for servicing,
repairing and annual battery replacement of the detectors to a
tenant.
- Quarterly checks and testing cannot be delegated to
hotel/motel guests.
MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
Once every three months (quarterly): Smoke detectors shall
be inspected, tested and maintained in an operative condition, in
accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, at all times and
shall be replaced or repaired where defective. This includes
replacing the battery in every smoke detector once each year.
EXCEPTION: Listed and approved smoke detectors having a
service life of at least ten (10) years, such as lithium battery
powered detectors, shall be inspected and tested at least
annually. Battery replacement is not required for sealed units and
the detector must be replaced when the low battery signal sounds.
A record of all inspections, testing, and maintenance shall be
kept by the property owner or his/her agent. These records shall
be made available to a fire inspector upon request. Quarterly
inspections, testing and maintenance logs shall be maintained for
every individual unit or address.
The following maintenance information should be recorded.
Records shall be maintained for two (2) years.
- Address and suite number
- Date of testing.
- Type of inspection, testing or maintenance. (Quarterly,
Annually or Service Request)
- Total number of detectors in dwelling unit.
- If battery was changed. (Battery shall be labeled to reflect
the date it was placed in the detector)
- If detector was replaced.
- Date battery was changed or detector was replaced.
- Method of testing. (./ box Pressed test button, used canned
test smoke, etc.)
- Comments. (Detector relocated, battery chirping, detector
missing, etc.)
- Name of person performing inspection, test, and/or
maintenance and signature.
NOTE: Tenants should be encouraged to test the detectors
in their dwelling units more frequently than once every three
months. The National Fire Protection Association's fire alarm
standard recommends that detectors be tested once a month.
Revised and approved by Fire Captain Tim Walton, July 10, 2001 |
