A smoke detector can prevent many tragedies, cutting the risk of a guest dying in a fire by nearly 50%, but simply having a detector in a room is not enough.  It must be maintained for the safety of your guests and staff. 

Consistency is the key.  Every housekeeper and inspector must perform a check each time a resort unit is cleaned and inspected.  The alarm test button should be depressed to confirm the detector is fully functional. 

If the smoke detector is too far out of reach to perform the test, the indicator light should be observed.  For most detectors, a steady green light indicates that the smoke detector is functional.

Staff should not assume a detector is working, even if the battery was recently replaced.  Guests may have loosened the detector cover or removed the battery...or parts other than the battery may be defective.

During inspection, consider the following:

1. Is there a smoke detector in each unit?
2. Is it attached to a wall or ceiling, and is it within reach?
3. Is the smoke detector working?

• Wired alarms:  Check to see if the indicator light is flashing, if applicable
• Battery-operated alarms:  Check the battery by depressing the button

Check for the life of the battery.
Check for the life of your guests.