Smoke alarm safety tips
Provincial fire statistics indicate that in residential fires, 42 per cent of those homes did not have smoke alarms installed. In cases where smoke alarms were installed, only 36 per cent of the alarms are known to have been activated. The smoke alarm did not activate due to lack of a power source - no battery, dead battery, electrical supply off or disconnected.
Don't let this happen to you. Some suggestions include:
- Place smoke alarms on ceilings near bedrooms and on every floor.
- Test all smoke alarms monthly with smoke.
- Place smoke alarms away from kitchens, bathrooms and air vents.
- Change batteries twice a year (recommended when you change your clocks).
Proper installation of a smoke alarms is very important as well. Smoke alarms should be installed on a wall or ceiling only, according to the manufacturer's instructions. It must be a minimum of 10 cm (4") away from the wall and a minimum of 6 metres (20 feet) from any heat producing appliances such as stove and fireplaces.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) warns that all smoke alarms need to be replaced every 10 years.
A Kidde product recall was announced on July 9, 2009 for their dual sensor smoke alarms.
A house fire can become life-threatening within three minutes.
Last updated: Thursday, October 20, 2011
Page ID: 2433