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Smoke Detector Installation Program & Safety Tips
Smoke detectors are the single most important means of preventing house and apartment fire fatalities by providing an early warning signal -- so families can escape. Smoke alarms are one of the best safety features that can be easily installed to protect residents and their property. The fire department administers two separate programs that provide free smoke detectors to residents:
1) Through a cooperative effort with the Allegheny County Health Department, the fire department initiated a senior smoke detector installation program in the Spring of 2005 that provides free smoke detectors to residents 55 years and older. Smoke detectors are installed in a senior’s home by request. In addition, fire department staff follow-up with these seniors on an annual basis to remind them to change their batteries. If a senior is unable to change the batteries in their smoke detector, a staff member changes them for the senior.
2) On all routine and emergency responses, fire department personnel check to ensure that residents are protected by a working smoke detector. If a battery is dead or missing, it is replaced. If a smoke detector is not present, or is not operable, a new detector is installed at no charge.
Smoke Detector Safety Tips
Smoke detectors should at a minimum be installed on every floor in your home. If possible, place one in each bedroom of your home. In case of a fire, sleepers may not hear a fire detector that is in a hallway. They will have no problem hearing one that is in the bedroom however.When installing a smoke detector, consider the location where you will place it.
In general you should place them in the center of a ceiling or if you place them on a wall they should be at least 10 inches below the ceiling. If you place a wall mounted detector too close to the ceiling or a ceiling mounted detector in a corner an air pocket may form around them. This air pocket would make them slower to detect smoke.Also be careful not to place a smoke detector too close to a kitchen or fireplace. The false alarms can be annoying and you household might develop an immunity to the alarm and not believe it in a real fire.
Finally, test your detectors at least one time every month by lighting and blowing out a match underneath the alarm. If it fails to respond, check the batteries or replace it. Also if your detector starts to chirp, the batteries are low and you should replace them immediately.These are simple steps that anyone can easily undertake. In under 5 minutes a month you can help safeguard your home and family.
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