Smoke Alarm Installation

Posted on: September 15, 2016
By: Alan O'Neill
Posted in: Electrician

Smoke Alarms Are Important To Our Homes: It Can Save Lives

Smoke alarms are life-saving devices that provide benefits for occupants. They detect smoke well before any sleeping occupant would and provide critical seconds to implement actions to save life and property. Smoke alarms are designed to detect fire smoke and emit a loud and distinctive sound to alert occupants of potential danger.

This video shows how to install Wireless Smoke Alarms

Installing And Maintaining Smoke Alarms

There are two main types of smoke detectors. Ionization smoke alarms are usually better for detecting flames. So if you live in a wooden house, with lots of combustible furnishings, an ionization alarm is probably best for you. Photoelectric smoke alarms are usually better for detecting smoke. If you live in a home where you believe a fire will smoke before bursting into flame, a photoelectric alarm will work well. Both types of alarms come as battery or mains powered units.

One common factor in most fatal fires is the lack of properly installed, and working smoke alarms. More than one smoke alarm is needed in most dwelling units to make sure that people can hear the alarm and have time to escape. Smoke alarms need to be properly installed, maintained and replaced when needed.

• Choose smoke alarms that have the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
• Install smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.
• On levels without bedrooms, install alarms in the living room (or den or family room) or near the stairway to the upper level, or in both locations.
• Smoke alarms installed in the basement should be installed on the ceiling at the bottom of the stairs leading to the next level.
• Smoke alarms should be installed at least 10 feet (3 meters) from a cooking appliance to minimize false alarms when cooking.
• Mount smoke alarms high on walls or ceilings (remember, smoke rises). Wall-mounted alarms should be installed not more than 12 inches away from the ceiling (to the top of the alarm).
• If you have ceilings that are pitched, install the alarm within 3 feet of the peak but not within the apex of the peak (four inches down from the peak).

Importance Of Having A Smoke Alarm

It’s important to have enough smoke alarms in your home. Fire research has demonstrated that with today’s modern furnishings, fires can spread much more rapidly than in the past when more natural materials were used. Because of this, having a sufficient number of properly located smoke alarms is essential to maximize the amount of available escape time. Call (713) 812-7070 us for your home service and repair needs.

For more related articles and info visit Blog.