Ensuring your home has a functional smoke detector and you have trained your staff to stay alert for the sounds isn’t enough. The sad truth is, many of the regulations in place to keep your family safe aren’t being followed. Do you even know what smoke detector regulations you’re expected to follow?
Smoke detectors are designed to alert you when there is smoke in your home and give you time to escape safely. But if there is no second detector, a fire could spread undetected while you’re asleep or distracted by another activity.
Don’t Just Install One.
It’s important to install detectors in every room of your home, including the attic and basement. Smoke rises, so make sure that the detector is near the ceiling. Remember, however, that smoke rises in an enclosed space as well. In a house fire, there may be too much smoke to leave through the main door. You could be forced to find another way out through the attic or basement. So make sure those areas have detectors as well.
Dust and Vacuum
To avoid false alarms, keep them clean by dusting or vacuuming them on a regular basis. If you have hardwood floors or carpeting in your home, these areas can be particularly dusty and should be vacuumed regularly.
Replace Every 10 Years
Regardless of what type of alarm you have, it’s important to replace them regularly, so they’re working at peak efficiency. If you have an older model that isn’t functioning correctly, it may not be immediately obvious until it fails during an emergency situation. That can lead to serious issues — especially if your family isn’t aware that the alarm needs replacing or why it failed in the first place.
Check Your Batteries
You should also check your batteries every month to make sure they are in working order and not leaking or corroding. A leaky battery can cause corrosion in the detector, which will result in false alarms or no alarm at all! If you find that your batteries don’t last as long as they used to, it might be time for new ones! Also, check the date on your current batteries and make sure it is still good (typically 2 years). If not, replace them immediately!
Testing Every Month
You must test your smoke alarms at least once a month. This means pressing the test button to see if it works properly and hearing a loud sound when you do so. If you do not hear this sound when testing your smoke alarm, it may be time to replace it with a new one.
Place In The Right Place
They shouldn’t be placed near windows or doors because those areas tend to have better air circulation. Instead, Smoke detectors must be placed on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas (including bedrooms), as well as near bedrooms with windows that open to the outside. You should also install a smoke alarm inside every bedroom, even if it’s next to an escape window. That way, if someone is asleep when a fire breaks out, they’ll still have time to escape before smoke fills their room and makes it impossible for them to leave on their own.
Don’t Skimp On Maintenance.
It is important to follow all maintenance instructions when replacing batteries or servicing your detectors because this will ensure that they continue working properly throughout their lifespan. Most units last about 10 years before needing replacement, but some older models may need replacing earlier than that.
Having functional smoke detectors in your home is invaluable when you have a fire hazard. If a set of batteries can save your family from the fires that kill 4,000 people every year, shouldn’t you go out and get some change them (if they need it)? It’s easy to overlook these little smoke detector regulations in our day-to-day lives, but there’s a reason why they’re so important to our safety.
