Smoke Alarm Basics

3/11/2022 (Permalink)

There are thousands of home fires in the U.S. every year, which result in roughly 3,000 deaths annually. Almost half of these deaths resulted from fires that were reported between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., the time period in which most people sleep. For this reason, providing smoke alarms in bedrooms may be the single most important step toward preventing fire-related casualties in residential buildings.

Smoke Alarm Basics

• Install at least one smoke alarm in every bedroom
• Install additional smoke alarms in hallways and common areas in the vicinity of bedrooms
• Install at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home
• Make sure the smoke alarms within your home are interconnected so the activation of one alarm will activate all alarms within the home
• Try to use smoke alarms powered by the building electrical system, which have a battery for backup power … However, if this type of smoke alarm is not available, battery-powered units are certainly better than not having smoke alarms

Smoke Alarm Installation

• Install smoke alarms on ceilings whenever possible
• Locate any smoke alarms installed on walls at least four inches below the ceiling
• Locate any smoke alarms installed on walls no more than 12 inches below the ceiling
• Do not install smoke alarms in the corners of rooms
• Do not install smoke alarms next to air-conditioning vents, heating vents, or ceiling fans, to ensure proper functioning of the unit
• Do not install smoke alarms in kitchens or bathrooms, to prevent false alarms

Smoke Alarm Maintenance

• Test smoke alarms at least once a month, by pressing the button on the alarm that allows you to test the unit
• Smoke alarms with non-replaceable 10-year batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps, warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away
• Smoke alarms with any other type of battery need a new battery at least once a year. If the alarm chirps, warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away
• Replace smoke alarms every 10 years