The Allstate Blog » Fire Safety

Not All Smoke Alarms are Equal: Knowing the Difference Could Save Your Life

Admin — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:08:11 +0000

You change the batteries in your smoke alarms twice a year, and test them every month. But do you know what type of smoke alarms you have? Or, that having one kind over another can make a difference in getting out safely in a home fire? There are two chief smoke alarm types, and each has a sensor that detects smoke and fire differently depending on the origin of the fire.

Ionization vs. photoelectric smoke alarms

The most common smoke alarm type, Ionization alarms are generally more responsive to a flaming fire ( for instance, when a lit candle tips over and ignites a towel), according to Underwriters Laboratories. These alarms use "ions," or electrically charged particles, to detect smoke in the air. UL says that, because they are inexpensive, ionization detectors are the most commonly found smoke alarms in North American homes. The second type of detector is the photoelectric smoke alarm, which uses a light beam to detect the presence of smoke. According to UL, these alarm types are more effective at sounding when a fire originates from a smoldering source, like a lit cigarette that falls into a couch cushion. Smoldering fires can fill a home with dangerous gases before a fire ever erupts.

Which smoke alarm type is best?

So, which alarm to choose? While both types of smoke detectors are designed to detect any house fire, no matter the source, each technology has its advantages and can offer an earlier warning over the other, depending on the origin of a fire. The challenge is that it's impossible to predict which type of fire could erupt in your home, which is why the National Fire Protection Association says the best protection is offered by having both alarm technologies in your home. There are a couple of ways to get this done. If your existing detectors are ionization smoke alarms, you can purchase photoelectric smoke alarms and install one next to each ionization unit. If you don't know what type you have, check your owner's manual. (Or, try this tip: Take the smoke alarm down and look at the back. Because ionization alarms all contain a trace amount of a radioactive material, Americium 241, they contain a warning about the material on each alarm. If you see this warning on your device, you have an ionization unit.) Another option: If budget allows, consider replacing all of your existing smoke alarms with dual-sensor devices, which combine both ionization and photoelectric technologies in a single unit.

Maintenance is key, regardless of type

Knowing the type of smoke alarm you have is clearly an important part of fire safety, but experts also warn that, regardless of type, smoke alarms won't protect you if they're not working properly. According to UL, an estimated 20 percent of homes have detectors that do not work or are missing batteries, and two-thirds of reported residential fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms, or with no smoke alarms at all. So, start by making sure you have the right number of smoke alarms in the right places. The NFPA recommends a smoke detector in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of your home (smoke rises, so install them high on the walls). Then, set reminders to swap out the batteries on each unit at least once a year, and to test the units monthly. Are your smoke alarms ready to alert you to a home fire? Recommended by the editors:

What You Need to Know About Smoke Alarms and CO Alarms

Debbie Hanson, First Alert — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:02:52 +0000

With technology so ingrained in our lives, it’s probably no surprise that it's also been used to advance so many safety products over the past decades. In my lifetime, I've seen countless new products developed that help protect my family every day – like security systems for the home and airbags in cars. But how much do we really know about these products that help keep us safe day in and day out? Take the smoke alarm, for example. Did you know that the residential smoke alarm wasn't developed until almost 1970? BRK Electronics, First Alert’s parent company, designed and produced the first residential smoke detector in 1969. Here are some more interesting facts that you might not know about your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms:

Smoke rises, so smoke alarms should be installed high on the wall inside each sleeping area. CO alarms can be placed inside or outside the sleeping area at any height on the wall, though. That's because CO spreads evenly throughout the air (it's essentially the same weight).
Smoke alarms do save lives! According to the National Fire Protection Association, smoke alarms have led to a nearly 50 percent decrease in fire-related deaths since their introduction in the 1970s. I recommend testing your alarms at least once per month to be sure they are functioning properly. Overlooking the task is a common mistake in smoke alarm maintenance.
Smoke and CO alarms have an expiration date. Since these devices are constantly working, they can’t last forever. Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years, and CO alarms should be replaced every five to seven years, depending on the model. In my home, we write the installation date on the back of the alarm with a permanent marker as a helpful reminder.
The first battery-operated smoke alarm was introduced by First Alert in 1976. If you have battery-operated smoke and CO alarms in your home today, be sure you replace the batteries every six months. A good habit is to do this every spring and fall when you change the clocks. (We spring forward on March 10 this year.)
People have nearly a 50 percent better chance of surviving a fire if their home has the recommended number of smoke alarms, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of the home, including the basement, and inside each sleeping area.

Guest blogger Debbie Hanson is director of external affairs for First Alert, a trusted brand in home safety products. Recommended by the editors:

Whole-Home Safety: Room-by-Room Safety Fixes for the Entire House

Debbie Hanson, First Alert — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:18:28 +0000

If you’re a parent, chances are you have no problem relating to the saying, "You can’t be everywhere at once." Juggling a career with my kids’ countless homework assignments, sporting events, performances and other after-school activities makes for a busy schedule. This saying also applies to home safety. You might not be able to have an eye on all the rooms of your home at once, but with a bit of prudence and the help of innovative safety technologies, you can still make sure each area of the home is safe and protected. Here is a home safety checklist that might help:

Basement Safety

Depending on where you live, you may or may not have a basement – but for those of us who do, we know basements are susceptible to water damage. Install a water alarm to alert your family to a leak before it can cause some serious damage.

Kitchen Safety

The National Fire Protection Association reports that cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Keeping a fire extinguisher on hand can allow you to put out small cooking fires before they blaze out of control. I also recommend fire extinguisher aerosol sprays, which fit under a kitchen cabinet and are as simple to use as a canister of hairspray.

Living Area Safety

Install interconnected smoke alarms. These alarms “talk” to each other and, when one alarm sounds, they all sound. These systems can also verbally alert your family to the type of danger (smoke or carbon monoxide) and the location (the kitchen, for instance). By knowing the location of the fire or carbon monoxide leak, you can adjust your escape plan to safely exit the home.

Bedroom Safety

If you live in a two-story house, be sure to store fire escape ladders in the upstairs bedrooms. You also should install alarms – both smoke and carbon monoxide – inside each room of the home.

Garage Safety

Avoid hazardous trips and falls by storing seasonal products off the floor. Hanging bike racks or storage devices for out-of-use gardening tools or sporting goods can be a real organizational help in your garage. Guest blogger Debbie Hanson is director of external affairs for First Alert, a trusted brand in home safety products.