Testing Smoke Alarms

[bphgravity]

In order to facilitate the testing of smoke alarms, I have engineered together a stick of SCH 80 RNC with a pencil taped to the end, eraser end up. This allows me to reach most smoke alarms.

I would like to put together something a little more sophisticated and looking for ideas.

Is there something pre-manufactured for this purpose?

[hockeyoligist2]

In order to facilitate the testing of smoke alarms Is there something pre-manufactured for this purpose?
Yes my Mom and Dad made one 52 years ago. :) My boss calls me his walking step ladder, sends me to check them and change all the lights in the offices because I can reach them!



Don't get mad I just needed some fun, been a bad day.

[Awg-Dawg]

In order to facilitate the testing of smoke alarms, I have engineered together a stick of SCH 80 RNC with a pencil taped to the end, eraser end up. This allows me to reach most smoke alarms.

I would like to put together something a little more sophisticated and looking for ideas.

Is there something pre-manufactured for this purpose?




I've only seen them for smoking, not testing w/ the button.

Golf ball retrievers are expandable to about 15ft. or so and lock in. I imagine with some creativity you could fashion something on the end.

I would give you mine, but I use it too much. :)

[Mike03a3]

I use a collapsable pointer:

http://www.nationalavsupply.com/images/products/01-335.jpg

If looks like a ball point pen when it's not in use.

http://www.nationalavsupply.com/Product.aspx?DeptID=6&ClassID=60&SubClassID=254&ProdID=559

I've had several for more years than I care to count. You used to be able to buy them in any office supply store, but everyone uses laser pointers these days.

[celtic]

Is there something pre-manufactured for this purpose?

I can make them for you....and bill you accordingly :D

Does your system work?
Is your system cost effiecient?

Why fix it if it ain't broke?

[ceknight]

I would like to put together something a little more sophisticated and looking for ideas.

How about this?

http://www.testproducts.com/fire_smoke/

[mdshunk]

My inspector uses a pointer like the one my teacher used to use to point at stuff on the chalkboard in first grade. I think his is home-made from a dowel and has a door stop with the rubber tip screwed in the working end.

[benaround]

This is a little bit off the subject, on a recent job, the exit & emg. units

could be tested by aiming a red laser at a certian point on the fixture.

It worked every time, this might be a good way to test smoke alarms etc.

no spraying,no ladders,no covers falling off!!!

[mdshunk]

This is a little bit off the subject, on a recent job, the exit & emg. units

could be tested by aiming a red laser at a certian point on the fixture.

It worked every time, this might be a good way to test smoke alarms etc.

no spraying,no ladders,no covers falling off!!!

Yeah, I notice that some smokes can be tested by holding down any key on a television remote and pointing the remote at the smoke detector. It will take a while before manufacturers get on board with that or some other idea, and by then we'll have forgotten all the neat ways to test certain brands by means other than the test button or canned smoke.

[ryan_618]

I use my tape measure.

[LarryFine]

How about a pool cue! When the tip gets slippery, just chalk it up.

[ryan_618]

How about a pool cue! When the tip gets slippery, just chalk it up.

Homeowners really like it when you do that. :)

[don_resqcapt19]

In my opinion most of the test buttons found on smokes don't really test the smoke detector. They use a multipart chip with one part looking at the smoke sensor and the other part looking at the test button. They assume that if one part works the other does too. I would rather see canned smoke used for the testing of any smoke that operates this way. On some of the older photo electric smokes, the button actually moved something into the light path in the detector and you got an actual test of the device.
Don

[bphgravity]

Thanks for all the comments.

I just knew Don was going to make a post indicating the fallacy of testing smoke alarms with the test button feature. Unforunately, based on needed efficiency and convienece of inspection, smoke tests are not practical.

However, I do believe our firesafety inspectors (Fire Marshals) perform these tests at certain occupancies. I'm just looking for something easy to use at single family homes.

I never thought to try a tape measure - I will give that a try.

[don_resqcapt19]

Bryan,
It is not easy to make a real test for the ionization smokes, but I just don't buy into the idea that if the one half of the chip that you test works, that automatically means that the other half and the detector itself is functional. The fire alarm company that does the yearly checks on the system that is installed in the plant that I normally work at does use canned smoke for the testing, but even that isn't a true test as you don't have good control on the smoke density and the obscurity level. Even though you can’t verify the obscurity level with the canned smoke, I think it is a better test than the button.
I have been waiting for them to come out and test the new detectors that we recently installed in the MCC rooms. There is so much conduit below the detectors that you can’t even see the blinking light on most of them. There is no way to access the button from the floor let alone get a canned smoke up there. The area between the ceiling and the conduit is so tight that I had to take everything out of my pockets and take my belt off to fit in some of the areas and I only weigh 145. Normally my guys do most of the installation work, but they wouldn't fit!
Don

[LarryFine]

Don, we didn't know you actually worked. Isn't moderating a full-time job? :D

[ryan_618]

Bryan, the houses that I inspect are typically very large and very nice, so this method seldom works for me, but...a freind of mine looks for a telescoping shower curtain rod in the house and uses it, if the house has one.

[bkludecke]

Most of the NICE houses around here won't have shower curtains. They have walk-in showers with no doors. How about starting a fire in the fireplace and closing the flue??

[big vic]

How about a telescoping fishing rod. I taped a large hook on the end of one of these and use it for grabbing wires in crawls and attics

http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/telescoping-fishing-rods/920325.aspx

[celtic]

How about a telescoping fishing rod. I taped a large hook on the end of one of these and use it for grabbing wires in crawls and attics

http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/telescoping-fishing-rods/920325.aspx

I don't think Ronco is gonna like that fishing pole.

http://www.wonderfulbuys.com/Images/pocket_fisherman_pic.jpg

[aelectricalman]

we use an apprentice.

[kbsparky]

We light a match (imagine that, using actual smoke to test a smoke detector!!) and blow the smoke into the detector.

No cans, no test buttons, etc. When you have a real fire, there will be real smoke, and that is what they are supposed to detect.

[j_erickson]

I wouldn't bother testing the ionization smokes. They are proven to be useless in 99% or residential fires. So useless that if you have them in your own homes, I'd suggest replacing them asap.

[don_resqcapt19]

John,

I wouldn't bother testing the ionization smokes. They are proven to be useless in 99% or residential fires. So useless that if you have them in your own homes, I'd suggest replacing them asap.
Can you cite some documentation on that satement? Thanks.
Don

[j_erickson]

John,

Can you cite some documentation on that satement? Thanks.
Don

Don,

I went to a seminar given by J. Flemming who's from either the State Fire Marshall's office, or else Boston. I forget exactly which. He provided about a one hour presentation on the fact that ionization detectors are basically useless in detecting smoldering fires. And that in deadly household fires, they are all smoldering.

He provided documentation that they detect smoke 15 - 60 minutes after photoelectric detectors. It was he who successfully pursued the requirement in the 1998 MA building code for photoelectric smokes in all new houses.

He has basically devoted his life to this study and has according to him " 2 houses filled with research and documentation." He also has some first hand stories of UL tests being very misleading. Bordering on tainted. He had enough names, dates, test results and events to convince me.

This was just a sideline of a sprinkler seminar that I attended, but found it very interested.

Again, he is an active member of the FD, not representing any other agency or manufacturer in any way, shape, or form.

I'm sure I can get more info on him and from him if there is any interest.

John

[Mike03a3]

If your aim isn't too bad, maybe you could use this:

http://www.megaglow.com/suctionpistol.gif