Fire Safety Tips: Smoke Alarms Save Lives! In the news recently, there have been many tragic stories regarding loss of life due to fire. In most incidents, the cause of death has been due to the residence having no or non-working fire alarms. A fire can become life threatening within two minutes of starting. It is important to be alerted immediately. Having a professionally installed, monitored fire system is the best way to keep your family safe.
Where Do I Put Smoke Detectors in my Home? A smoke detector should be placed on every level of your home, including the basement. You want to install one inside each bedroom, as well as place one outside any sleeping area . You want to have your smoke detector either on the ceiling or 6-8 inches below the ceiling on a side wall. Smoke rises; the higher the location of your detector, the quicker you will be alerted to smoke or fire.
Are There Different Types of Smoke Detectors? There are currently two different types of technologies used to detect smoke and fire. Photoelectric smoke detectors rely on an electric current, which produces a beam of light. When the beam is disrupted, an alarm will sound. It is most effective to warn about a smoldering fire. Ionization smoke detectors contain a very small amount of americium-241 within an ionization chamber. They create an electric current between two metal plates, which sound an alarm when disrupted by smoke entering the chamber. It is the most effective to warn about flaming fires. A qualified alarm consultant can help identify which type of alarm type would be most efficient for your residence.
Why Should I Invest In a Monitored System? For the best protection, have a professionally installed, monitored fire alarm system in your home. If a fire is sensed, your alarm will activate all evacuation horns. Even if you are on another level of your home, you will be alerted of smoke or fire. A battery operated, single unit, smoke alarm system does not offer this type of protection because the units are not connected. If there is a fire on a different level or area of your home, you may not hear the evacuation horn, especially if you are asleep.
Every minute counts in a fire situation, the quicker helps arrives, the less damage to your home and valuables. While having a AC powered system (connected, but not monitored) in your home may alert you in all areas of your home, it will not help you if you are not home. As a result, monitored fire system will alert the authorities to a situation. The alert will happen whether you are there or not. Therefore, this can potentially save your home, valuables and even pets.
How Often Should I Change My Smoke Alarms? It is recommended that smoke alarms are replaced every 10 years. If you are using a combination smoke and carbon monoxide detector, you should replace your system every 5 years.
Call Northeast Security Systems at (201) 529-0100 to learn more about fire systems.
March 30,2015
