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GENERAL INFORMATION
Death by fire is one of the worst imaginable ways to die. Yet annually, between 5,000 and 6,000 people suffer this fate. The numbers used to be considerably higher just 20 years ago. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the number of people lost to fire was between 12,000 to 15,000 per year. Smoke alarms have cut these figures by more than half, even though the population has grown considerably. In the early 1970s, smoke detectors became commercially available for the average homeowner. The early units were expensive, about $50.00, as most new electronic devices are. Over time, as the research and development expenses were paid for, the cost has dropped significantly. You can now purchase a good, basic detector for about $6.00. According to the National Fire Protection Association, statistically speaking, you cut the risk of dying in a home fire by roughly 40% if you have smoke detectors. In the last 12 years there has been a slight downward trend in the impact of smoke detectors on these statistics, which is attributed to failure rates and maintenance problems. Periodic replacement of smoke detectors is necessary. Detectors now come with a warning to replace the units every ten (10) years. In a 1987 study on residential detectors, the study was able to predict an increase of failures, the longer a detector had been in service. Failure Predictions: First year: 2-3%, Second to 10th year: 16-30%, 11th to 20th year: 30-50%. Certain other environmental factors, such as dust, cobwebs, cigarette smoke, cooking vapors, shower steam, etc., can also affect the proper functioning of detectors. You should have a regular testing, maintenance and replacement program for your smoke detectors to assure you will have adequate warning and every opportunity to escape from a fire (see the article on Escaping Fires).
Placement Recommendations - At the minimum, you should have one detector for each level in your home. A detector needs to be placed within ten feet of all sleeping areas, since most fire deaths occur at night while people are sleeping. The unit should be mounted high on the wall (6 to 12 inches from the ceiling), or, at best, on the ceiling (at least 6 inches from any wall). It should never be placed near the juncture of the wall and ceiling, as there is a "dead air" space there. If a room has a pitched ceiling, mount the alarm at or near the ceiling's highest point. Avoid installing a detector near bathrooms with showers. Steam can sometimes cause false alarms and the moisture can rust metal components of the detector. Avoid installing detectors in garages, attics or other places where the environment may have spiders (and webs), high levels of particulate matter in the air (dust, auto exhaust, etc.) and large temperature ranges from very hot to very cold.
In new constuction, NFPA requires hard-wired smoke alarms that are interconnected. This means that if one smoke alarm is activated, all alarms will sound. New construction also requires a hard-wired smoke alarm be installed in each bedroom.
Testing and Maintenance -Each detector comes with recommendations for testing the unit. Generally, activating the testing mechanism once a month should be sufficient. Once or twice a year, use a vacuum with a hose and attachments to remove any dust or cobwebs from the unit. This will cut down on false alarms. Most battery powered smoke detectors will sound sporadically when the battery is weak. Always test battery powered detectors upon your return after having been away from home for a week or more. The battery may have gone dead and you may have missed its warning alarm. It is recommended that batteries be changed once a year.
Battery vs. AC Current-Powered Detectors - The advent of detectors powered by the current in your house wires is appealing because you never have to worry about battery replacement. Another advantage is that the units can be wired together so that if a fire starts in the basement of a two story house, all the detectors will sound immediately. However, if you have hard-wired detectors, a problem can occur if there is a power failure due to storm, fire, earthquake, etc. The detectors will not sound without electrical power. There are now AC powered units on the market with a battery backup. This will allow an alternate power supply for your detector in the event of a power failure. Without having to replace all the hard-wired units in your home you can instead install a battery powered unit near each AC powered unit. This will then not only allow for alternate power sources but alternate detection capabilities as well.
INSTALLATION PROGRAM
It is the goal of Central County Fire and Rescue that none of its citizens should sleep at night without the protection of a good, working smoke detector. Nationally it is estimated that 85% of all homes have smoke detectors. Since most of the residential housing in St. Peters has been built under the building codes that require detectors, the coverage in St. Peters is believed to be slightly higher than the national figure. But what about the remainder? CCFR has a Smoke Detector Installation Program that will provide a detector for those that need them. Currently, firefighters are going door-to-door in the older subdivisions to test existing detectors and install them where there are none. If an existing detector has a dead battery or no battery at all, one is installed. This program is funded by donations from citizens and businesses. A local vendor sells the detectors to the Fire District at cost, in an effort to help the program. If you would like to make a donation to the program, please contact the Central County Fire Headquarters at (636) 970-9700, during normal business hours.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Question: "My battery powered detector keeps making a chirp about once a minute. Why?"
Answer: Battery powered detectors have a built in low battery alarm that will make it do that. Try changing the battery and that should solve the problem.
Question: "Every time I take a shower, the alarm in the hallway goes off. Why?"
Answer: Steam will indeed set off some alarms. It can also rust the components of the detector. Try moving the unit farther from the door but, be sure to keep it within ten feet of the sleeping quaters. Try using the exhaust fan to help remove the steam as well.
Question: "I burned some food on the stove and it set off our AC powered detector. We couldn't turn it off until the smoke cleared, so I disconnected the wires. Was that OK?"
Answer: You should never disconnect wires or remove the battery from your smoke detectors. If you forget to rewire them (or replace the battery on a battery powered detector) you have no fire protection. There are some battery powered units on the market that have a 15 minute silencer button. For AC powered units, identify and mark the circuit breaker or fuse for the circuit it is on so that you do not have a shock hazard. If you turn off the circuit breaker, be sure you restore the power after the smoke clears!
Question: "Why, when we broil or spill something on the burner during cooking, does our detector go off, even though there is no smoke?"
Answer: Most detectors (ionization type) use the tiny, invisible byproducts of combustion known as "ions" to set off detectors. They are produced during cooking too. There is an alternative type of detector (photoelectric type) that uses the larger, visible particles of smoke to activate it. That type (photoelectric) will not activate during the problem you describe.
Question: "There are so many brands of detectors, which is the best?"
Answer: As far as detection capabilities go, all detectors test about the same. If you wish to spend extra money on special features, that is your decision, based on what you would like. The detector should be approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
Question: "Will the detectors that are wired to the house's electricity work if the power goes out?"
Answer: No. Without any electricity, the detectors will not work. There are two alternatives:
- Replace them with the new AC powered detectors that have a nine (9) volt battery backup. These operate like the new digital clock radios that have a battery backup.
- Buy a separate battery powered detector and install it next to your AC powered unit located near the sleeping area. This will give you dual power sources, dual detection capabilities and double the loudness if you are asleep (see article on Smoke Alarms).
Question: "How often should I change the battery in my smoke detector?"
Answer: If your detector is powered solely by the AC current in your house, there is no battery to change. However, if your detector is battery powered or has a battery backup power source, it is recommended you change it annually. The media has been very good about helping everyone remember to do this. The first week in October is Fire Prevention Week, as well as the approaching time change from daylight savings time and everyone is reminded to, "Change your clock, change your battery!"
Question: "My detector goes off for no apparent reason. Why?"
Answer: This is a complex answer. It could be due to environmental factors such as dust, cobwebs, cigarette smoke, cooking vapors, shower steam, temperature extremes, etc. These all affect the sensitivity of the detector and they can go off for the slightest reason. It also could be due to failure of the unit. As with all electronic devices, they can fail, the older they get. If you are having numerous false alarms, try vacuuming the detector with a hose-type vacuum. If this does not cure the problem, you may have to replace it. For additional information on this problem see the article on "Smoke Detectors - General Information."
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