Contrary to popular belief, fire alarms are not simply bought off the shelf, installed and left to do their work. They have to go through a thorough inspection at least twice a year to make sure that they are working properly. Homeowners who ignore this requirement often see the light when the house is already burning. People generally forget that fire alarms are powered by batteries and these batteries have an expiration date.
As the fire alerts are generally installed on the ceiling, these are the most ignored and the most forgotten piece of household equipment. It is also the least maintained. Some forget the presence of the fire alerts until they remember too late that it was just a ceiling fixture and no longer functioning.
There are certain agencies that do the required inspection. This can be done by either a private organization or the fire department. This inspection should meet the requirements as established by the National Fire Protection Association. All results of inspection will be forwarded to both the homeowners and the management of the security agency if the home is registered as a client. There will be visual inspection made to make sure that the fire alerts are installed properly. If there should be any trouble that is visible, then these can be immediately corrected. They have to make sure that there are no obstruction on the alarm, that they are not installed in an area where it can go off even with the steam coming off a bathroom, that there is no moisture damage on the gadget as well as other damages.
The inspection will also include a thorough inspection of the battery inserted. If it is dead it will be replaced immediately. If it is still alive, its strength would be tested and if it is weak, immediately it has to be changed. The inspection should make sure that the batteries should always be on full strength. Fire detectors installed in kitchens will also be inspected for the heat in the kitchen and the steam from the heat of the stove can cause damage on the fire detectors. Also, the oils from the stove can cause much damage to the sensors and in cases of fire; the alarm would not be able to sense it. Fire detectors that are well and fully functioning have helped save millions of lives and homes. Only those alarms which have been left untended have failed their purpose. So have the inspection done twice yearly for peace of mind.
