Smoke Alarm Installation and Home Safety Program
- If this is an EMERGENCY, call 911.
- If you have an urgent or immediate need related to your smoke alarms, please call Montgomery County's non-emergency phone number at 301-279-8000.
- Please click on the link in the graphic below to request in-person, virtual assistance or to speak with our team.
Smoke Alarm Installation Program
Having working smoke alarms properly installed in your home can dramatically increase the chances of surviving a fire. The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) offers free home safety checks to residents of Montgomery County, Maryland.The dates of Construction Permits dictate the type and location of Smoke Alarms. Smoke alarms powered by batteries alone are allowed if the home was built before building codes required hard-wired units. Effective January 1, 2018, these battery-only smoke alarms are required to be equipped with a 10-year, long-life nonremovable battery. For homes constructed after July, 1975 Code requirements mandate that smoke alarms be hard-wired directly into the home’s electrical system and have a battery back-up to keep the unit functioning during a power outage. To know what type of smoke alarms you need, gather the answers to these questions:
- What YEAR was the property built?
- Is the current system hard-wired with a battery back-up (the battery back-up is in the event of a power outage) or battery-only (not connected into your home’s electrical system) which are traditionally found in pre-1975 houses?
- Where are the smoke alarms located?
The department does not install or replace hardwired smoke alarms. To determine what your home requires see smoke alarm requirments for more information.
Specially designed smoke alarms are available for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Please indicate on the request form that you need information regarding these types of alarms.
Residents of Montgomery County, Maryland may request a free home safety visit. The installation of free alarms is targeted to high risk individuals that include older people and senior citizens, individuals with mobility, vision or hearing impairments and residents who may have a disability or be economically challenged. A combination of these factors typically increases the risk of fire significantly.
A representative from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service will check your home’s smoke alarms to see if they are working properly. Batteries will be changed if necessary and smoke alarms found to be outdated or not working properly will be recommended for replacement. Trained personnel will identify hazards often unnoticed in the home. In most cases, a few simple maintenance and housekeeping procedures can make your home safer. Personnel will also fully explain how your new smoke alarm functions and how to maintain it.
To have a home safety check or smoke alarms checked/installed, a family member who is 18 years or older must be home. The family is asked to make a commitment to maintain and test their smoke alarms monthly, develop a home fire escape plan, and practice escape routes regularly.
Fire Safety Tips:
- Check your smoke alarms: Test each smoke alarm monthly to make certain they are working.
- Count your smoke alarms: We recommend installing a smoke alarm inside each sleeping room, in the areas outside each sleeping room and on every level of your home.
- Vacuum your smoke alarms: Clean and dust smoke alarms each month to help keep them functioning properly.
- Change your batteries: Change the batteries in each smoke alarm at least twice a year (during daylight savings) or as soon as the alarm “chirps” indicating the battery is low. Many newer smoke alarms have a ten-year battery sealed in the unit that will last for the life of the alarm and the batteries do not need to be changed.
- Change your alarm: Replace each smoke alarm every ten years and your carbon monoxide alarm according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Know the sound: Ensure each person in the home can hear and recognize the sound of the smoke alarm and knows how to react immediately. Assistive devices are available for those who are deaf or have other special needs.