Smoke detector maintenance is important!
Smoke detectors are lifesavers by warning all persons in the endangered area of toxic smoke gases by means of acoustic and visual signals in case of fire. Continuously ensuring the functionality of smoke detectors is of particular relevance. For example, DIN 14676 requires smoke detectors to be checked regularly, regardless of whether they are used in private households or in commercial and public buildings. This means that smoke detector maintenance must be carried out regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions, but at least every 12 months.
Responsibilities for smoke detector maintenance
The state building codes (in Germany: LBO) stipulate who is responsible for installing and checking smoke detectors. The installation of smoke detectors is the responsibility of the owner (landlord) in all federal states. However, depending on the federal state, the landlord of a building or the tenant, occupant or owner in owner-occupied housing is responsible for smoke detector maintenance.
Overview of who has to carry out smoke detector inspections and where!
In principle, landlords can transfer the smoke detector inspection to the tenants according to the LBO. This transfer of the smoke detector maintenance obligation must be mutually and contractually agreed between both parties. However, the owner or landlord still has the obligation to check whether the landlord actually installs and maintains smoke detectors. Otherwise, secondary liability kicks in and the building owner bears the responsibility in case of an emergency.
Furthermore, there is the option for owners to transfer the installation and testing of smoke detectors to third parties. In this way, the liability risk is minimised as far as possible and smoke detector maintenance is always carried out automatically and on time.
Here you can find more information about smoke detector maintenance with a maintenance contract!
Overview of who is responsible for smoke detector maintenance in which federal state:
Landlord (Owner):
- Brandenburg
- Bremen
- Rhineland-Palatinate
- Saarland
- Saxony-Anhalt
- Thuringia
Tenant or occupant (owner):
- Baden-Wuerttemberg
- Bavaria
- Berlin
- Hamburg
- Hesse
- Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
- Lower Saxony
- North Rhine-Westphalia
- Saxony
- Schleswig-Holstein
Owners in owner-occupied housing:
- Baden-Wuerttemberg
- Bavaria
- Berlin
- Brandenburg
- Bremen
- Hamburg
- Hesse
- Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
- Lower Saxony
- North Rhine-Westphalia
- Rhineland-Palatinate
- Saarland
- Saxony
- Saxony-Anhalt
- Schleswig-Holstein
- Thuringia
The smoke detector check in detail
During the smoke alarm maintenance, which is required at least every 12 months, the operational capability of the smoke alarms is tested according to DIN 14676. The test includes whether the installation location of the smoke alarm complies with the DIN regulations and whether the device is damaged. In addition, the alarm function, smoke inlet and smoke measurement chamber are checked for functionality, as these essential functions should be in perfect condition at all times. In the case of networked radio smoke detectors, the forwarding of the alarm must also be checked to ensure that all networked fire detectors respond in the event of an emergency.
Smoke detector maintenance with maintenance contract
You can also hand over the installation and regular inspection of smoke alarms to a certified fire protection expert. A maintenance contract for smoke alarm maintenance has the advantage that the fire protection service provider takes care of the maintenance automatically and on time. The smoke detector maintenance is recorded in a maintenance log so that the landlord can prove the correct testing of the smoke detectors in the event of damage.
In the event of a defective smoke detector, it is replaced immediately. In this way, the functionality of the smoke detectors as life savers is immediately restored. Landlords can pass on the costs for smoke detector maintenance by fire protection experts to tenants as other operating costs. Landlords and tenants both benefit from professional smoke alarm maintenance with a maintenance contract in accordance with DIN 146767 and direct assistance in the event of malfunctions.
Are you interested in a maintenance contract for smoke detectors?
The CWS experts will be happy to advise you without obligation. Get in touch with us now.
