Focus on Fire Safety: Smoke Alarms

Focus=20 on Fire Safety: Smoke=20 Alarms

In=20 the event of a fire, a properly installed and maintained smoke alarm can = save=20 your life and those of your loved ones. Smoke alarms are a very = important means=20 of preventing home fire fatalities by providing an early warning signal = so you=20 and your family can escape. They are one of the best safety devices you = can buy=20 and install to protect yourself, your family, and your home. You can = prevent=20 tragedies simply by testing and maintaining your smoke alarms and = practicing a=20 fire escape plan. All smoke alarms in your house should be tested once a = month=20 and their batteries replaced annually or as indicated by the = manufacturer=92s=20 instructions.

What Types of=20 Smoke Alarms Are Available?

There are = many=20 different brands of smoke alarms available on the market but they fall = under two=20 basic types: ionization and photoelectric. These types of smoke alarms = sense the=20 presence of smoke differently.

The type = of smoke=20 produced by a fire depends strongly on the type of fire. Flaming fires = produce a=20 different type of smoke than smoldering fires.

Both = types of smoke=20 alarms will detect the smoke from either a smoldering fire or a flaming = fire. It=20 has been factually established and well known for many years=20 that:

Ionization=20 type smoke alarms tend to respond faster to the smoke produced by = flaming=20 fires than photoelectric type smoke alarms, and
Photoelectric=20 type smoke alarms tend to respond faster to the smoke produced by = smoldering=20 fires than ionization type smoke alarms.=20

In=20 some full-scale fire tests, the difference in the time to alarm between=20 ionization and photoelectric type smoke alarms has been found to be = trivial. In=20 other full-scale fire tests, the difference in response time has been = found to=20 be considerable.

The USFA = provides=20 the following guidance to the public and to state and local legislative = bodies=20 that may be grappling with the issue of the proper type of smoke alarm = to select=20 for use in a residence:

It cannot=20 be stated categorically that one type of smoke alarm is better than = any other=20 type of smoke alarm in every fire situation that could possibly arise = in a=20 residence.
Because=20 both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms are better at detecting = distinctly different yet potentially fatal fires, and because no one = can=20 predict what type of fire might start in a home, the USFA recommends = that=20 every residence and place where people sleep be equipped with either = (a) both=20 ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms, or (b) dual sensor smoke = alarms=20 (which contain both ionization and photoelectric smoke sensors). =
The=20 location of a smoke alarm within a home may be more important than the = type of=20 smoke alarm present, depending on the location of a fire. The USFA = recommends=20 that users follow the manufacturer=92s guidance on the recommended = location of=20 smoke alarms in a home.

The USFA = recommends=20 that every residence and place where people sleep be equipped with = either (a)=20 both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms, or (b) dual sensor smoke = alarms=20 (which contain both ionization and photoelectric smoke=20 sensors).

Where Would I=20 Get Smoke Alarms?

Many = hardware, home=20 supply, or general merchandise stores carry smoke alarms. If you are = unsure=20 where to buy one in your community, call your local fire department (on = a=20 nonemergency telephone number) and department personnel will provide you = with=20 some suggestions. Some fire departments offer smoke alarms for little or = no=20 cost.

Okay, Where Do I Put = Them?

Install = smoke=20 alarms on every level of your home, including the basement. Many fatal = fires=20 begin late at night or in the early morning. For extra safety, install = smoke=20 alarms both inside and outside sleeping areas. Since smoke and many = deadly gases=20 rise, installing your smoke alarms at the proper level will provide you = with the=20 earliest warning possible. Always follow the manufacturer=92s = installation=20 instructions.

Are Smoke=20 Alarms Hard to Install?=

If=20 your smoke alarms are hard-wired, that is wired into the electrical = system, you=20 will need to have a qualified electrician do the initial installation or = install=20 replacements. For battery-powered smoke alarms, all you will need for=20 installation is a screw driver. Some brands are self-adhesive and will = easily=20 stick to the wall or ceiling where they are placed. For all smoke alarm=20 installations, be sure you follow the manufacturer=92s instructions = because there=20 are differences between various brands. If you are uncomfortable = standing on a=20 ladder, ask a relative or friend for help. Some fire departments will = install a=20 smoke alarm in your home for you.

How Do I Keep=20 My Smoke Alarm Working?=

Change=20 your smoke alarm batteries at least once a year - maybe at Daylight = Saving Time=20 or on your birthday.

If=20 you have a smoke alarm with batteries:

Smoke=20 alarms powered by long-lasting batteries are designed to replace the = entire=20 unit according to manufacturer=92s instructions.
In=20 standard type battery-powered smoke alarms, the batteries need to be = replaced=20 at least once every year and the whole unit replaced every 8 =96 10 = years.=20
In=20 hard-wired, battery back-up smoke alarms, the batteries need to be = checked=20 monthly and replaced at least once every year. The entire unit should = be=20 replaced every 8 =96 10 years.

What if the=20 Alarm Goes Off While I=92m Cooking?

Then it=92s doing its = job. Do not=20 disable the smoke alarm. You may not remember to put the batteries back = in.=20 Instead, clear the air by waving a towel near the alarm, leaving the = batteries=20 in place.

MORE=20 ON Installation

=95=20 Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area = and on=20 every level of the home. For the best protection, interconnect all smoke = alarms=20 throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound. Ionization smoke = detection=20 is generally more responsive to flaming fires and photoelectric smoke = detection=20 is generally more responsive to smoldering fires. Both types of = technologies=20 have improved home fire safety. Choose a smoke alarm that has the label = of a=20 recognized testing laboratory.

Testing

=95=20 Test smoke alarms in accordance with manufacturer=92s instructions at = least once a=20 month using the test button.

=95=20 Use care to prevent falls when using step stools and ladders to test a = smoke=20 alarm.

=95=20 Make sure everyone in your home knows the sound of the smoke alarm and = knows how=20 to respond.

Deaf=20 or hard of hearing

=95=20 Use smoke alarms made for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These = alarms=20 use strobe (flashing) lights or a vibration device for the=20 bed.

Sleeping=20 with bedroom door open or closed

=95=20 Make sure everyone can hear the sound of the smoke alarms and knows what = your=20 smoke alarms sound like. If you sleep with bedroom doors closed, have=20 interconnected smoke alarms.

Smoke=20 alarm replacement

=95=20 Replace all smoke alarms (including hard-wired) when they are 10 years=20 old.

Fire=20 deaths =96 no smoke alarms or no working smoke = alarms

=95=20 Sixty-five percent of home fire deaths result from fires in homes with = no=20 working smoke alarms.

1/09=20 MRFD Fire Prevention

406.549.6172

Information=20 courtesy the US Fire Administration.