YOU have recently published reports of fires and the importance of fire alarms. It should be drawn to your readers' attention that in certain circumstances domestic fire alarms have only a limited life span.

A short while ago one of our smoke alarms was bleeping for no apparent reason and I assumed the battery was run down.

Therefore, I fitted a new battery as per the instructions. This did not cure the problem so I tried another battery but the problem persisted.

I removed the smoke alarm from the ceiling and thoroughly cleaned it but still it malfunctioned.

On a very close inspection of the plastic casing I saw in minute writing stamped into the casing: "warning replace detector by the year (and in even smaller lettering) 2003."

The figures 2003 were so small that magnifying glass was needed to read it. The alarm was replaced by a new one. Upon inspection the new unit displayed a notice stating that the unit should be replaced every five years. However, the instruction leaflet stated "manufacturer recommends replacing the alarm ten years from the date code." No date code was found.

Confused? So am I. The time factor was mentioned to a local fireman and he was shown the alarm. The fireman was not aware of the time factor. It is suggested and recommended that readers check their alarms as the danger is that if their alarms do malfunction and this is not cured by fitting a new battery that they will not investigate further and leave a useless alarm fitted.

J T BIGGINS

Quemerford

Calne