Smoke Alarm Check Day

jackieb

melipona wrote:

I know this sounds a bit sad but when we had battery alarms I used to put a prezzi under the tree at Xmas time with a new set.

We always stocked up on batteries at Xmas anyway for the new gizmos and this just gave the kids one more parcel to open even though it wasn't really for them. They would help to change the battery and put the old one in their toys to use it up. Even sadder I used to send a similar one to my Mums alarm:D

We all have mains ones now.

Doesn't yours have battery back-up though? We have 3 connected via the mains, one on each floor. When the battery goes and one beeps, all 3 beep. I change all 3 batteries at once because you can't tell which one is beeping. What do you do if you're electricity is off and there's no battery back up?

iglimpse

What makes that even funnier is the spokesman who tries to justify why they had no alarm system in place, sort of ends up as "ambulance station less priority" quote:rolleyes: What does our firefighter think?

sarahlouise210

I had someone visit the house today to tell me that the local fire brigade will come to your house and show you where you should have smoke alarms...and actually supply and fit them!!! She did ask if we had children so I suppose that may be a criterea for having this service but not sure. I thought I may give it a go ..we only have one on the landing at the moment. I have done a google search and it appears all areas are doing this - its called a free home fire safety check.

jackieb

I have self-closing fire doors and fire escape windows as well as the 3 smoke alarms wired through the mains. I'm not complacent though. My husbands grandmother died in a fire in 1979.

mrs_baggins

I have done home safety checks on behalf of local authority (mainly for OAP's_) and installed smoke alarms free. A lot of councils do this so if you havent got one ask them. I was amazed at the amount of alarms in these peoples homes which either had no battery, dead battery or they had taped over the sensor as they didnt like it going off! I recommended that they get someone to check at least once a month and to change batteries every year say on 1st jan or a birthday or something. My sons are smokers and put 3 in their homes as i know they smoke in practically every room.

If there are any firemen listening can you tell me if its true that after so many years a wired one becomes ineffective? Mines been up for 16 years and luckily still seems to be working fine (its wired up to the house alarm)

If you have an elderly person for the sake of a fiver i would get one put up and in your own house too.

melipona

jackieb wrote:

Doesn't yours have battery back-up though? We have 3 connected via the mains, one on each floor. When the battery goes and one beeps, all 3 beep. I change all 3 batteries at once because you can't tell which one is beeping. What do you do if you're electricity is off and there's no battery back up?

Yes it does have battery back up, I bought the ones with a rechargeable battery with a 10yr life, then discard and replace the whole thing after 10 yrs. They are a bit more expencive than the average but it still only works out a few pounds a year.

All alarms still need a regular test though as our friendly fireman and the op reminded us. I agree that you should always have more than one if possible and, if you have one that keeps getting triggered to the point that you remove the battery in frustration MOVE IT! An alarm that has been disabled is as much use as a chocolate teapot.

melipona

mrs_baggins wrote:

If there are any firemen listening can you tell me if its true that after so many years a wired one becomes ineffective? Mines been up for 16 years and luckily still seems to be working fine (its wired up to the house alarm)

If you have an elderly person for the sake of a fiver i would get one put up and in your own house too.

Not a fireman but,

If you have a rechargeable battery fitted into a mains powered alarm they have a limited life and should be replaced after about 10 yrs. You need to take care if you just do a short test on a mature unit as although it might work well for some seconds the backup battery may not ce capable of holding much charge and will quickly run down.

Some mains alarms use a standard cell backup, these should be regularly replaces as previously discussed.

I understand that over time the sensors also start to degrade, how long it takes to make the alarm ineffective I'm not sure, (when you press the test button I don't think you are actually testing the sensor), but this is the main reason that I have fitted a mains alarm with a rechargeable battery that cannon be replaced, it forces a replacement every 10 yrs or so.

To test if the rechargeable battery is working you could trip the circuit breaker and see if it operates correctly.

Useful Link

unsure

Some years ago I lived in the US in Washington DC. One day the doorbell went and there was a firemen standing there next to his big fire engine. He and his colleagues had come to do the yearly test of the fire alarms. Apparently they went to every dwelling in the city. If you didn't have one or it wasn't working your were given a ticket and they returned 14 days later to confirm that it had been sorted.

I was deeply impressed and couldn't help feeling it probably saved a lot of lives and was quite a sensible used of firemen's time. Presumably if there was an emergency they would be called off and would return to the checking when time allowed. Since that time wherever I've lived. I've always kept my smoke alarms in good working order and feel safer for it.
Is there a good reason why we can't do something similar here?

I've also just invested in a 25 foot folding escape ladder for our top floor after seeing the "How Would You Get Out" campaign poster at our local fire station ( not Arundel!!!). Cost me £60 and well worth it for peace of mind.

callansdad

Just to clarify some questions that have been asked and to back up advice from other posters.

Check your smoke alarm once a week by pressing the test button.

Once a year change the battery whether it is a mains powered or battery only.

Life span is an average of 10 years and the unit should be replaced after this (even if it appears to be working fine).

Minimum safe requirement (advice only) is one smoke alarm per floor of your home. Preferably centrally located (in a hallway).

There are alarms available with a 'hush' feature which are good if you have one near your kitchen. you press hush and the alarm will silence for approx 10 mins and then reset.

Again if you have any questions at all contact your local Fire and Rescue Service. (unless its lunch time);)

As for arundal fire station :eek: slapped wrists all round!

Also if anyone has friends or relatives who are hard of hearing my service will arrange for free fitting of a specialist alarm with flashing strobe light and or a vibrating pad for under the pillow. I am unsure how many other brigades will offer this but give them a phone!