In addition to the log book, what else is essential for effective smoke detector maintenance?

Regularly replacing smoke detector units is essential for effective smoke detector maintenance because smoke detectors have a limited lifespan, typically around 10 years. Over time, the components within the detector can degrade, reducing their effectiveness in detecting smoke and thereby increasing the risk of missing a fire alert.

Even with diligent testing and cleaning, older units may not perform reliably, as they can become prone to false alarms or fail to activate in the event of a fire. Therefore, ensuring that smoke detector units are replaced according to their recommended timeline is key to maintaining safety in any environment.

While keeping emergency numbers handy, conducting fire drills, and training residents on detector operation are important practices, they do not directly influence the functional integrity of the smoke detectors themselves, which is why replacing units is a critical aspect of maintenance.