Smoke alarms are an important part of every homes fire escape plans. Fires spread rapidly and it is important to have fire alarms placed throughout your house, as well as having an evacuation plan. According to National Fire Protection agency three out of five home fire deaths result from fires in properties without working smoke alarms. More than one-third of home fire deaths result from fires in which no smoke alarms are present and the risk of dying in a home fire is cut in half in homes with working smoke alarms.
The following is what you need to know about installing and maintaining fire alarms:
- Install smoke alarms in every room bedroom in the house, in hallways outside bedrooms and on every level of the house
- Smoke alarms that are hardwired with battery backups are considered to be more reliable than those operated by batteries only.
- It is best to buy alarms from reputable companies that you trust.
- Test your smoke alarm every month.
- Replace batteries at least once a year. If a smoke alarm beeps or makes a chirping sound you should replace the batteries immediately.
- Replace all smoke alarms in your home every 10 years.
Temporary Housing Directory (THD) encourages you to install and maintain your fire alarms throughout your house. If the fire alarm activates you should never ignore the alarm or assume it’s a false alarm. Take caution and when possible follow your evacuation plan.
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