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The International Association of Fire Chiefs
suggests that each time you change your clock, you
change the battery in you smoke detector.
More information about smoke detectors;
National
Fire Protection Association
International
Association of Fire Chiefs
The following information is courtesy of the
National Fire Protection Association .
Smoke detectors aren't new. The technology has been
around since the 1960s. The single-station, battery-powered
smoke detector, similar to the one we know today, became
available to consumers in the 1970s. NFPA estimates
that 93% of U.S. homes have at least one smoke detector.
They save so many lives that most states have laws
requiring them in residential dwellings.
Still a Major Problem
Although 13 of every 14 homes have at least one smoke
detector, almost half of home fires and three-fifths
of fire deaths occur in the share of homes with no
detectors. Thousands of people still die each year
in home fires where smoke detectors aren't present.
In addition, there are now more homes with smoke detectors
that don't work than homes without detectors at all.
These poorly maintained units create a false sense
of security among occupants. Approximately one-third
of homes with smoke detectors that experience fires
have smoke detectors that aren't working, and hundreds
of people die each year in these fires.
Tragically, the grave importance of installing and
maintaining smoke detectors has not yet been fully
realized. Most people who die in home fires are not
in the room where the fire starts; working smoke detectors
alert people to fire and give them time to escape in
a situation where minutes can mean the difference between
life and death.
Working Smoke Detectors Save Lives
Having a smoke detector cuts your chance
of dying nearly in half if you have a home fire. By properly
placing, regularly testing and maintaining your detectors,
you can ensure that they are in fact working and will
alert you if a fire breaks out. Make sure you buy only
those detectors that bear the mark of an independent
testing laboratory. Some detectors operate using an "ionization" sensor
while others use a "photo-electric" sensor.
An ionization detector uses an extremely small quantity
of radio-active material to make the air in the detector
chamber conduct electricity. Smoke from a fire interferes
with the electrical current and triggers the alarm.
A photoelectric detector uses a tiny light source shining
on a light sensitive sensor. The alarm is triggered
when smoke from a fire interferes with the light. All
tested and labeled smoke detectors offer adequate protection
if they are properly installed and maintained.
Make Placement a Priority
A recent NFPA report on smoke detectors found that
there is a substantial number of households that do
not have the devices on every level of the home, as
needed. The majority of fire deaths occur at night
when people are asleep. NFPA's National Fire Alarm
Code (NFPA 72) says homes must have smoke detectors
on every level of the home including the basement and
outside each sleeping area. New homes are required
to have a smoke detector in each sleeping area as well.
To slow the spread of smoke and fumes if a fire develops,
NFPA suggests that you sleep with your bedroom doors
closed. If you sleep with your bedroom doors closed,
install a smoke detector inside each bedroom. Detectors
should also be installed in other areas of your home
where people sleep. In new homes, the National Fire
Alarm Code requires hard-wired detectors to be interconnected,
so that if one detector is activated, all detectors
will sound the alarm signal. On floors without bedrooms,
smoke detectors should be installed in or near living
areas, such as family rooms and living rooms.
Detectors that are hard-wired into the home electrical
system should be installed by a qualified electrician.
If your detector plugs into a wall socket, make sure
it has a restraining device to keep its plug from being
pulled out. Never connect a detector to a circuit that
could be turned off at a wall switch. Most detectors
are battery-powered and can be installed with a screwdriver
and drill and by following the manufacturer's instructions.
Since smoke and deadly gases rise, detectors
should be placed on the ceiling at least 4 inches from
the nearest wall, or high on a wall, 4-12 inches from
the ceiling. This 4-inch minimum is important to keep
detectors out of possible "dead air" spaces,
because hot air is turbulent and may bounce so much it
misses spots near a surface. Installing detectors near
a window, door or fireplace is not recommended because
drafts could detour smoke away from the unit. In rooms
where the ceiling has an extremely high point, such as
in vaulted ceilings, mount the detector at or near the
ceiling's highest point.
Maintenance is a Must
What good are smoke detectors that don't work? No
good at all! That's why it is imperative that you keep
your smoke detectors fit and in good shape. It's easy.
Maintain your smoke detectors by:
Testing
Whether your detectors are hard-wired or battery operated,
NFPA recommends testing them once a month to make sure
they are operating. A working smoke detector greatly
reduces your chances of dying in a home fire. Testing
is the only way to ensure they are working to protect
you. Test each detector by pushing the test button
and listening for the alarm. If you can't reach, stand
under the detector and push the test button with a
broom handle.
Replacing Batteries
If your smoke detectors are battery operated, replace
their batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions.
NFPA recommends doing this at least once a year or
when the detector chirps, alerting you that the battery
power is low. Replace the batteries immediately if
you move into a new home. Make sure no one disables
your smoke detectors by borrowing batteries for other
uses. Everyone you live with should understand how
critical it is to have working smoke detectors.
Cleaning
Just as you clean your home, your smoke detectors
need to be cleaned. Make sure you follow the manufacturer's
instructions about cleaning. Cobwebs and dust usually
can be removed with a vacuum cleaner attachment. If
you are going to be doing work nearby that could send
dust in the air, cover the detector with a shield.
Also, shield the detector if you are painting around
it, and never paint on it. Remove the shield promptly
after work is completed.
Dealing with Nuisance Alarms
Regularly cleaning your smoke detectors
and following the manufacturer's instructions may help
stop "nuisance" or
false alarms. If this doesn't stop them, install a
fresh battery in the detectors giving nuisance alarms.
Evaluate where your detectors are placed if the problem
still persists. Cooking vapors and steam can set off
a smoke detector. If the detector is near the kitchen
or bathroom, try moving it farther away. If nuisance
alarms continue, install a new smoke detector.
No Substitute for Smoke Detectors
Fire protection in the home must start with smoke
detectors. There are many other kinds of detectors
which may be designed to detect such factors as high
temperatures, rapid changes in temperature, and certain
gases produced in fires. However, these detectors are
not as effective as smoke detectors in giving the first
warning when a fire breaks out. NFPA does not require
heat detectors in homes, however, they may be used
for optional extra protection in areas like kitchens,
attics, and garages, where smoke detectors are susceptible
to nuisance alarms.
Tests performed on the speed of warning given by smoke
detectors and heat detectors for many types of typical
home fires showed smoke detectors consistently give
first warning- often by enough of a margin to make
a major difference in your chances of escaping alive.
Smoke and deadly gas spread farther and faster than
heat.
Contrary to popular belief, the smell of smoke may
not wake a sleeping person. Instead, the poisonous
gases and smoke produced by a fire can numb the senses
and put one into a deeper sleep.
Smoke Detectors Are Cost-Effective
A battery-operated smoke detector for the home retails
for less than $10. Smoke detectors with extra features
can cost up to $25. Batteries cost $1 to $2, depending
on the brand. A smoke detector for a typical hard-wired
system costs $14-$18. Smoke detectors for people with
hearing impairments cost approximately $100 each. In
1994, home fires caused $481,000 in damage every hour.
Now that you know the importance of installing
and maintaining smoke detectors in your home, "Let's
Hear it for Fire Safety: Test Your Detectors!"
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