The presence of a working smoke alarm in a home
reduces the risk of dying in a fire by 50%
. Approximately 890 lives could be saved annually if all homes had working smoke alarms.
Are smoke detectors necessary?
It’s important to have
enough smoke alarms in your home
. … For many years NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, has required as a minimum that smoke alarms be installed inside every sleep room (even for existing homes) in addition to requiring them outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.
Why are smoke alarms so important?
A smoke alarm is
critical for the early detection of a fire in your home
and could mean the difference between life and death. … In a fire, smoke and deadly gases tend to spread farther and faster than heat. That’s one reason why most fire victims die from inhalation of smoke and toxic gases, not from burns.
How many lives are saved by smoke alarms?
I would like to analyze another statistic often cited to support the effectiveness of smoke alarms: “The death rate in fires with working smoke alarms (
0.52 per 100 fires
) was less than half (56% lower) than the risk of death from fires that did not have working smoke alarms (1.18 deaths per 100 fires), either because …
Where should smoke alarms not be placed?
Where the temperatures are regularly below 40°F (4° C) or above 100° F (38° C) including unheated buildings, outdoor rooms, porches, or unfinished attics or basements. In very dusty, dirty, or greasy areas. Do not install a Smoke Alarm directly over the
stove
or range.
How far should a smoke detector be from a bedroom door?
The locations for ceiling-mounted smoke detectors installed on a smooth ceiling for a single or double doorway must match the centerline of the doorway no more than five feet from the door and
no closer than 12 inches to the doorway
.
What percentage of homes have smoke detectors?
In telephone surveys done for NFPA,
almost all households
(96%) reported having at least one smoke alarm. That still leaves roughly five million households with no smoke alarms.
What are the disadvantages of smoke detectors?
- Very sensitive, which can lead to false alarms as a product of cooking.
- Not as responsive to smoldering fires – they are minutes slower than photoelectric sensors in detecting smoke particles from smoldering fires.
- Use of radioactive material is a concern.
What is the main reason that smoke alarm fail?
Smoke alarms can be connected to the home’s wiring system, battery powered, or a combination of both. Smoke alarms most often fail to alarm
because of missing, drained, or disconnected batteries
.
Which is the most common cause of fires in bedrooms?
- Smoking in bedrooms. …
- Electrical equipment. …
- Candles. …
- Curious children. …
- Faulty wiring. …
- Barbeques. …
- Flammable liquids. …
- Lighting. Lamp shades and light fittings can build up heat if they are very close to light globes.
Can smoke alarms go off in hot weather?
Directly above cookers/toasters/kettles (heat alarm) – although heat alarms are designed not to cause false alarms from cooking fumes, they should not be installed directly above cooking appliances. Within 0.9m (3ft) of the door to a bathroom or shower room (smoke alarm) – steam can cause
false alarms
.
Do smoke detectors actually save lives?
Smoke alarms save lives
. Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries. If there is a fire in your home, smoke spreads fast and you need smoke alarms to give you time to get out.
How far should a smoke detector be from a wall?
If you mount it on the wall, place it
four to 12 inches below the ceiling
and away from corners. Keep them high because smoke rises. Never place them any closer than three feet from an air register that might re-circulate smoke. Don’t place them near doorways or windows where drafts could impair the detector operation.
What kind of wire do we run in between smoke detectors?
Run
14-2 NM cable (a sheathed cable with 2 wires and a ground wire)
from the breaker panel to the location of the smoke alarm closest to the breaker panel.
How many smoke alarms is it suggested to have in a dwelling for a house?
Answer: The National Fire Protection Association recommends homes should have
smoke alarms installed inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area
and on every level of the home, including the basement. So that means a 2 story, 3 bedroom house needs a minimum of five smoke alarms.
What is the best location for a smoke detector in a bedroom?
Avoid placing the alarm near a fireplace, stove or other appliance that typically generates safe amounts of smoke and heat. Place one
alarm in each bedroom or in the hallway in front of adjoining bedrooms
. Keep your alarms accessible, since you’ll need to test them monthly, and change batteries twice a year.
