SmokeDetectors

Smoke Detectors

Why do you need a smoke detector

Many fires occur at night when people are sleeping
The smell of smoke may not wake you up
The toxic gases that are produced by a fire may disrupt your senses or put you into a deeper sleep
A smoke detector will sound an alarm hopefully giving you more time to escape
Smoke detector reduce your risk of dying in a fire by almost half
Most states now have laws requiring smoke detectors to be installed in private homes as well as other type of residency
It is a small investment for what a detector may give you in return

Testing

Follow all manufacturer's instructions
Test your smoke detectors at least monthly
If your smoke detector uses batteries, change them at least once a year, but twice a year is best

If you wish to change your batteries once a year do it in the fall when you turn your clock back
If you wish to change your batteries twice a year the change them in April and October when you change your clock for daylight savings time

If your smoke detector is chirping every few minutes, it may be telling you that the battery is low (Change the Battery)
Clean your smoke detectors. Dust can prevent the detector from working properly. Follow Manufacturer's instructions.
Do not paint your smoke detector

How many smoke detectors do you need as a minimum

1 outside each sleeping area
1 on every level of the house including the basement
If you can not hear the smoke detector in your sleeping quarters with the bedroom door closed, then you should install a smoke detector or a hearing impaired detector with a strobe light in that bedroom
Smoke detectors are recommended in the following rooms for added protection, furnace rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, hallways, utility rooms, at the top of stairways
It is not recommended by NFPA to install a smoke detector in the following rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, garages, attics or unheated spaces, or where cooking fumes steam or exhaust, humidity and temperature changes might effect the detector performance or cause false alarms

Buying a smoke detector

Make sure that the smoke detector is tested by an independent testing such as UL Approved.
If you are remodeling or building a new house or other type of dwelling please check with your local fire department or code enforcement officer for information on what type of smoke detector you need
If you live in an apartment tell your landlord that you need a smoke detector if you do not have one or if you feel the coverage of the smoke detectors is inadequate
If you own your own home Remember that hard wired battery back up is the best for your protection, but if all you can do is install a battery powered detector that is an improvement, and please remember it does have its limitations

Where to install your detector

Do not install your detector near doors windows or forced air vent that could have a draft that could interfere with the operation of the detector
Wall mounted detector

4 to 12 inches from the ceiling and at least 4 to 12 inches from the nearest wall

Ceiling mount detector

The detector should be mounted on the ceiling at least 4" away from any wall or other obstruction, such as a light fixture

Batteries

Do not remove the battery to power another device ever, such as a radio
Never remove or disconnect the batteries to stop or keep the detector from sounding
Always install new batteries when you change batteries

How long is my smoke detector good for?

No matter what type of detector you have, in general it is good for only about 10 years, but you check for the manufacture's specifications
After the life expectancy of the detector has passed replace it with a new one

Plug in detectors

Plug in detectors require some sort of restraining device so that it not become unplugged accidentally
Never plug a plug in detector into an outlet that can be turned off with a switch, unless it is equipped with a rechargeable battery or it was specifically designed for that type of use

This is department make no claim to a complete listing of instructions or listing of facts about smoke detectors. To get the latest information contact your local fire department and contact the National Fire Protection Association at Batterymarch Park Quincy MA 02269-9101. Some of the information was obtained from materials published by the NFPA. The best thing that you can do is follow the manufactures instructions and insure that you have working smoke detectors in the appropriate places. This page is only here to give you ideas on smoke detector safety and may not be correct for your building construction, design, and detector type.

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