SMOKE ALARMS

   If there were to be a fire in your home tonight, would your family survive? Properly placed and maintained smoke alarms can increase your chances of survival by fifty percent.

Most residential fire deaths occur between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. This is the time of greatest danger, when people are asleep. The primary killer is smoke and poisonous gases which overcome victims as they sleep. When a fire breaks out, there is a limited amount of time that a person has to escape. With the early warning of a smoke alarm, you can be awakened in the early stages of a fire.

Illinois law requires that every residence be equipped with one approved operating smoke alarm within fifteen feet of every room used for sleeping purposes. It is also recommended that at least one smoke alarm be placed on each level of a home.

Placement of smoke alarms is important. Because smoke rises, the alarm should be mounted on the ceiling or high on a wall. If wall mounted, the top of the alarm should be four to twelve inches from the ceiling. A ceiling mounted alarm should be at lease four inches from any wall. Caution should be used to keep the alarm away from drafts created by fans or air ducts.

It is important to maintain your smoke alarms. They should be tested once a month by pressing the test button. Batteries should be replaced according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Smoke alarms for your home should be labeled by a nationally recognized fire-testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

Properly installed and maintained smoke detectors and a family escape plan, can provide you and your family with the necessary early warning to escape a home fire. The Burbank Fire Department offers to any city resident that needs assistance with the following:

Check the operation and/or replacement of existing smoke alarms (older than 10 years).

Assist you and your family with a home escape plan.

WHERE TO INSTALL SMOKE ALARMS

 
First, you need install them in your bedroom and route way , make sure install one item in every bedroom at least.
Stairway is important to rush out when fires occur, so there must be installed smoke detectors.
You at least require one smoke alarm on every floor, including finished attics and basements.
Install one alarm beside every electric facility.
Install smoke alarms in the middle of ceiling, because smog, heat and flashes always lift to the top of rooms
If some reasons cause you can’t install them in the middle of ceiling, you need to install them at least 10cm away from the wall.
If you like to install them on the wall, they should be installed under the ceiling 10-30.5cm away.
You need install more than one alarm when the length of your hall exceeds 9m.
In an ablique roof room, install the alarm 0.9m away from the top.
How to install smoke alarms in a removable house. The removable house is short of heat keeping, so you’d better install the alarm 10-30.5cm away from the ceiling. for safety you need install another one near your bedroom, too.

WHERE NOT TO INSTALL SMOKE ALARMS

 
Where combustion particles are produced. Combustion particles form when something burns. Areas to avoid include poorly ventilated kitchens, garages, and furnace rooms. Keep units at least 6m from the sources of combustion particles (stove, furnace, water heater, space heater) if possible. Ventilate these areas as much as possible.
In air streams near kitchens. Air currents can draw cooking smoke into the sensing chamber of a smoke alarm near the kitchen.
In very damp, humid or steamy areas, or directly near bathrooms with showers. Keep units at least 3m away from showers saunas, dishwashers ,etc.
Where the temperatures are regularly below 40 F(4 C) or above 100F(38C),including unheated buildings, outdoor rooms, porches, or unfinished attics or basements.
In very dusty, dirty, or greasy areas. Don’t install a smoke alarm directly over the stove or range. Clean a laundry room unit frequently to keep it free of dust or lint.
Near fresh air vents, ceiling fans, or in very drafty areas. Drafts can blow smoke away from the unit, preventing it from reaching the sensing chamber.
In insect infested areas. Insects can clog openings to the sensing chamber and cause unwanted alarms.
Less than 305mm away from fluorescent lights. Electrical “noise” can interfere with the sensor.
In “dead air” space, for example, in Diagram 1,near the corner less than 10cm.
If you have a smoking meeting room, don’t install the alarm there for the unit will alarm when several persons smoke.

HOW TO INSTALL THIS SMOKE ALARM

Tools you will need:

*Pencil
*Drill with 6.5mm drill bit
*Standard/Flathead screwdriver
*Hammer

Hold base firmly and push the hinge in then turn anti-clockwise, so release the base down.
Hold the smoke alarm base against the ceiling (or wall) and make a mark at the center of each of the mounting slots with a pencil.
Put the unit where it won’t get covered with dust when you drill the mounting holes.
Using a 6.5mm drill bit, drill a hole through each pencil mark into 35mm deep.
Insert the plastic screw anchors into the holes and tap them gently with a hammer. Tighten the 3*30 screws into the screw anchors, then loosen them two turns.
Slide the smoke alarm base up to the screw heads end up in the narrow ends of the mounting slots, then tighten the screws completely.
Insert the 9V battery into the the box, make sure the red pry is under the battery, so the battery is stable. Diagram 3.
Make sure insert battery before you install the alarm, or you will destroy the unit.
Close the cover with the alarm according to Diagram 4,then finish your installation.

TEST

It is important to test this unit weekly to make sure it is working properly. Don’t open the alarms by yourself, return them to the seller if improperly, and don’t use fire to test your alarms.
Press and hold the test button on the cover of the unit until the alarm sounds. If it does not alarm, make sure the unit is receiving power and test it again. If it still does not alarm, replace it immediately or check your battery.
The signal flashes once 10 seconds and while it alarms the signal will flash once 1 second.
If the alarm makes low “chirp” sounds several times and the break time is 30seconds,it tells you to exchange your battery.
Little smoke will not cause alarms, so misinformation occurs only when you blow smoke to the alarms directly or you forget to turn on your ventilated facility while your cooking.
Sometimes when you smoke the unit will alarm, so you can just blow air to it to stop alarming.

REGULAR MAINTENANCE

 
Never use water, cleaners or solvents to clean your smoke alarm since they may damage the unit.
Test it at least once a week.
Clean the smoke alarm at least once a month. Gently vacuum off any dust using your household vacuum’s soft brush attachment. Open the cover and disconnect the battery, gently vacuum the inside of the cover and the sensor chamber, reconnect the battery. close the smoke alarm and vacuum the outside of the cover, test the smoke alarm.
Use these batteries to replace the old one.
Carbon zinc: EVEREADY 216 OR 2122;GOLDPEAK 1604P OR 1604S
Alkaline: EVEREADY 522 DURACELL MN1604 MS1604;GOLDPEAK 1604A
Lithium: UL TRALIFE U9VL
You’d better use good battery to make the alarm work long, some batteries can use more than 1 year.

WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF FIRE

Call the Fire Department immediately after confirming the fire.
Don’t panic, stay calmly and follow your family escape plan. Get out of the house as quickly as possible, don’t’ stop to get dressed or collect anything.
Feel doors before opening them to see if they are hot. If a door is cool, open it slowly. Don’t open a hot door-use an alternate escape route
Cover your nose and mouth with a cloth (preferably wet). Take short, shallow breaths.
Meet at your planned place outside your home, and do a head count to make sure everybody got out safely.