New Information about Smoke Detectors!
New Information about Smoke Detectors!
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.
So, why is all the attention being paid to smoke detectors this Fire Prevention
Week?
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"photoelectric" sensor. An ionization
detector uses an extremely small quantity of radioactive 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.
"Test Your Detectors!""Let's Hear it for Fire Safety":
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!"
during Fire Prevention Week and every month."Let's Hear it for Fire Safety:
Test Your Detectors!"
For further information contact the
National Fire Protection Association
or your local fire department...
Sayre Fire Department