Questions and Answers Concerning Smoke Detectors
Why do I need smoke detectors? Most fire deaths happen at night, while people are asleep. This makes early fire detection and warning especially important. Contrary to popular belief, the smell of smoke may not wake a sleeping person. Since the poisonous gases and smoke from a fire can numb your senses, it is possible for you to fall into a deeper sleep.
Inexpensive household smoke detectors sound an alarm, alerting you to a fire. By giving you time to escape, smoke detectors cut your risk of dying in a home fire nearly in half. Smoke detectors save so many lives that most states have laws requiring them in private homes. Arizona is one of these states.
How many smoke detectors do I need or is required? According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), minimum protection requires a smoke detector outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. On floors without bedrooms, detectors should be installed in or near living areas such as dens, living rooms, or family room.
Be sure everyone sleeping in your home can hear your smoke detectors’ alarms even with bedroom doors closed. If not, or if any residents are hearing- impaired, install additional detectors inside bedrooms. For the hearing impaired, there are smoke detectors that flash a strobe light in addition to sounding an audible alarm.
The NFPA suggests installing additional detectors in hallways, dining rooms, utility rooms and furnace rooms for added protection. Smoke detectors are not recommended for kitchens, bathrooms, or garages – where cooking fumes, steam, or attics and other unheated spaces – where humidity and temperature changes might affect a detector’s operation.
Which Detector Should You Choose? Dozens of brands of smoke detectors are for sale in hardware, department, and discount stores. Make sure the smoke alarm you buy has the seal from an independent testing organization like underwriters laboratories or FM.
There are several types of detectors available. Some run on batteries, others on household current (now smoke detectors have both, usually for new construction or major remodeling). Some detect smoke using an ionization sensor; others use a photoelectric detection system. Regardless of which type you use, all approved smoke detectors will provide adequate protection if they are properly installed and maintained.
- Ionization Smoke Detectors- These units detect the fire’s visible and invisible smoke particles. The alarm is started when the smoke reduces the electic current in the unit.
- Photoelectric Smoke Detector- These units also detect smoke particles, but only those large enough to be “seen” by the unit. The smoke blocks the path of a light beam within the detectors.
Both types of smoke detector provides you with an early warning of fire.
There are units available that have both ionization and photoelectric detection within the smoke detector unit. These should improve detector reliability by reducing false alarms.
Why do I get false alarms? A smoke detector false alarm can be initiated by small dirt particles, smoke from cooking, placement to close to flourescent lighting fixtures, and dust or temperature extremes. These may be present in garages, kitchens and attics. Fresh paint fumes can get heavy enough to cause a false alarm, so air out freshly painted rooms. Steam from bathrooms can also cause a false alarm.
Where do I install smoke detectors? Because smoke rises, mount detectors high on a wall or on the ceiling. Wall-mounted units should be hung 6 to 12 inches from the ceiling. Celing-mounted detectors should be installed at least 6 inches away from the nearest wall. In rooms with pitched ceilings, mount the detector at or near the ceilings highest point. Whether you install the detector on the ceiling or on the wall, it should not be placed within 6 inches of where the ceiling and wall meet. This is a “dead air” space that gets little air circulation. Instructions for installation and placement should accompany the unit. Follow these instructions precisely.
How do I test the smoke detector? To enable all functions of a smoke detector to be checked, each smoke detector is required to have a test button on them. Most smoke detectors have test buttons, if yours does not then you should replace it with a model that does. Every 30 days this test should be done.
When do I replace the smoke detector battery? Batteries weaken with age, and must be checked and replace at regular intervals (usually every 9 – 12 months). A beeping sound will be generated on a UL or FM unit when the battery needs to be replaced. If your detector has dead batteries in it, it is like having no detector at all. There are newer smoke detectors out there that have batteries that last 10 years.
When do I replace the Smoke detector? Studies show that untested smoke detectors lose about half of their dependability after a 5 to 7 year period. Smoke detectors should be replaced about 8 to 10 years. Read the manufacturers instructions as they usually have recommendations.
Do I clean my smoke detector? Yes! -Your detectors sensitivity can be affected by dust. Use your vacuum once a year to clear out the dust from your detector. The manufacturers instrucion manual should be read.
Actions To Take When The Detector Sounds!!
Your familiy.
- Ensure everyone knows what the alarm sounds like.
- Plan routes of escape. Know at least two ways out of each room. Agree on a meeting place outside your home where all residents will gather after they escape.
- Practice your escape plan at least twice a year, and teach every member of your household these survival techniques.
- Crawl Low Under Smoke. To exit from a smoke filled area, crawl on your hands and knees to the nearest safe exit. Smoke and poisonous gases rise. Keep your head 12 to 24 inches above floor.
- If your clothing catches fire, stop, drop to the ground, and roll. If your clothes catch fire, stop, don’t run. Drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands, and roll over and over to smother the flames.
- Once the alarm sounds, exit the building as quickly as possible and go to your meeting place. Then call the fire department from a neighbor’s phone.
- Once outside, stay outside. Stay out of burning buildings.
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