Change Your Clocks – Change Your Batteries - Check Your Smoke Alarms

The Halton Hills Fire Department wishes to remind all our residents that clocks are to be turned forward one hour on Sunday, March 14. There isn’t a better time to serve as a reminder that when you change your clocks to also change the batteries in your smoke alarms. No batteries or dead batteries in your smoke alarms, means you have no chance of receiving an early warning of fire in your home. A working smoke alarm will give you those vital seconds you need to escape a fire.

Smoke alarms are a deciding factor in reducing fire loss, injury and deaths. They are credited with saving many lives. Unfortunately, the fire service continues to respond to residential fires with either inoperative smoke alarms or no smoke alarms at all. The end result is people continue to suffer fire loss, injury or even death. Recently released statistics from the Office of the Fire Marshal indicate that between the years 2004 and 2008, out of a total of 31,000 residential fires, 18% had no smoke alarm and an additional 15% of residences with smoke alarms were not in working condition. With the minimal cost of smoke alarms today there is absolutely no reason for anyone in the community to go without a working smoke alarm in their home.

Recent fire incidents in our community reinforce the need for smoke alarms. With this in mind the Public Education Division would like to take this opportunity to review the law on smoke alarms, their importance, their maintenance, how to deal with nuisance alarms and what to do when your smoke alarm activates.

The Law
Some of our most law abiding citizens are breaking the law by not having working smoke alarms in their homes. Since March 1, 2006 the Ontario Fire Code requires a working smoke alarm to be in place on every level of a home including the basement and outside all sleeping areas. The requirement to install and maintain smoke alarms applies to all single family homes, semi-detached homes, townhomes, multi-unit dwellings and apartments, whether owner occupied or rented. These requirements also apply to seasonal homes such as cottages and camper/trailers. It is the responsibility of the owner or landlord to ensure compliance. If you are a tenant, you have a responsibility too. You cannot remove or intentionally disable a smoke alarm and you should notify your landlord should you feel that a smoke alarm is inoperative or other issues exists.

Failure to comply with these requirements can lead to charges with fines for an individual of up to $50,000 and up to one year in jail. Corporations can be assessed fines of up to $100,000 with a jail term of up to one year. The fire department can also issue tickets with fines of $235.

Choosing the Right Smoke Alarm
Newer homes constructed since 1997 will have been built with smoke alarms on every floor including the basement and outside sleeping areas. These smoke alarms are of the electrical type, hard wired and interconnected so that when one is activated they all will sound. Homes built prior could be found with electrical or battery type smoke alarms that may not be on every floor. Current legislation requires these homes be upgraded so that a smoke alarm is installed on every floor including the basement and outside sleeping areas. These alarms may be battery operated or electric type.

If replacing or upgrading smoke alarms one needs to be aware that there are several options or features available. Battery style smoke alarms are convenient, easy to install and will always work if the power goes out. If you choose to install an electrical style alarm you will need the services of a certified electrician.

Electrical alarms have the option of being interconnected to your other alarms so they all activate. If you choose the electrical type, models are available with battery back-up to protect you should the power go out.

There are two main styles of smoke alarms on the market; ionization and photo-electric. Photo-electric style smoke alarms work on the principle of a beam of light aimed at a mirror. When the beam is broken by smoke, the alarm is activated. This type of alarm reacts slightly faster to smoldering fires. The ionization style operates with a small amount of radio active material which ionizes the air in a chamber. When smoke enters the chamber it disrupts the current in the chamber and activates the alarm. This type of alarm reacts slightly faster to flaming type fires. The ionization type alarm is the most common style of smoke alarm in use. No matter which style you choose they both meet the same Underwriters Laboratory of Canada (ULC) standard and both types are acceptable.

When installing smoke alarms one has to remember that smoke rises and therefore the best place for a smoke alarm is on the ceiling. If the ceiling is not an option, they can be placed high on a wall. Do not place alarms closer than 6 inches below the ceiling thus avoiding the natural dead space where the ceiling and wall meet. Places to avoid include near bathrooms, kitchens, ceiling fans, heating and cooking appliances and windows. No matter where you choose to install always follow the manufacturers instructions for that particular device.

Testing and Maintenance
For smoke alarms to function as designed and protect you and your family, you need to take care of your smoke alarm. In a few minutes and with very little effort your smoke alarm will be ready for action when needed. Only working smoke alarms will save lives.

On a monthly basis you should test the smoke alarm by pushing the test button. The smoke alarm should sound. If it doesn’t, open the cover and check that there is a battery and that it is installed correctly. Close the cover and try again. If it still does not sound replace the battery and test again. On electrical types make sure the power is on. If it still does not work replace the smoke alarm. Batteries should be changed at least once a year but twice a year is the preferred time interval. A great reminder is when we change our clocks in the spring and fall. Sometimes a smoke alarm will give intermittent chirps. The chirping is its signal indicating a low battery condition and is time to replace the battery.

Another important maintenance item is to prevent the accumulation of dust and sometimes small insects and nests in the device. The best preventative measure for this is to vacuum the device twice a year. If a battery type open the cover and gently vacuum the inside, on electrical style alarms vacuum the vents from the outside of the unit.

With all your best efforts smoke alarms don’t last forever. Generally speaking the life of a smoke alarm is 10 years. If your alarm is greater than 10 years old or if the model you have indicates that its life span is shorter, it is time to replace the smoke alarm with a new one. Remember when replacing a smoke alarm always replace the smoke alarm with one of similar or greater protection.

And finally, think about the seniors in your life. Are they able to test their smoke alarm, change the battery, or even replace the device? Give them a hand in maintaining their smoke alarms. Perhaps they can be instructed to do the monthly test with their cane, a broom handle or other device.

Nuisance Alarms
Nuisance alarms are the accidental activation of smoke alarms and are the most common reason for people disabling the device. The most often response is to deactivate the device by removing the battery or cutting the power or even worse completely removing the device. Not only is this against the law, it leaves you with no protection.

The proper response is to correct the problem at its source. The most often cause for accidental activation is steam from the bathroom or smoke from cooking activities. Keeping oven and burners clean, using a kitchen or bathroom fan and cleaning out toaster crumbs are but some of the strategies to correct at the source. Another strategy may be to move the smoke alarm away from the bathroom or kitchen. Sometimes a movement of as little of 10 – 30 cm is enough to correct the problem.

Manufacturers have also made available smoke alarms with a hush feature where if an accidental activation occurs the hush button on the smoke alarm is pushed to silence the device. The device will continue to monitor the air and reset if clear. If not it will reactivate to warn of a fire or smoke condition. This is a great innovation as it helps discourage removal of the power source or even the smoke alarm all together.

Know What to Do
Most fatal residential fires occur at night. It is crucial that everyone (adults and children) know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds and you are given that early warning so you can escape. You need an escape plan and you need to practice it. When building your plan, look at the layout of your home, determine the best ways out and discuss the actions that everyone will take. Know two ways out of each room and have a prearranged meeting place away from the home. Involve the whole family and don’t forget to tell the children not to hide. Once out, stay out and call the fire department from a safe location.

Can the Fire Department Help?
Fire Department staff would be happy to talk to citizens on smoke alarms, whether it is general in nature or something more specific. We are here to help and can also provide you with information pamphlets on the topic. The Fire Department will also be glad to visit your home to assist and advise you in locating the proper place for your smoke alarm. Further information on smoke alarms can be obtained by calling:

Captain Dave Ford – Public Education – 905 873-2601 ext. 2115
Captain Doug Andrews – Public Education – 905 873-2601 ext. 2209

Don’t be caught without protection, when checking your batteries this weekend take a few minutes to maintain your smoke alarm. They do work, and save lives.

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