There are around 50,000 fires a year in the home, as a result about 500 people are killed and 11,000 are injured . Many of these casualties could be prevented if an early warning system is installed.
You are twice as likely to die in a house fire that has no smoke alarm than a house that does.
Having a smoke alarm / detector could help save your life and your home. They can detect fires early and give you some critical time to enable you and your family to leave your home safely.
If you already have a smoke alarm, is it working properly?
Is the battery ok?
Is the smoke sensor fully operational?
Is it in the best position in your home?
Is it the best type for the room / area?
There are 3 types of smoke alarm available :-
Ionisation Alarms
These are the cheapest, they are very sensitive to smoke produced by flaming fires, such as chip pans, and will detect this type of fire before the smoke gets too thick. They are also sensitive to slow burning and smouldering fires which give off larger quantities of smoke before flaming occurs.
Optical Alarms
These are more expensive but more effective at detecting smoke produced by slow-burning fires, such as smouldering foam-filled furniture and overheated PVC wiring. They are also sensitive to free burning flaming fires.
Combined Alarms
With the combined you get the best of the two alarm types above. These detectors are effective at detecting slow-burning as well as flaming fires.
Powered by a battery or mains electricity or both. Some are inter-connectable so that any smoke detected at one point can raise the alarm at all others.
Some have additional facilities, such as emergency lights and silence buttons, for use where false alarms can be a nuisance e.g. when cooking.
Battery or Mains powered Alarms
Alarms are powered by battery or mains electricity. In a standard smoke alarm, the battery will need to be replaced every 12 months. Perhaps more preferable are alarms fitted with 10 and 15 year batteries. Mains powered alarms
eliminate the task of checking the battery regurlarly.
Alarms with light
Alarms can also come with an additional light so that when the alarm sounds, the light comes on. The light can help you see your way out, and it's good for alerting people whose hearing is impaired.
For people who are hard of hearing or deaf, there are alarms which come with a pad. When the alarm goes off, the pad vibrates, and a strobe light flashes - alerting you or waking you up instantly.
Which Alarm?
Which type of alarm to buy depends on which type of fire is most likely to occur in your home. Both flaming fires and slow burning fires are equally common so probably the best choice would to have at least one smoke alarm of each type, ensuring continuity of supply, mains powered alarms with a back up power supply are the best option but battery powered alarms of either type will give good minimum protection.
For maximum protection an alarm ideally should be fitted in every room except kitchen, bathroom and garage while choosing the most suitable type for each room.
For minimum protection the number to be fitted will depend on the type of home you live in. If your home is on one floor, one smoke alarm, preferably of the optical type, may be enough. If your home has more than one floor, at least one alarm should be fitted on each level. In this case a combination of optical and ionisation alarms, preferably interconnected, will give the best protection.
Smoke alarms are attached to the ceiling and should be fitted close to the centre of the room and at least 30 centimetres away from any wall or light fitting. The alarm should be installed where it can be heard throughout your home - especially when you are asleep.
If your home has one level, you should fit the alarm in the hallway between the living and the bedrooms. If you have only one smoke alarm and two floors it should be put where you can hear it while. In the ceiling at the top of the stairs leading to the bedrooms is ideal. Although ionisation and optical alarms are equally effective, optical alarms may be preferred in this particular situation as they are especially good at detecting slow-burning or smouldering fires.
If your home has more than one floor then at least one alarm should be fitted on each level, in this case a combination of optical and ionisation alarms, interconnected, will give the best protection.
If you have any questions we would be happy to talk to you.
Contact Mark or Malcolm Philpott of MP Property Services
on 01273 587065 or 07798 623914
We currently have a special offer on Smoke Alarm testing
