Heat alarm lifetime/replacement

[several]

just bought a new mains heat alarm (kiddie firex) and inside there's a sticker saying "replace alarm by 2016".

Never fit a heat alarm before, is this normal? doesn't seem a long time.

 

[flameport]

Not normal, most heat alarms should last for 10 years, same for smoke alarms.
Carbon monoxide alarms need to be replaced more often, typically every 3 or 5 years.

I don't fit Kidde products any more, so perhaps their lifespan is less than other makes?

 

[yorkspark]

or it has been sat on the shelf in the shop for 6 years prior to been bought!

 

[OwainDIYer]

I thought heat alarms from the Victorian era (bimetallic strip etc) were still operational ...

 

[several]

Yea I found the manufacture date and it's 2008 so clearly old stock.

Does the expiry still apply or is it relative to the manufacture date assuming it will have sold the same year.

I went with the kidde because it seems quite discreet in the sense that it doesn't hang down 12 inches from the ceiling.

 

[RF Lighting]

I thought heat alarms from the Victorian era (bimetallic strip etc) were still operational ...

And quite often full of mercury...

 

[OwainDIYer]

I thought heat alarms from the Victorian era (bimetallic strip etc) were still operational ...

And quite often full of mercury...

Is that better or worse than americium?

 

[RF Lighting]

Are we playing poisonous metal top trumps now?

 

[Alarm]

Yea I found the manufacture date and it's 2008 so clearly old stock.

Does the expiry still apply or is it relative to the manufacture date assuming it will have sold the same year.

I went with the kidde because it seems quite discreet in the sense that it doesn't hang down 12 inches from the ceiling.

10 from manufactured date.

 

[Taylortwocities]

I would take it back and demand a new one.

BTW If you buy Smoke/heat alarms from TLC they will email you a reminder of when the batteries/alarms require replacing.