We have a number of smoke/heat alarms that have a 10-year date stamp on them. They are all hard-wired with battery backup. They are tested at the start of each tenancy in front of the tenant and tested by again by us when we carry out the annual inspection at the property and noted on our records. A couple of tenants have had an electrician (same one) install cookers who have pointed out the alarm date stamp is beyond the 10 year date. Are we legally obliged to change the alarms even if they still work? Or is this a manufacturer’s recommendation (to sell more!)?
If the alarm was found to be faulty we would change immediately.
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The regulations don’t specify what a suitable alarm is other than it must be a “working” smoke alarm on every storey.
Sometimes they show a battery fault before the date on the sticker.
It could be tricky if there were a fire and somebody was injured or worse, and the fire brigade found an out-of-date alarm.