Smoke alarms: you are worth it!

Photo: Contributed

Smoke alarms save lives in the event of residential structure fires. Analysis was undertaken on almost 50,000 fires that occurred in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario over a five year period (up to October 2011) involving 663 fatalities. The findings demonstrated that the death rate per 1,000 fires in the absence of a present, functioning smoke alarm was 74% greater than when a functioning smoke alarm was present. These provinces combined represent approximately 62% of the Canadian population. Extrapolating these trends it is estimated that 100% coverage of functioning smoke alarms in residential properties could prevent around 69 deaths per year in Canada; reducing the annual fatalities from residential structure fires by 32%.

Did you know?

New Smoke Alarm provisions were enacted by Ministerial Order on March 25, 2010 and took effect on May 1, 2010.

The B.C. Fire Code now requires every private dwelling, hotel and motel room built before 1979 to have working smoke alarms installed. Battery-operated smoke alarms – rather than hard-wired, interconnected devices – may be installed in these older homes and buildings. Battery-operated alarms are easier and less expensive to install than hard-wired alarms, and are an affordable way to improve safety. Buildings built after 1979 were already required to have smoke alarms, and most municipalities have bylaws on installation and maintenance. The change increases public safety and reduces the risk of property damage from fire in older buildings. Homeowners are reminded that it is important to test smoke alarms monthly to ensure that they are working properly. Also, check the date of manufacture. If your smoke alarm is more than 10 years old, it should be replaced.

Photo: Contributed

Safety tips:

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, or if outside bedroom, within 5 m of the bedroom door, each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.

• An ionization smoke alarm is generally more responsive to flaming fires, and a photoelectric smoke alarm is generally more responsive to smoldering fires. For the best protection, both types of alarms or a combination alarm (photoelectric and ionization) should be installed in homes.

• Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.

• Smoke rises; install smoke alarms following manufacturer's instructions high on a wall or on a ceiling. Save manufacturer's instructions for testing and maintenance.

• Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once a year. If an alarm “chirps”, warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.

• Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use 10-year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they are 10 years old or sooner if they do not respond properly.

• Be sure the smoke alarm has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.

• Alarms that are hard-wired (and include battery backup) must be installed by a qualified electrician.

• If cooking fumes or steam sets off nuisance alarms, replace the alarm with an alarm that has a "hush" button. A "hush" button will reduce the alarm’s sensitivity for a short period of time.

• An ionization alarm with a hush button or a photoelectric alarm should be used if the alarm is within 20 feet of a cooking appliance.

• Smoke alarms that include a recordable voice announcement in addition to the usual alarm sound, may be helpful in waking children through the use of a familiar voice.

• Smoke alarms are available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These devices use strobe lights. Vibration devices can be added to these alarms

• Smoke alarms are an important part of a home fire escape plan.

Alarm Recycling Program

• AlarmRecycle is a recycling program for used or expired smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. As of October 1, 2011, BC residents can drop off their smoke and CO alarms for recycling at AlarmRecycle drop-off locations across BC.

• Find the nearest recycling depot at www.alarmrecycle.ca   

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.