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Answers to Your Smoke Detector Questions
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? Minimum protection required by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is installing a smoke detector outside each sleeping area, and one on every level of the home, including the basement. Detectors should be installed in or near living areas such as dens, family rooms and living rooms on floors without bedrooms.
Be sure everyone sleeping in your home can hear your smoke detectors’ alarms even with bedroom doors closed. Install additional detectors inside bedrooms if any residents are hearing-impaired. For the hearing impaired, there are smoke detectors that flash a strobe light in addition to sounding an audible alarm.
For extra protection, NFPA suggests installing additional detectors in dining rooms, furnace rooms, utility rooms, and hallways. 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.
Choosing a Detector? Hardware, department and discount stores have dozens of brands of smoke detectors for sale. Make sure the smoke alarm you buy has the seal from an independent testing organization like underwriters laboratories or FM.
Various types of detectors are 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. If properly installed and maintained, all approved smoke detectors will offer adequate protection.
- 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.
Ionization and photoelectric detection features are available on some smoke detector units. These should improve detector reliability by reducing false alarms.
Why do I get false alarms? Several things cause a smoke detector to have a false alarm: placement too close to flourescent lighting fixtures, smoke from cooking, temperature extreames, or dust. 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. Do not place detectors within 6 inches of where the wall and ceiling meet, on either surface. 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? All smoke detectors are required to have a test button installed on them; this test button checks all functions of the smoke detector. Most smoke detectors have test buttons, if yours does not then you should replace it with a model that does. This test should be done at least once every 30 days.
When do I replace the smoke detector battery? Since batteries weaken with age, they must be checked and replace at regular intervals (usually every 9-12 months). Battery power units that are listed by UL or FM will generate a beeping sound (usually at night when you trying to sleep) to indicate when the batteries need 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! – Dust can damage your detector’s sensitivity. Most units need to be cleaned at least once a year, just use your vacuum cleaner to clean dust out of unit. The manufacturers instrucion manual should be read.
When the Detector Sounds!!
How your family responds in a fire depends on how well you’ve prepared.
- Make sure everyone is familiar with the sound of the detector’s alarm.
- 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. Crawl to the nearest safe exit on your hands and knees if you must escape through a smoke filled area. 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 you’re out, stay out. Once outside a burning building, do not reenter.
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