Uniformat D5030

Smoke detector

A smoke detector lasts about 20 years, as stated by the one published source on file.

Also listed as Smoke and heat detectors, heat detector

• Confidence C
• Version 0.5.0 (permanent link)
• Reviewed 2026-10-22

Service life

Years in service. One stated life so far; the band will widen as sources are added.

Work out when yours is due for replacement

One source. This value rests on a single document (UFM 3-601-02 Fire Protection Systems Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance (Unified Facilities Manual, 13 March 2026), p32). Treat it as that source's figure, not a settled life, until others confirm it.

Basis

• 20 years · UFM 3-601-02 Fire Protection Systems Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance (Unified Facilities Manual, 13 March 2026), p32 · Table 2-1 “Fire Detection and Alarm System ITM Tasks, frequency "20 Years and As Part of Other Building Inspection (not part of ITM requirements)": "Smoke Detectors not monitored internally or by the control panel for sensitivity or obscuration as appropriate, (single-station detectors, and system detectors)" - "Replace detectors."” — U.S. Department of Defense (Unified Facilities Criteria program) (planning life)
  Printed page 25. System (and single-station) smoke detectors whose sensitivity is not monitored by the device or panel. Smoke detectors only; heat detectors have no replacement interval in the table (restorable heat detectors are tested every 2 years). Detectors whose sensitivity is monitored have no fixed replacement interval here.

How sources are chosen and recorded: sourcing policy.

Preventive maintenance

3 tasks in 2 work orders. Intervals that fall due together are one visit: the every 5 years visit also covers the every 2 years tasks.

Download the tasks as CSV

Frequencies are ISO 8601 durations in the data (P3M = every 3 months).

Open questions

• Every source here is a published planning, design or accounting life. None is observed replacement data.

Know the answer? Send it with a source to [email protected].

Cite this

Citation

unfinished.one (2026). Smoke and heat detectors, v0.5.0. https://unfinished.one/c/smoke-heat-detector/v/0.5.0

BibTeX

@misc{unfinished_smoke_heat_detector_0_5_0,
  title = {Smoke and heat detectors},
  author = {{unfinished.one}},
  year = {2026},
  version = {0.5.0},
  url = {https://unfinished.one/c/smoke-heat-detector/v/0.5.0},
  note = {CC BY 4.0}
}

Licence CC BY 4.0 · How to cite · JSON · Versions: 0.5.0, 0.2.0, 0.1.0