In my ~27 years since starting into Real Estate back out of high school in 1991, I have learned a few things.
Today here is some useful info on smoke detectors, and even if just a reminder of things, that is OK too.
Smoke alarms are an important item of defense against death or injury in house fires.
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Apart from compliance and common sense, there can be insurance issues to consider: Either savings or problems, depending on which side of the coin you are on, of course.
We all hear regularly the news reports of home fires, deaths, injuries, families losing everything...... how many stories can be avoided with an ounce of prevention, right??
Add to this today, a reminder of combo systems with Carbon Monoxide protection!
Stats from the National Fire Protection Association show that roughly 2/3 of home fire fatalities occur in homes with either non-functioning or missing smoke detectors -- this includes batteries not replaced!
Most building codes now mandate smoke detectors in all residential units, and this has resulted in a big drop in both fire and smoke-related deaths. Occupants / homeowners / landlords should check with their local public safety office or fire department for specific information on these updates and requirements.
Just like with real estate, location is key! Smoke alarms should be in installed every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home.
Alarms should be placed high on a wall or on the ceiling.
It’s best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for placement. High, peaked ceilings do have dead air space at the top; in these cases smoke alarms should be placed no closer than 3 feet from the highest point.
For areas nearest to the kitchen, use a detector with a “hush button” that can be used to silence nuisance alarms triggered by cooking steam, smoke etc. You could also consider installing a photoelectric alarm near the kitchen, which won't be triggered by cooking.
Regardless of which type is used, you should NOT ever remove the unit’s battery to stop or prevent those nuisance alarms.
There are 2 main or primary types of smoke alarm technology:
-- Ionization &
-- Photoelectric.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, ionization alarms are more responsive to flames, while photoelectric alarms are more sensitive to smoldering (smoky) fires.
To cover all situations, and for the most comprehensive protection, really both types or a combination unit should be installed.
Test each alarm monthly.
It’s helpful to put a reminder in the calendar to do this on the first or last day of the month, for example.
The units have a test button that will sound the alarm for a moment or two when pressed. Any alarm that fails to sound should have the battery replaced. If the test button fails with a new battery, replace the entire detector immediately.
Monthly testing is also an ideal time to dust off the unit so that it continues to work properly.
Replace the batteries at least once a year. A common rule of thumb is to do this when changing to or from Daylight Saving Time in fall or spring.
Remember, a non-working alarm is no better than no alarm at all. Some alarms now come with 10-year lithium batteries that eliminate the need for new batteries, but the unit itself must be replaced after its stated lifespan.
If the alarms are hard-wired to the home’s electrical system, make sure they are interconnected for maximum effectiveness – meaning that if one alarm is triggered, all of the others will sound as well. Any hard-wired alarms, interconnected or not, should be installed by a licensed electrician for safety and proper operation.
The newest type of interconnected alarms are wireless. This technology allows detectors to communicate with one another and, like their hard-wired cousins, will sound all of the units at the same time even if just one is triggered initially.
Thanks for reading, have a nice day.
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