Sep 6, 2024 · Buying smoke alarms can be a bit confusing to someone who is not aware of all the different types and the terminology being used. Because of this, I am going to break down some of the most frequently asked questions to help you choose the best alarm. I want to note that there is a difference between a smoke “detector” and a smoke “alarm.”

Install smoke alarms inside and outside every bedroom and sleeping area (like a hallway). Install on every level of the home, including the basement. A smoke alarm should be on the ceiling or high on a wall. Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen to reduce nuisance, or false, alarms. They should be at least 10 feet (3 meters) from the stove.

Installing your home smoke alarms correctly - and making sure they are in working order - is an important step to making your home and family safer from fire.

This report discusses the presence, operation, and reason for failures of smoke alarms in reported home fires.

Aug 17, 2020 · Regularly test smoke alarms, clean them as per manufacturer’s instructions, and ensure everyone in the home understands the alarm sound and how to respond.

When smoke enters the chamber, it disrupts the flow of ions, thus reducing the flow of current and activating the alarm. Download this chart on ionization smoke alarms (PDF). Photoelectric smoke alarms are generally more responsive to fires that begin with a long period of smoldering (called “smoldering fires”).

This report performs a gap analysis related to the impact of ceiling height and detector spacing on smoke detection performance. Smoke Detector Spacing for High Ceiling Spaces

The long-standing “Change Your Clocks, Change Your Batteries” encourages the public to change their smoke alarm batteries when changing their clocks.

Feb 11, 2022 · If you keep having nuisance smoke alarms, here are a few things that can help you determine the issue

Jan 22, 2021 · Low frequency 520 Hz alarms were required for single and multiple station alarms, smoke alarms not connected to a building fire alarm, where the occupants have mild to severe hearing loss. This is because research over the last 20 years has shown that these low frequency alarms are more effective at waking sleeping occupants than the ...