Home Fire Safety Equipment

Three pieces of fire safety equipment could, conceivably, eliminate all fire deaths and significant loss of property:

For those who live in what would be considered high risk homes, all three should be seriously considered. While the cost of sprinkler systems has dropped with increased use in new construction, the initial cost of retrofitting an older home is still expensive, especially when compared to a $10 smoke alarm. Many communities mandate systems for new housing but that does not help existing houses. The higher your risk, in terms of both your home and the age of your family members, the more seriously sprinkler systems should be considered.

Ongoing updates on other products, like collapsible ladders, and information on flame-resistant or flame-retardant products and materials can be found under Home Fire Safety Products.

Smoke Alarms

This could very well be the most important page on this website. The fire death rate in homes with working smoke alarms is 51-percent less than that for homes without alarms, according to the American Red Cross.

Small flames can grow into life-threatening fires in 30 seconds.
More deaths are caused by smoke inhalation than by flames.
Smoke alarms can give you that extra time to evacuate safely. They are one of the best and most cost effective ways to protect your family and your home.

Background on Smoke Alarms

Less than 50 years ago, few people had even heard of smoke alarms. The cost of professional installation in the typical three-bedroom home back then neared $1,000 or a significant chunk out of most pocketbooks. But then commercial manufacturers set out to develop and effectively market more affordable systems.

By 1995 close to 93-percent of homes, apartments, nursing homes and dormitories had the equipment installed. Laws requiring alarm installation in all new and existing homes had been enacted in 38 states and thousands of cities. Fire protection agencies as well as other public/private partnerships have done a good job educating the public to the life-saving value of smoke alarms. Today alarms are available for around $10 a piece and that three-bedroom home can be protected for $50. That $10 to $50 expense represents the first line of defense in the event of a home fire.

Types of Smoke Alarms

There are three basic types of smoke alarms available for home use.

Ionization alarms react very quickly in the event of flames and a fast moving fire like cooking oil fires or those started in wastebaskets.
Photoelectric alarms sense and alert occupants to smoldering, smoky fires like those started by smoking materials in mattresses or upholstered furniture.
Dual sensor smoke alarms, like the name implies, combine both technologies and send out an alarm in the event of both flames and smoke.

The U.S. Fire Administration recommends the use of both ionization and photoelectric alarms or the use of the dual sensor alarms. Both types of fires can cause fatalities and property damage. While we can identify sources of both types of danger, we cannot predict which type will occur in our own homes.

Smoke alarms are powered by the home’s AC current, by batteries or both. Obviously, the AC current alarms require professional installation but can be done by homeowners familiar with the safety procedures of wiring projects. To be totally on the safe side, have them installed by a professional electrician.

Battery powered alarms remain functional during power outages but batteries wear out over time. Installation of battery powered alarms requires only a screw driver and ladder. There are also AC alarms with battery back-up, but again batteries need to be checked monthly and replaced annually. Many public education programs use the switch to daylight savings time in the fall to encourage residents to change their smoke alarm batteries. Building ordinances in some areas also specify AC powered alarms with battery back-up. Before yo pruchase alarms, check with local agencies to determine what is required.

For people with hearing limitations, smoke alarms that work with vibrating pads or send out a strong strobe light are recommended.

Where Should Alarms Be Installed?

That’s an easy one. Because smoke and heat rise, install smoke alarms either on the ceiling or high on the walls, six- to eight-inches below the ceiling. Keep them away from windows, doors or ducts that could interfere with their operation. Install alarms on every level of your home, including the basement. Install them in all rooms whose doors are usually closed, like bedrooms or often unused rooms closed off to conserve energy. the determing factor for placement is not where occupants will hear them but where they can detect smoke and flames as early as possible.

Maintenance

Again, check the batteries monthly; replace the batteries annually and replace battery-powered units every 10 years. In the interim, clean cobwebs and dust off smoke alarms as part of your normal housekeeping. Smoke alarms that feature long-lasting batteries are designed to be replaced according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Since few human brains are programmed to remember this kind of detail, you can mark the expiration date with a marker on the underside of the alarm. Then all you have to do is remember to check that date. If your alarm starts to chirp, it’s telling you to replace the batteries.

Errant Alarms

We’ve all been there. Your cooking project is emitting a lot of smoke; you’re in control of the situation, but your smoke alarm is screaming. The good news: your alarm is working. The bad news: your first impulse is to throw something at the alarm or dismantle it. Don’t do either. Try waving a towel in front of the alarm to disburse the smoke. If this happens frequently, move the alarm. If it happens for no apparent reason, replace it.

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