10 year battery??

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Ponchik

Ponchik

Senior Member
Location
CA
Occupation
Electronologist
New building code that the "battery Only" smoke detectors have to have 10 year sealed battery? Can not use the 9 volt battery set up anymore?

Anyone aware of this new change??
 
I've seen the detectors but didn't know they were Code mandated yet.
From the number of rental units I inspect that have the batteries missing from the detectors it might be a good idea. :)
 
I don't know if it is code required yet. I just heard it from the supply house so I wanted to make sure it is not "hear & say".

In fact my local supply house will not sell regular 9V battery operated units anymore. According to him "we are not allowed to sell 9 volt battery operated detectors anymore"

I don't know??
 
edward said:
I don't know if it is code required yet. I just heard it from the supply house so I wanted to make sure it is not "hear & say".

In fact my local supply house will not sell regular 9V battery operated units anymore. According to him "we are not allowed to sell 9 volt battery operated detectors anymore"

I don't know??
Click to expand...
It's in the CA Health and Safety Code.

13114. (a) The State Fire Marshal, with the advice of the State
Board of Fire Services, shall adopt regulations and standards as he
or she may determine to be necessary to control the quality and
installation of fire alarm systems and fire alarm devices marketed,
distributed, offered for sale, or sold in this state.
(b) (1) No person shall market, distribute, offer for sale, or
sell any fire alarm system or fire alarm device in this state unless
the system or device has been approved and listed by the State Fire
Marshal.
(2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), commencing July 1,
2014, in order to be approved and listed by the State Fire Marshal,
a smoke alarm that is only operated by a battery shall contain a
nonreplaceable, nonremovable battery that is capable of powering the
smoke alarm for at least 10 years.
(B) This paragraph shall not apply to smoke alarms that have been
ordered by, or are in the inventory of, an owner, managing agent,
contractor, wholesaler, or retailer on or before July 1, 2014, until
July 1, 2015.
(3) Commencing January 1, 2015, in order to be approved and listed
by the State Fire Marshal, a smoke alarm shall display the date of
manufacture on the device, provide a place on the device where the
date of installation can be written, and incorporate a hush feature.
 
for replacement purposes you can use the 10 year LiIo battery. By the time it's dead it is time for replacement.
 
IMO

IMO

In my opinion, it's probably tied to the requirement that no smoke detector remains in service more than 10 years. How many of us watch a 10 year old TV that has been left on constantly? Wouldn't surprise me if an automatic 10 year End-of-Life device ended up being a requirement in smoke detectors.

Personally, I'm not to sure about a battery with a 10 year operating life. Maybe I'm from Missouri! :lol:
 
iwire said:
Intresting that NEMA feels smoke alarms should be a consumer choice while AFCIs should be mandated.
Click to expand...
:thumbsup:
as I tell folks on my inspections, "I'm from the government, I'm here to help you" :D
 
iwire said:
Intresting that NEMA feels smoke alarms should be a consumer choice while AFCIs should be mandated.
Click to expand...

Very interesting.

Here in Lancaster city, you must have either hardwired smokes or 10 yr LiIon (and those need to be in every room and hallway except the kitchen and bath) to be able to sell a house. I got the OneLink units for our house and have been relatively satisfied with them, other than the fact that there are these little white bugs that crawl into them in the summertime and set them off at all hours.

Edit to add: I have yet to see any of them labeled with an installation date except the ones I've put in, of course. No date makes them pretty much useless for the 10 year concept. I have removed some with a manufacture date longer than 10 years prior which were still working, but there's no telling when they were installed and the battery pack inserted.
 
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