5 Smoke Alarm Requirements That You Should Know

A home with a working smoke alarm is 4 times more likely to survive a fire.

It’s therefore important for all homeowners to have their smoke alarms installed and running.

There are five requirements that you need to know about to keep your home safe from the dangers of fire.

Understanding Smoke Alarm Requirements

Here are the smoke alarm installation requirements you need to know:

The first is that you need to install hard-wired smoke alarms in every sleeping space. If those spaces are outside of the bedrooms, then it’s a good idea to install them in hallways and stairwells.

Second, make sure you test your alarm at least once a month.

Third, make sure that all the batteries are working and replace them if needed.

Fourth, never paint over or cover up smoke detectors.

Last but not least, it’s important to encourage everyone in the household to know where they are so they can find them easily if needed.

Smoke Alarm Installation

Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of your home, including the basement.

The alarm should go off before smoke can fill up a whole house. However, you should know that not all smoke alarms are created equally.

You need to make sure that you purchase a battery-operated or AC-powered model with end-of-life (EOL) alarm as this will let you know when it’s time to replace your smoke alarm before it doesn’t work properly anymore.

Test Your Smoke Alarm Regularly

One of the most important things you can do to keep your smoke alarm operational is to test it regularly.

It’s recommended that you test your smoke alarm once a month, but you should do so more often if you have children or pets in the house, or if there are things like dust or cooking smoke that might trigger an alarm.

A great way to do this is by inserting new batteries at the same time as testing the alarm.

Know What To Do When Your Smoke Alarm Goes Off

When your smoke alarm goes off, it means there is a fire somewhere in your home. You should never ignore the alarm and make your way to safety.

Follow the steps below to make sure you are getting out safely:

1. Get everyone out of the house, including pets.
2. If a door is blocked by flames, find another way out or head to the nearest window.
3. Stay low and crawl if you can't find any other exit. Fires usually burn up high so it's important to keep yourself as close to the ground as possible.
4. Use a blanket or coat to cover your mouth when you're outside and keep an eye on any loved ones that may need assistance getting out of the house safely.
5. Call the police or fire department after you've gotten everyone out of the house and let them know that there was a fire in your home. They will dispatch emergency services to help put out the fire, evacuate homes nearby, and get medical services for anyone who needs it.

Don’t Use Water To Put Out A Fire

The first rule is never to use water to put out a fire. The best way to put out a fire is by using either a dry chemical, carbon dioxide, or halon extinguisher.

If you are not sure which one to use, call the fire department and they will advise you on which type of extinguisher you need.

Conclusion

If you follow the rules, you can sleep soundly knowing that your smoke alarm is a reliable safety net.

A residential smoke alarm is required by law in most places and it’s important to know the requirements for installation and ongoing maintenance.

Contact us today for smoke alarm installation and maintenance.