The Importance of Smoke Alarms

8/12/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke alarms are a necessary and effective tool to protect your home or business and the people in it. When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast. Working smoke alarms give you an early warning so you can get outside quickly. Here are some tips to give you peace of mind that your smoke detectors will work when you need it most:

• Know what kind of smoke detector you have: There are two types of smoke detectors commonly found in homes and businesses. A battery-operated smoke alarm is commonly found in households. An AC powered smoke detector, also known as hard-wired, is usually found in businesses. These detectors require battery backup to ensure that even during a blackout or an electrical fire, they will still function properly.
•  Ensure there are smoke alarms in the appropriate places: Places like hallways, stairs, sleeping areas need to have smoke alarms near them. Check with your local fire department to ensure you follow proper regulations. The NFPA maintains fire prevention codes and requirements for all types of occupancies. Explore the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code and the Life Safety Code from NFPA to ensure you have the latest information and are complying.
• Test the range of the alarm: Have someone stand at the farthest point away from the smoke alarms. This will help distinguish if another alarm needs to be installed, especially if the sound is muffled or low.
• Change the batteries: Batteries in a smoke detector should be changed once a year, at the least. Do not wait until your alarms chirp to install fresh batteries. A useful trick to remember is to change your batteries when you change your clocks for daylight savings time.
•  Replace your alarms every 10 years: Replacing your smoke alarms every ten years helps ensure you have the latest technology and the best protection for your family and your home. “Long-life” smoke alarms even need to be replaced. The non-removable batteries in long-life smoke alarms only have a 10-year guarantee.

Checking your smoke detectors regularly is a critical and simple measure you can take to help keep your family and co-workers safe should the unexpected occur.