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Install at least one alarm on each level of your home. It is recommended to have one in each sleeping area and outside of sleeping areas.
Test all smoke alarms, battery powered and hard-wired, once a month. Vacuum or dust around the alarms regularly to keep them clean.
Change batteries once a year unless you have a 10 year battery operated alarm. Make sure you change the backup batteries in your hard-wired alarms once a year as well.
Replace all smoke alarms when they expire after 10 years. You may need to contact a qualified electrician to replace hard-wired alarms.
Every Home Needs Working Smoke Alarms
Smoke Alarm Sounds
Smoke Alarm Maintenance
Where Should You Place Smoke Alarms?
Follow the manufacturers directions on when to replace the alarms. In most cases, it is 5-7 years.
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Install and maintain Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms inside your home to provide early warning of carbon monoxide.
CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home.
Choose a CO alarm that has the label of a recognized laboratory.
CO alarms are not substitutes for smoke alarms. Know the difference between the sound of the smoke alarms and the sound of CO alarms.
Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives!
The "Operation Smoke Alarm" program is designed to provide and install smoke alarm(s) free of charge to Virginia Beach homeowners who own AND live in the requested home as their primary residence. Call 757-471-5826 to contact "Operation Smoke Alarm" if you have questions or are in need a smoke alarm.
You may also submit a request for a smoke alarm using the online form HERE and the program manager will contact you within a few business days.
Factors considered for providing this service:
Not having a working smoke alarm in the home
Not being financially able to purchase alarms
Having at least one child under the age of 18
Having anyone over 60 years of age living in the home
Not being physically able to install an alarm on your own
*The Virginia Beach Fire Department cannot assist with installation of hard-wired smoke alarms. You may need to contact a qualified electrician or smoke alarm service company for assistance with these alarms*
renting?
The City of Virginia Beach requires that property owners/landlords must provide working smoke alarms in rental units. Please contact your landlord if you rent your home/apartment and are in need of a smoke alarm.
Renters are responsible for testing alarms and replacing batteries. If smoke alarms are broken or not working, renters must provide written notice to the owner requesting repair. The owner must provide and pay for service of any malfunctioning alarm within 5 days of receiving of the written notice.
Virginia Beach City Code Chapter 12, Article IV - Smoke Detectors: Smoke detectors in any buildings containing one or more dwelling units
VA Code § 15.2-922: Smoke alarms in certain buildings
VA Code § 55.1-1220: Landlord to maintain fit premises
resources for deaf or Hard of Hearing
Visit our partners at the Red Cross for resources to assist caregivers and/or individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Virginia Beach Fire Department has a limited supply of assistive devices to alert individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing in the event of a fire. If you would like to apply for a bedside fire alarm clock, please apply here: Bedside Fire Alarm Clock Application
*Applicants must reside in Virginia Beach
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