Hey everyone!

I have a friend who lives in a new apartment building in Samamish, WA (less than 2 years old, they're really nice) and their apartment managers have inspected their fire alarms inside of their apartment 3 times since they moved in 9 months ago. Is this normal to inspect it this much, and what is the rule of inspecting them?

Hope someone can help! Thanks!

Shawna

Even though this regulation is in Canada, I doubt it matters. Maintenance Of Smoke Alarms (http://www.ofm.gov.on.ca/english/Publications/Guidelines/1998-04.asp#test)

In a commercial building in the US we did a full fire alarm test once per year.

My guess, is that they be trying to figure out what interval to clean them. If they smoke, then they will have to be cleaned more frequently.

They also may have had some false alarms and are trying to be more pro-active.

In any case, it looks like the consenses is per mfr's recommendations, and probably at least once a yaar and when tennants change.

I can't offer any references to specific laws.

Hello R:

The lease and state landlord/tenant law give the landlord the right to inspect his premises with 24 hour notice. It doesn't matter WHY he's inspecting. If he doesn't give notice, I wouldn't let him in.

IF, however, it gets out of hand, I'd (1) ask him what he needs to see all the time, and/or (2) ask him if he's looking for something else...

IF, you don't like his answers, or if his inspections make you feel uncomfortable, write him a certified letter telling him that his unwarranted inspections of your home are a breach of the lease, and if he does not stop, you'll be vacating.

excon