What if your house has a fire hazard and you don’t have a working smoke alarm? Almost half of the fire accidents occur in the house without working alarms. It is not just an instrument but a life-saving tool. It is your indicator of a quick response in case of any fire to save you and your loved ones. Research suggests that working smoke alarms can reduce the risk of dying in a fire by 55%. Even so, many homeowners ignore the proper installation, maintenance, and placement.
To make your house a safe place, it is important to know the correct information and knowledge about smoke alarms. This article will help you know everything you need to know, from selecting the right type to the installation procedure and its maintenance. Whether you just want to ensure your home is secure or you are just updating your home safety, understanding key alarms is the key.
What is a smoke alarm?
It is a device made to detect smoke. When smoke is present in the house, the alarm will start ringing loudly. During a fire, smoke usually spreads quickly throughout the house, making it crucial to have a fully working fire alarm. Also, many people are not aware that the main cause of death in a fire is breathing smoke rather than getting burnt.
With most of the fire incidents happening at night, people are unable to smell the smoke as breathing the smoke puts you into deeper sleep. As a result, people die from taking in smoke and other harmful gases such as carbon monoxide. This is one of the main reasons, why it is important to have a working fire alarm installed in every location of the house for fast and effective detection.
Importance of having a smoke alarm in every house
A smoke alarm is not an ordinary device. It is a crucial life-saving device. It does not matter how big or small the size of the house is, a fully working fire alarm can reduce the risk of dying in a fire. Also, providing quick warnings of fire and gives you and your family the time to react in a fire situation. We will look at some of the reasons why having a smoke alarm is important in every house.
- Provides a quick time to react to a fire
- Prevents breathing in harmful gases and smoke
- Faster detection of fire
- Easy installation
- Cheap and affordable
- 24/7 active monitoring
Different Types of Smoke Alarms
When it is about protecting your family, you have to make sure to make the right choice. All the alarms are not the same and are built differently for different requirements. Also, the type of smoke alarm you choose can make a huge difference in giving that early warning. With the technology advancing it is important to understand its different types. Knowing which one is the best for your home and the most reliable will ensure you make the right choice. Let us look at some of the different types of smoke alarms below:
- Ionisation Smoke Alarms: Highly sensitive alarms to fast-burning fire. Even though they detect fast fires they might not be so efficient in detecting slow-growing fires.
- Photoelectric Smoke Alarms: These alarms a made to detect small growing fires. They are better at detecting slow-burning fires such as faulty electrical wires.
- Dual Sensor Smoke Alarms: They are designed to identify both fast and slow fires. As a result, this is the best option for homeowners for more safety.
- Smart Alarms: They are the modern version of a traditional smoke alarm. While they are more expensive, they are more reliable and convenient for homeowners.
- Carbon Monoxide Detector: A few of these alarms come with installed carbon monoxide detection which offers dual protection. This is ideal for houses that want fewer devices and more safety.
How to choose the correct smoke alarm for your house
Choosing the correct smoke alarm is more than just picking one on the display. Factors like size, layout, and functions also play an important role. You need to make sure that the alarms are placed and spaced out correctly to give you maximum protection. In this section, you will get an idea of how you should make the correct choice for your house.
1. Small Homes (One to Two bedrooms)
In small homes such as apartments and flats one single smoke alarm is located in the centre of the hallway. However, to increase safety you need to install one alarm in each and the hallway towards the exit. For small homes, battery-operated alarms are budget-friendly and also easy to maintain.
2. Medium Sized Home (Three to four bedrooms)
In these kinds of homes, a dual-sensor smoke alarm is the best option. It offers detection for both fast and slow-paced fires. You might be required to fit alarms in many locations such as the living room, bedrooms, and kitchen. Ideally for medium-sized homes a smoke alarm should be there on every level.
3. Large Homes (Five or more bedrooms)
Interconnected alarms are the best option for large houses. That means if one alarm rings the others will also ring. Also, it is important to have a smoke alarm in every room for extra safety. Moreover, a smart alarm can also be used when you are away from home. It can offer real-time notifications on your mobile phone.
Correct locations to install a fire alarm
Fitting the smoke alarm in the right place is very important. It gives early warning and enough time to act during a fire. A few factors that are important in deciding the locations are room layout, ventilation, and fire safety rules. A well-positioned alarm makes all the difference in case of a fire emergency. Here is how you can do it correctly.
- In and out of bedrooms: This is the most important area to install a smoke alarm. This is because many fire incidents happen during the night and people can’t smell smoke easily. You should install it in the bedroom to make sure you wake up even in the middle of the night.
- Every floor of the house: It should be placed on every level of the house and also the basements. This will make sure you get the signal no matter where the fire starts. It is also important that alarms should be placed on higher levels on ceilings and walls.
- At a distance of 10 feet away from cooking machines: It should be placed at a distance of 10 feet to avoid false alarms by normal cooking smoke. You should install a small trigger for the photoelectric alarm to avoid false alarms.
A step-by-step guide to installing your smoke alarm
Installing this type of alarm is a crucial task to make sure your house is safe from fire. It is the simplest step to protect your home from fire. Nevertheless, the key to keeping it smoothly running and effective is the proper installation. It will only work if it is placed correctly, installed strategically, and maintained regularly. This section will help through some of the key steps to install it in your house.
- Choose the correct fire alarm for your home
- Gather all the important tools
- Decide the correct installation
- Install the mounting bracket for the alarm
- Attach it to the mounting bracket
- Insert the batteries
- Test the alarm
- Make sure the alarm is secure from any loose connections
- Regular maintenance
Adding a smoke alarm to your fire escape plan
A well-made fire escape plan with smoke alarms can increase the chances of escaping a fire. They are the most useful when connected to a fire escape plan which everyone in the house is aware of. They are your first alert and they should be placed very carefully in the corner of the house. It should be placed in and out of the bedroom to make sure everyone gets an alert quickly when the fire breaks out.
Regular fire drills should also be practised. This ensures everyone knows what to do when those alarms ring. It should include practising the exit routes and deciding on a safe point outside the house. You should make a habit of testing the fire escape plan at least twice a year to make sure everyone remembers it. Also, for houses with special members, additional assistance has to be planned in case of fire. A smoke alarm needs to be loud enough to make sure it reaches children and also people's hearing needs. You must install add-ons like extra flashlights or vibrating alarms to make it easy for everyone to react to a fire. Lastly, the fire escape route should be easy for everyone to access.
Conclusion
Summing up, without a doubt smoke alarm is a simple but useful tool to protect your home from a dangerous fire. By making the effort to properly install and maintain them you are taking the initiative to protect your family and your home. You must remember that a well-made fire escape plan makes the alarm useful. It makes the members of the family more reliable and secure to escape quickly in case of fire.
Now that you know, what to do don’t wait to protect your home. Make sure that the smoke alarms are in place and tested regularly. For more information on fire safety and to create a safe environment you should check out courses available at the College of Contract Management. Their programmes will provide knowledge and information that will help you get more familiar with different safety and fire escape methods. Take the time to protect and secure your home today.
