SMOKE ALARMS OR DETECTORS AND WHY YOU SHOULD USE THEM
Smoke Alarms &=
#8211;
Why, Where, and Which
A smoke alarm is critical for the early detection of a f=
ire
in your home and could mean the difference between life and death. Fires can
occur in a variety of ways and in any room of your home. But no matter wher=
e or
how, having a smoke alarm is the first key step towards your family's safet=
y.
This information is
not intended to be all inclusive, but it is intended to inform the reader a=
bout
some of the safety aspects and importance of having and maintaining working=
smoke
alarms.
Why are Smoke Alarms Important?
Every year in the United States, about 3,000 people lose the=
ir
lives in residential fires. In a fire, smoke and deadly gases tend to spread
farther and faster than heat. That's one reason why most fire victims die f=
rom
inhalation of smoke and toxic gases, not as a result of burns. A majority of
fatal fires happen when families are asleep because occupants are unaware of
the fire until there is not adequate time to escape. A smoke alarm stands g=
uard
around the clock and, when it first senses smoke, it sounds a shrill alarm.
This often allows a family the precious but limited time it takes to escape=
.
About two-thirds of home fire deaths occur in homes with no
smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Properly installed and maintained
smoke alarms are considered to be one of the best and least expensive means=
of
providing an early warning of a potentially deadly fire and could reduce the
risk of dying from a fire in your home by almost half.
Where Should Smoke Alarms be Install=
ed?
Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of the home,
outside sleeping areas, and inside bedrooms. A smoke alarm should =
be
installed and maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions. When
installing a smoke alarm, many factors influence where you will place it,
including how many are to be installed. Consider placing alarms along your
escape path to assist in egress in limited visibility conditions. In general
you should place alarms in the center of a ceiling or, if you place them on=
a
wall, they should be 6 to 12 inches below the ceiling.
Although there are several choices to make in selecting the
right smoke alarms to buy, the most important thing to remember is that smo=
ke
alarms save lives. For that reason, you should install a smoke alarm if you=
r home
does not have one.
There are two main types of smoke alarms, which are categori=
zed
by the type of smoke detection sensor, ionization and photoelectric, used in
the alarm. A smoke alarm uses one or both methods, sometimes with a heat
detector, to warn of a fire.
Ionization detectors contain a chamber with two plates that
generate a small, continuous electric current. When smoke enters the ioniza=
tion
chamber, the smoke particles disrupt the current flow, which triggers the
alarm.
Photoelectric detectors use a light beam and light receptor
(photocell). When smoke is present between the light and receptor, dependin=
g on
the type of smoke chamber configuration, the reduction or increase of light=
on
the photocell sensor triggers the alarm.
Both ionization and photoelectric detectors are effective sm=
oke
sensors. Even though both types of smoke detectors must pass the same tests=
to
be certified to the voluntary standard for smoke alarms, they can perform
differently in different types of fires. Ionization detectors respond quick=
ly
to flaming fires with smaller combustion particles; photoelectric detectors
respond more quickly to smoldering fires. There are combination smoke alarms
also that combine ionization and photoelectric detectors into one unit, cal=
led
dual sensor smoke alarms.
The amount of time a person may have to escape depends on ma=
ny
factors, such as the type of fire, location of the fire, and the closest sm=
oke alarm.
Smoke Alarm Sounds<= o:p>
Do not waste any time saving property. The fire has already
developed and the closest smoke alarm has detected the smoke.
Escaping<= o:p>
It may be smoky; getting low may make it easier to breathe a=
nd
see. Smoke contains toxic gases which can disorient you or, at worst, overc=
ome
you.
The time it takes to get out depends on many factors includi=
ng
mobility, helping others, escape route, time of day, smoke, fire, and the
location of the fire relative to you.
Exiting the Home<= o:p>
Once you are out of the home, never re-enter the home. ONCE =
OUT
– STAY OUT!
The type of fire, slow smoldering or fast flaming, can deter=
mine
the amount of time you have to escape before being overcome by smoke, heat,=
and
toxic gases. A slow smoldering fire may go undetected for a long period of =
time
before it erupts into dangerous flames and high heat. A fast flaming fire h=
as a
very short amount of time before flames and heat become intense. In either =
type
of fire, once out – stay out.
Fast flaming fires don't leave much time for escape. An
ionization smoke alarm may be seconds faster than a photoelectric smoke ala=
rm,
and those seconds will count in a fast moving flaming fire.
In a flaming fire:=
Smoldering Fire
Smoldering fires
develop slowly. A photoelectric smoke alarm can be minutes faster than an i=
onization
smoke alarm in responding to a smoldering fire. Regardless of the type of s=
moke
alarm, as soon as the smoke alarm sounds, leave the home as fast as possibl=
e.
In a smoldering fi=
re:
What Featur=
es
Come on Smoke Alarms?
In addition to the
type of smoke detection sensor, ionization and photoelectric, used in the
alarm, smoke alarms can be powered differently or be interconnected or sing=
le station
alarms. Considering all of the available options will enable you to select =
the
smoke alarms that may work best in your situation to effectively detect a f=
ire.
Power
Smoke alarms can be
connected to the home's wiring system, battery powered, or a combination of
both. Smoke alarms most often fail to alarm because of missing, drained, or
disconnected batteries. A good reminder to replace the batteries in smoke
alarms is in the fall or spring when resetting the clocks.
For older homes,
battery-only smoke alarms are the simplest to install. For homes under
construction, smoke alarms are typically connected to the household wiring
(hard-wired). Smoke alarms connected to household wiring with battery back-=
up
will provide protection even during power outages. Consider upgrading smoke
alarms to hard-wired with battery back-up during a renovation or remodeling
project.
If your smoke alarm
begins to chirp, signaling low battery power, replace the batteries immedia=
tely
to prevent you and your family from being unprotected. Also make sure that
everyone in the house understands how important it is to have working batte=
ries
in every smoke alarm and how dangerous it is to remove the batteries even f=
or a
short time. Smoke alarms with sealed lithium batteries can last up to 10 ye=
ars;
after 10 years, the entire unit is disposable.
Interconnection
Interconnected smo=
ke
alarms may provide improved protection and offer more escape time in a fire.
This type of smoke alarm allows all smoke alarms to sound if one has detect=
ed
smoke. With interconnected smoke alarms, a fire in the basement, for exampl=
e,
will trigger the closest smoke alarm and alert all the occupants in the hom=
e by
sounding all the smoke alarms. Not all homes have interconnected smoke alar=
ms.
Prior to 1989, existing homes typically had independent single-station,
battery-only-powered smoke alarms. After 1989, new homes included hard-wire=
d,
interconnected smoke alarms.
Interconnected smo=
ke
alarms are typically connected using a wire, but newer wireless technology =
is
available that allows smoke alarms to be interconnected without using wires.
This allows easier and less costly upgrade to interconnected smoke alarms f=
or
older homes. Not all homes may need interconnected smoke alarms. Small,
single-level homes may not benefit from interconnected smoke alarms because=
of
the close proximity between smoke alarms.
Features on smoke
alarms for your home:
Which Smoke
Alarm to Install?
Guide to selecting t=
he
smoke alarms to protect you and your family
Because both
ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms are better at detecting distinctly
different yet potentially fatal fires, and because homeowners cannot predict
what type of fire might start in a home, use these guidelines to help best =
protect
your family:
BEST
Better<=
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style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font=
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Good
Regular testing is=
the
only way to make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test your smoke alarms
once a month and installing more than one smoke alarm. If you test it less
often and only have one smoke alarm, a non-working smoke alarm may leave you
and your family unprotected.
A Fire Esca=
pe
Plan May Save You and Your Family
Installing working
smoke alarms is an essential, but they don't save lives unless everyone kno=
ws
how to get out of the home safely. Make sure everyone knows how to escape w=
hen
the smoke alarm sounds, whether awake or sleeping at the time. In your plan,
have two ways out of each room, a prearranged meeting place outside and, mo=
st
importantly, ONCE OUT – STAY OUT!
Minimizing the amo=
unt
of time it takes to get out can improve your chances of surviving a hazardo=
us
home fire. Having a fire escape plan for you and your family can reduce the
amount of time it takes to get out. Practicing the fire escape plan will he=
lp
everyone understand what to do and where to meet.