Smoke Alarms
We all know about fire alarms but have you considered smoke alarms? Did you know that the majority of people that die in fires are actually killed by smoke inhalation, rather than the fire itself?
That is why it is important to include a smoke detector in any home or business security system. Security is not just about protecting yourself from intruders, it is also about protecting yourself from potential dangers within your home.
There are two basic types of smoke detector – photoelectric and ionization. Both operate under slightly different conditions. Photoelectric detectors will sound when there is a smouldering fire, where as ionization ones will react to a flaming fire. Whichever you choose, bear in mind that both can be set off by steam, so don’t place one directly above the kettle in your kitchen! Most people don’t place detectors in their kitchens for this very reason – they get fed up with them going off. Personally, I’d rather put up with a little inconvenience now and again rather than have a fire to contend with and of course, the kitchen is one of the most likely places in a home that a fire might start.
Where else should you consider placing a smoke detector? Ideally, you should have one in every room of the house, but if this is impractical, then you should consider the following;
Try to avoid putting them near any sources of heat, as this can lead to false alarms (except kitchens, of course). If members of you family sleep with the doors to their bedrooms closed, you should seriously consider placing them in their rooms too. If you don’t’ you run the risk of them being trapped in their rooms while a fire rages outside, or caught with a fire inside the room with no-one else aware because the detector is in the hallway.
If you are going to install a smoke detector in your child’s room, then you should consider a range of detectors that allow you to record your own voice as part of the alarm. It’s a fact that a child will respond more readily to the sound of a parent’s voice than it will a general alarm, so this is really worth thinking about.
The same is true for smoke detectors as it is for fire alarms – place them high up, on ceilings, especially on the ceilings of stairwells. If you can’t do this and you have to wall mount them, leave a gap of about 25cm between them and the ceiling. This prevents a air pocket developing around the detector, thus causing a delay in the alarm sounding.
Although most are battery powered, and will sound an alarm if the batteries are getting low on power, endeavour to check them yourself every six months or so.
And don’t forget to let every member of your family know what to do in the event of a fire. Make sure everyone knows how to get out of the house, and, for extra security, plan at least 2 different exit routes.