The alarm's manufacturing date is usually found on the back or side of the unit. If you're not sure how old a smoke detector is, replace it. Known as an invisible killer, carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can be fatal.
If your CO alarm was manufactured before 2013, it has a seven-year life. If you're unsure of your alarm's age, look for the manufactured date on the back of the alarm.
The date of manufacture for your alarm is printed in date format on the back of your alarm: YYYY, Month, DD.
The manufacture date code is stamped on the label located on the back of the alarm.
You may have thought that only food can expire, but it may surprise you to know that carbon monoxide detectors have expiration dates too. This is because carbon monoxide detectors have sensors that lose their sensitivity over time. Most carbon monoxide detectors last between five and ten years.
The British Standard BS EN 50292:2023 offers recommendations on the installation and maintenance of carbon monoxide alarms in properties. Find out more about what the standard states. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer: you can't see it, smell it or taste it.
Detector Life Span
The recommendation is to replace them every five years because their ability to detect carbon monoxide is questionable after that point.
System Sensor's format is a 4 digit number. The first digit indicates the last digit of the year of manufacture, the next 2 digits indicate the month in that year, and the final digit indicates the week of that month. In the example below, this smoke was manufactured in 2012, in March, during the 3rd week.
Carbon monoxide detectors are generally good for seven years. When you change your batteries in these units, check the date and replace them before they go bad.
False or nuisance alarms are when your smoke detector or CO alarm goes off, but there is no presence of smoke or carbon monoxide in your home. However, if your smoke or carbon monoxide detector sounds indicating an emergency and you are not certain it is a nuisance alarm, evacuate the home and call 9-1-1.
The International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends a carbon monoxide detector on every floor of your home, including the basement. A detector should be located within 10 feet of each bedroom door and there should be one near or over any attached garage.
After ten (10) years of cumulative power up, this unit will “chirp” two times every 30 seconds. This is an "operational end of life" feature which will indiV cate that it is time to replace the alarm. To help identify the date to replace the unit, a label has been affixed to the side of the alarm.
back of the alarm for the date of manufacture. should be replaced 10 years from the date of manufacture. back on the ceiling or wall if it is less than 10 years old.
The earliest version of a carbon monoxide detector was invented in 1925 by Chester Gordon and James Lowe.
The date code format shall be a four-digit number. The first two digits being the last two digits of the calendar year and the last two digits being the week of the year. This is considered the YYWW format.
For all serialized sensors, batteries, pumps, etc, the second to last digit in the serial number indicates the year of manufacture. For example : "W" indicates the manufacturing year is 2019. The last digit in the serial number indicates the month.
Look at the back of the alarm for the date of manufacture. Smoke alarms should be replaced 10 years from the date of manufacture. Combo smoke/CO alarms should be replaced after 5-7 years (depending on the model). Put the alarm back on the ceiling or wall if it is less than 10 years old.
Why is there a date printed on the back of my alarm? Is it an expiration date? The date printed on the back of your alarm is not an expiration date. It is the day your unit was manufactured.
Hard-wired and lithium-battery-operated detectors last about as long as other CO detectors. This means these alarms generally have a life span of seven to ten years. The difference is that you do not need to replace the batteries of these alarms every six months.
A heavy smoker in a poorly ventilated room the CO from smoking may trigger an alarm. It is recommended to open a window if possible to improve ventilation. If this happens often, invest in a CO alarm with a digital display to assess the level of risk when the alarm sounds.
Levels of carbon monoxide exposure range from low to dangerous: Low level: 50 PPM and less. Mid-level: Between 51 PPM and 100 PPM. High level: Greater than 101 PPM if no one is experiencing symptoms. Dangerous level: Greater than 101 PPM if someone is experiencing symptoms.
You can perform a crisis test by lighting a candle, incense stick, or other material for burning. Once this material burns a steady smoke stream, hold it about 12 to 18 inches below the smoke detector unit.
Here are some of the reasons, however, refer to your product's manual for your specific model: The detector has a low battery and they need to be replaced. The detector has reached its end-of-life and the alarm itself needs to be replaced. Elevated levels of carbon monoxide gas have been detected.