Wake up! Get a Smoke Alarm!
 A smoke alarm can give you those precious few minutes of warning which could help you and your family to get out safely.
Smoke alarms cost around £5 and are simple to install. They are widely available from DIY, hardware and electrical shops and some supermarkets. Choose an alarm which meets British Standard BS5446 Part 1 and carries the Kitemark. Follow the manufacturers instructions on how to fit and position the alarm. If you have difficulties, local voluntary organisations may be able to make arrangements to have the alarm fitted for you. The instructions will also give you guidance on battery replacement and maintenance.
Smoke alarms for people with hearing impairment Many people whose hearing is not severely impaired are still able to hear a conventional smoke alarm. It is a good idea to link two or more alarms. This way smoke detected in the living room will set off another alarm in the bedroom. An electrician will be able to advise you about linking the alarms. For people who would not be able to hear a conventional smoke alarm there are special devices available which make use of a vibrating pad or flashing light instead of the auditory signal - the vibrating pad alarms are particularly useful for deaf-blind people. Smoke alarms Every year the fire brigade is called out to over 600,000 fires which result in over 800 deaths and over 17,000 injuries. 60,000 of these fires are in the home, killing nearly 500 people and injuring over 11,000. Many of these deaths and injuries could be prevented if people had early warning and were able to get out in time. Buying and fitting smoke alarms could help save your home and the lives of your family. This leaflet tells you about smoke alarms - what they are and, what they do, where you should fit them and how to look after them. If you want more information, get in touch with your local fire brigade.
 What is a smoke alarm?
Smoke alarms are self contained devices that incorporate a means of detecting a fire (smoke detector) and giving a warning (alarm). They are about the size of a hand and are normally fitted to the ceiling. They can detect fires in their earliest stages and sound a loud warning alarm. This alarm can give you those precious few minutes for you and your family to get out safely.
What types of smoke alarm are there?
There are two types of smoke alarm currently on the market - ionisation and optical (also described as photoelectronic).
Ionisation: These are the cheapest and can cost from under £5. They are very sensitive to small particles of smoke produced by flaming fires, such as chip pans, and will detect this type of fire before the smoke gets too thick. They are marginally less sensitive to slow burning and smouldering fires which give off larger quantities of smoke before flaming occurs.
Optical: These are more expensive but more effective at detecting larger particles of smoke produced by slow-burning fires, such as smouldering foam-filled upholstery and overheated PVC wiring. They are marginally less sensitive to free burning flaming fires.
Each type looks similar and is powered either by a battery, or mains electricity (or a combination of both). Some are interconnectable so that any smoke detected at one point can raise the alarm at all others. Some have additional facilities, such as emergency lights and silence buttons, for ue where false alarms can be a nuisance e.g when cooking.
What type of smoke alarm should I choose?
When deciding which type of alarm to buy you should consider which type of fire is most likely to occur in your home. Generally, both types of fire are common so the best form of protection would be to choose at least one smoke alarm of each type. Ideally, and to ensure continuity of supply, mains powered alarms with a back up power supply (e.g. battery, rechargeable capacitor) are the best option but simple battery powered alarms of either type will give good minimum protection.
You can buy smoke alarms at DIY stores, hardware and electrical shops, and at some supermarkets. Always buy an alarm which conforms to the British Standard. This means the alarm has achieved a standard acceptable to the British Standards Institution (BSI). Smoke alarms should meet BS 5446 Part 1, and carry the well-known Kitemark.
How many smoke alarms should I fit?
The number of smoke alarms to fit in your home depends on your particular circumstances. Fires can start anywhere, so the more that are fitted, the higher the level of protection.
For maximum protection an alarm should be fitted in every room (except kitchen, bathroom and garage) You should choose the type most suited to the risk in each room. For minimum protection the number to be fitted will depend on the type of home you live in:
- If your home is on one floor, one smoke alarm, preferably of the optical type, may be enough to provide you with early warning of a fire
- If your home has more than one floor, at least one alarm should be fitted on each level. In this case a combination of optical and ionisation alarms, preferably interconnected, will give the best protection.
Do not fit an alarm in the kitchen or bathroom, as cooking fumes or steam may trigger the alarm. Similarly, do not fit an alarm in a garage where exhaust fumes are likely to set it off. Cigarette smoke will not normally set off an alarm.
Where do I fit my smoke alarm(s)?
Smoke alarms are simply screwed into the ceiling and should normally be fitted at least 30 centimetres (12 inches) away from any wall or light fitting and as close to the centre of the room, hallway or landing ceiling as possible. (Always read the manufacturers' instructions before fitting) If your home is on one level, for minimum protection you should fit an alarm in the hallway between the living and sleeping areas. If your home has more than one floor, for minimum protection one alarm should be fitted at the bottom of the staircase with further alarms fitted on each upstairs landing. If you choose to fit a single alarm in a home on more than one level, care should be taken to ensure that it is fitted where it can be heard throughout your home - particularly when you are asleep.  Normally this would be at the top of the stairs. Although ionisation and optical alarms are equally effective, optical alarms may be preferred in this particular situation as they are especially good at detecting slow-burning or smouldering fires.
Important: The manufacturers' instructions should be followed at all times, particularly where mains powered alarms are to be installed.
How do I look after my smoke alarm? Follow the manufacturers' instructions - smoke alarms need very little maintenance. A few minutes of your time during the year will ensure that your alarm is working and could help save your life and the lives of your family. You should: Once a month - Check the alarm by pressing the test button. You can also test the detector by using one of the testing sources currently on the market for this purpose. Once a year - Change the battery in the alarm. Vacuum and wipe the casing and slots to ensure that dust isn't blocking the sensor chamber. (For mains wired alarms, switch off first) Remember: Buying and fitting smoke alarms, and ensuring they are carefully and properly maintained, could give you those precious few extra minutes in which to make your escape safely. Plan an escape from your home in advance and talk about it with your family. If a fire occurs you may have to get out in the dark and difficult conditions. Escaping will be a lot easier it everyone knows where to go. Make sure your route(s) remain free of any obstructions and that there are no loose floor coverings that could trip you. Always check the battery regularly, replacing it when necessary, and never remove it for other purposes. Should you encounter nuisance/false alarms you may need to site the alarm away from the source of fumes (usually from cooking) or you may consider buying a model that has a built-in silence facility which enables the audible signal to be cancelled temporarily. False alarms may also be caused by poor maintenance leading to a build up of dust and dirt. Further reading on smoke alarms Year on year, over 7,000 smoke alarms fitted in dwellings failed to operate, just under half of which can be attributed to missing batteries or batteries fitted incorrectly. With the type of materials and level of fire loading in modern dwellings today, fire hazards have increased considerably. If a fire occurs in your home it can rapidly engulf your house with smoke and flames. Annually in the UK, over 70,000 fires occur in the home killing around 700 people and seriously injuring 15,000 others. The products of fire, mainly toxic gases and smoke, account for the majority of fatalities in the home, with most of these occurring during the night hours. A smoke alarm gives you that precious life saving time to put your fire plan into action and get you and your family to safety. It is with this in mind that householders are being encouraged to fit domestic smoke alarms in their premises. Although it must be borne in mind that detectors do not prevent fire, these alarms will operate when fire occurs, arouse the family in its early stages and increase the chance of escape. There are many types of alarm on the market and they cost from around £5. You can buy them at most DIY, hardware and electrical shops and some supermarkets. Always look for an alarm which conforms to the British Standard. This means that the alarm has achieved a standard acceptable to the British Standards Institution (BSI). Smoke alarms should meet BS5466 Part 1 and will carry the well-known kitemark.
Operation of Detectors Smoke alarms, or smoke detectors as they are sometimes known, are small devices, about the size of a hand. They are fitted to the ceiling and are able to detect fires in their earliest stages and sound a loud warning alarm. This alarm can give you those precious few minutes of warning time which will help get you and your family out safely. Ionisation type smoke alarms are the most common type of smoke detector in domestic use. They are designed to detect both visible and invisible products of combustion and are effective in detecting fire in its incipient stages, continuously monitoring the surrounding atmosphere. Optical smoke detectors which are activated by larger smoke particles are also available for use in kitchens. Another detector on the market for use in kitchens is a combined heat and carbon monoxide detector. Both of these detectors are designed to obviate nuisance alarms in kitchens caused by cooking. They are recommended to be interlinked with other ionisation type alarms in the house.
Detector Location Household fires are especially dangerous at night when the occupants are asleep. It is important therefore to ensure that detectors are located correctly to waken sleeping occupants when they operate. If you live in a flat or bungalow, one smoke alarm should be enough to provide you with early warning or fire. The detector should be located in an area between the sleeping and living accommodation areas. If your house has more than one level, one alarm should be fitted at the bottom of the staircase and an additional alarm on each upstairs landing. For extra protection you can fit alarms in any room where you think a fire may start, e.g. the lounge or bedroom. Do not fit an alarm in the kitchen or bathroom, as the steam or cooking fumes may trigger the alarm. Cigarette smoke will not normally set off an alarm. If you have more than one alarm, then they should be interconnected. For extra safety, fit a smoke alarm in each room except the kitchen, bathroom and garage. You should check with an electrician before trying to link the alarms yourself. If possible you should fit a hard wired smoke detector with a battery back up. These are more expensive but ensure a greater level of safety.
Mounting A smoke alarm should be fitted to the ceiling within 7 metres to the door of the living room or kitchen (but not too near the kitchen so as to avoid nuisance actuation) and within 3 metres of the door to the bedroom. Additionally, the smoke alarm should be kept at least 30 centimetres (12 inches) away from any wall or light fitting or air conditioning/ heating outlet. You should always make sure that your alarm is fitted in a place where it can be heard throughout your home - particularly when you are asleep. If not, then reposition or fit additional alarms.
Testing and Maintenance Smoke alarms need very little maintenance. A few minutes of your time each year will ensure that your alarm is working and could help save the lives of you and your family. - Once a month
Smoke alarms should be tested weekly by depressing the test button. If this is difficult to reach, the button can be pressed by a brush handle or some similar object. Detectors are also available which can be tested by passing a beam of light over the unit. These are particularly suitable for rooms with high ceilings or for use by elderly or disabled persons.
Hard wired detectors should be tested on mains failure by isolating the electricity circuit before testing.
- Once a year
The battery if fitted should be replaced at least once a year or if the low power warning signal sounds. Make a note of the date of the change.
Alarms are now available which incorporate an integral 10 year battery which obviates the need for annual replacement. These detectors must be replaced however after 10 years.
Detectors should be lightly vacuumed annually to remove dust etc. Vacuum the inside of the alarm to ensure that dust isn't blocking the sensor chamber.
Features A number of companies manufacture smoke alarms It is therefore not possible to list all of the recommended detectors, but the following features should be looked for when purchasing. (a) It should have a fail-safe device built in either:
i) a small LED cell which flashes periodically to show the detector is working efficiently; or
ii) give a visual or audible warning that the battery is low and requires changing. (The power supply is normally a battery which has an operating life of one year). (b) The warning signal should produce at least 85 decibels. This is a minimum standard, a louder signal may be required depending on the location of the detector in relation to the bedrooms. Wherever possible, carry out an audibility test before final fixing to ensure the detectors will wake the household when actuated. (c) The smoke detector components should be in accordance with British Standard 5446- Part 1: 2000.
People with a hearing impairment Many people whose hearing is not severely impaired are still able to hear a conventional smoke alarm. It is a good idea to link two or more alarms. This way smoke detected in the living room will set off another alarm in the bedroom. An electrician will be able to advise you about linking the alarms. For people who would not be able to hear a conventional smoke alarm there are special devices available which make use of a vibrating pad or flashing light instead of the auditory signal. These have a standard detector unit which is connected to a flashing light and a vibrating pad which can be placed beneath a pillow to raise the alarm during sleep. The vibrating pad alarms are particularly useful for blind-deaf people. Detector units can be interconnected when more than one is required. REMEMBER THAT A SMOKE DETECTOR CANNOT RAISE THE ALARM IF IT HAS NO BATTERY, IF THE BATTERY IS FAULTY OR FITTED INCORRECTLY. © Crown Copyright 1997, 1998
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