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Install smoke alarms on
every level of your home, including the basement, making sure that there is
an alarm outside every separate sleeping area. New homes are required to
have a smoke alarm in every sleeping room and all smoke alarms must be
interconnected.
Hard-wired smoke alarms operate on your household electrical current. They
can be interconnected so that every alarm sounds regardless of the fire's
location. This is an advantage in early warning, because it gives occupants
extra time to escape if they are in one part of the home and a fire breaks
out in another part. Alarms that are hard-wired should have battery backups
in case of a power outage, and should be installed by a qualified
electrician.
If you sleep with bedroom doors closed, have a qualified electrician install
interconnected smoke alarms in each room so that when one alarm sounds, they
all sound.
If you, or someone in your home is deaf or hard of hearing, consider
installing an alarm that combines flashing lights, vibration and/or sound.
Mount smoke alarms high on walls or ceilings (remember, smoke rises).
Ceiling mounted alarms should be installed at least four inches away from
the nearest wall; wall-mounted alarms should be installed four to 12 inches
away from the ceiling.
If you have ceilings that
are pitched, install the alarm near the ceiling's highest point.
Don't install smoke alarms near windows, doors, or ducts where drafts might
interfere with their operation.
Never paint smoke alarms. Paint, stickers, or other decorations could keep
the alarms from working. |
