Smoke Detectors
| WHY INSTALL SMOKE ALARMS? |
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Smoke alarms are your first line of defense. They
provide an early warning in the event of fire and may
allow you and your family precious time to reach safety. |
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According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA),
75% to 80% of all deaths by fire happen in the home! |
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Did you know 1/3 of all smoke alarms are not operating
because of dead or missing batteries? |
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While many people have good intentions to replace their
batteries, they often become busy and forget to do so. |
DIFFERENT SMOKE ALARMS FOR DIFFERENT KINDS OF FIRE
Not all fires are the same. A flaming fire devours
combustibles quickly, spreads rapidly, and generates
considerable heat with little smoke. Ionization type smoke
alarms respond more quickly to fast flaming fires.
A smoldering fire
generates large amounts of thick, black smoke with little heat
and may smolder for hours before bursting into flames. Photo
electric type smoke alarms respond more quickly to slow smoldering
fires and are less prone to nuisance alarms in the kitchen
area.
HOW TO CHOOSE A SMOKE ALARM
Look for the features that best meet your needs. Photo
electronic models are best suited for living rooms, bedrooms
and kitchens. Large pieces of furniture, such as sofas,
chairs, mattresses, counter tops, etc. will burn slowly and
create more smoldering smoke than flames.
Ionization models
are best suited for rooms, which contain highly combustible
materials. Cooking fat/grease, flammable liquids, newspapers,
paint, cleaning solutions, etc. will burn very rapidly and
create more flames than smoke.
WHERE TO INSTALL YOUR SMOKE ALARMS
The National Fire Protection Association recommends that
smoke alarms be installed in every room and area of your home
or building for complete protection. For maximum protection,
install one ionization and one photo electronic smoke alarm on
each level of your home. There are new smoke alarms available
that combine the ionization and photo electric alarms in one
unit. These models provide the best overall protection for you
and your family.
TIP: Routinely test and clean your smoke alarms to
keep them in good working order, and replace your batteries
according to the instructions provided with each unit. It is recommended that smoke alarms
be replaced every 10 years and that they be tested regularly.
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