next articlesmoke alarm information
Most fire victims die from inhalation of smoke and toxic gases, not as a result of burns. Most deaths and injuries result from fires which occur during the night while its victims are asleep. Sleepers must be warned before it is to late to make a quick and safe escape. Properly installed and maintained, the home smoke alarm is considered one of the best and least expensive means of providing an early warning when a fire begins, or before the fire becomes too intense. There is no doubt that smoke alarms save lives, prevent injuries and minimize the development of fires. The risk of dying from fires in homes where alarms are not installed is twice as high as in homes that have functioning alarms. Smoke alarms work by sensing the rising smoke from a fire and sounding a piercing alarm.
Smoke alarms differ by power source. The batteries in battery-operated smoke alarms generally last one year. When the battery begins to lose power and needs to be replaced, the detector will begin to emit "beeps" every minute or so and will keep this up for a week or longer. Smoke alarms which operate as long as there is current in the circuit to which they are connected. They are, therefore, vulnerable to power failure. Plug-in units must be located in the vicinity of and electric outlet where they will not be unplugged. They should not get their power from a distant plug by means of an extension cord. Always use the hold-in clips to prevent accidental plug removal from the outlet.
If one smoke alarm is used, it should be located between the bedrooms and the living areas of your home, normally in a corridor or hallway, so that it is audible to persons sleeping in the bedrooms. Improved levels of protection can be achieved by installing smoke alarms on each floor level of a home. Smoke alarms should be installed on the ceiling in the centre of a room or hallway at least 150 mm (6 in.) from vertical surfaces, such as walls. If ceiling mounting is impractical, wall-mounted smoke alarms should be located between 150mm (6 in.) and 300mm (12 in.) from the ceiling.
smoke alarm maintenance:
Smoke alarms do not need much attention, except for regular testing and prompt replacement of batteries or bulbs. Follow these measures for proper maintenance and use:
1. Test your smoke alarm at least once a month with smoke. To test a photoelectric unit, let visible smoke drift into the detector. Within 20 seconds, the units alarm should begin to sound. To stop the alarm, fan the smoke away from the unit. Soon the alarm will become silent, and you can walk away knowing it is still on guard. Using real smoke is more dependable than pressing the "test" button found on many older smoke alarms. In some older units, the button only activates the warning horn or buzzer and does not tell you whether the alarm circuit itself is working. Some newer alarm units have more refined functional test systems which simulate the presence of smoke in the chamber. These don't need to be tested with real smoke. Check the package or instructions of your smoke alarm to see if it has this feature.
2. Replace batteries as soon as the unit begins to emit its low power warning. Batteries will usually last for approximately one tear. Replacement lamps for photoelectric alarms should also be kept on hand so that there is no delay in restoring them to full function.
3. Don't play "false alarm". Remind everyone in your family that the smoke alarm(s) should not be operated, or even touched, except for testing, maintenance and cleaning.
4. If your smoke alarm begins to malfunction during the warranty period, take or send it at once to the store from which it was bought. Most manufacturers back up their smoke alarms with a service or replacement warranty. The life expectancy of a smoke alarm is 8 to 10 years.
5. Do not respond to "nuisance alarms" (cooking, fireplaces, etc.) by disconnecting the battery. Either fan away the smoke, relocate the detector, or purchase one with a delay switch.
6. Only purchase smoke alarms that comply with ULC S531-1987 "Standards for Smoke Alarms" that are legal in Canada under the Hazardous Products Act . Accept only units that bear the Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC) label. The sensitivity of a smoke alarm is factory set to ULC standards. Never attempt to adjust this setting yourself. (if you are not in Canada check with your local fire dept. to find out the standards that apply in your country.)
7. Many municipalities have smoke alarm by-laws. Check with your local fire dept. to see if a by-law exists that requires the installation of smoke alarms.