Inspection, cleaning essential for smoke alarms
Every year, Fire Prevention Week — which this year, runs from Sunday until Oct. 15 — focuses on a different theme. For 2016, it’s about reminding everyone to change their smoke alarms at least every 10 years.
Most people remember to change the batteries in their smoke alarms twice a year — I do it when we change our clocks, which is coming up on Nov. 6. We also remind everyone to test and clean them monthly, no exception. Unfortunately, too many people forget that we need to be replacing our alarms too.
Just like everything else, smoke alarms wear out. That’s why you should be getting them checked by a licensed electrical contractor every seven to 10 years. How long they last also depends on the manufacturer, so you should be checking the operator’s manual to make sure the smoke alarms in your home aren’t outdated.
How many smoke alarms you should have, and where they should be located, depends on your home.
For example, you should have one on every level of your house, and at least one in the main hallway directly outside sleeping areas. You should also have smoke alarms in bedrooms — where about a quarter of all house fires start. And they should be interconnected with the main alarm in the hallway, so if an alarm goes off in a bedroom, the main alarm in the hallway will go off, too.
There are also smoke alarms that have a strobe for the hearing impaired, which is smart thinking.
Smoke alarms shouldn’t be installed near any ventilation, or anywhere smoke and vapours are common, such as above stoves.
Only a licensed professional should be installing or doing any maintenance on your alarms. Getting a professional, like a licensed electrical contractor, to do an overall check of your home’s electrical is just smart — it can help prevent a potential electrical fire. About 20 per cent of all fires in Canada are electrical.
We have some safety regulations when it comes to GFCIs (ground fault circuit interrupters) and AFCIs (arc fault circuit interrupters) that weren’t in place 10 or 15 years ago. If your home is older than 10 years, or if previous owners did their own DIY projects, the electrical might not be up to code. For your own safety, I’d get it checked. A real professional will also check your smoke alarms, which is a good idea as we move closer to winter.
Most house fires happen between December and March, and especially over the holidays. Why? For one, we do a lot of extra cooking over the holidays — most house fires start in the kitchen. There’s also bad or unsafe electrical when it comes to Christmas lights, not to mention dry Christmas trees, candles and extra heating sources, such as roaring fires.
It’s also important to keep fire resistance in mind when renovating. Whenever possible, invest in fire-resistant materials, such as coated lumbers; high-quality, fire-resistant insulation and drywall; and/or a metal roof. If you plan to add an income suite it must have its own safe and unobstructed exit, plus all the proper fire separations and fireproofing.
Fire prevention might seem like an extra chore, but when it comes to the health and safety of your family, it’s a no-brainer. Persistence pays off, and consistency is key.