Fire Safety

Fire codes based on when the Decoverly buildings were built – reguire smoke detectors outside each sleeping area & on every level.

Montgomery County Reguirements 

Hard-wired (AC Powered) smoke alarms must ONLY be replaced with hard-wired smoke alarms with a battery back-up. The back-up battery is not required to be sealed-in or a specific battery type however 10-year long life batteries are always recommended.

The easiest way to upgrade is to swap your existing detectors with hard wired detectors with 10 year battery backup.

There is a separate requirement for at least one CO Detector. This can be met by installing at least one combination Smoke/CO detector. The best arrangement is to go with all combination detectors or to put the one Combination detector outside the bedroom that is closest to the patio door on the side by the water heater closet.

Detectors with a 10 year battery  are not required but I would recommend. That way you do not have to change it every year.

There are 2 major brands – Kidde and First Alert. Home Depot does Kidde- Lowes does First Alert.  There are no advantages to one brand over the other – but Lowes- First Alert seems to offer more options.

Either detector can be unplugged and replaced without rewiring.

https://support.firstalert.com/s/article/How-to-Replace-a-Smoke-Alarm

Note the only difference from the video is that our detectors are not wired to a breaker. So power would have to be turned off outside  by an electrician if you need to change the connector.

There are three types of Detectors – Photoelectric, Ionization and Combined Photoelectric & Ionization.

Photoelectric are superior because they are less sensitive to false alarms from chemicals but faster acting to any smoke.