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Home Fire Safety - Smoke Detectors
Types of Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors, also called smoke alarms, are required by
California State Law (Health and Safety Code) in all homes and
apartment units. Most older detectors are battery powered.
Some detectors are powered by house current, while the newest
detectors get their electricity both from the building wiring
and a backup battery.
There are two types of smoke detectors (photo-electric and
ionization); each type has its advantages and disadvantages.
If you are experiencing nuisance alarms (from cooking, etc.),
changing the type of detector could reduce the number of these
alarms.
Placement of Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors are intended to notify people of an impending
fire where they sleep. Smoke detectors should not be installed
in garages or in the kitchen, since this will surely result in
nuisance alarms.
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Smoke detectors should be installed in each sleeping
room, and in the room or hallway leading to the sleeping
room. The device may be installed anywhere on the
ceiling but at least 6 inches from the wall. Detectors
also may be installed high on the wall, within 6 inches
and 12 inches of the ceiling.
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In dwellings built after the mid-1990s, all smoke detectors
are interconnected electrically. When one detector senses
smoke, it causes all the detectors to sound.
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What to do if a smoke detector sounds
You should assume that the sound from a smoke detector is
informing you of a fire. Investigate the source of the smoke.
If there is a fire, leave your house or apartment immediately,
find a phone and call 9-1-1.
If there is smoke but no hostile fire, eliminate the source of
the smoke, then "fan" the detector to purge it of
smoke. Some detectors have a temporary silence or
"hush" button, which can be pushed to reduce the
sensitivity of the device for about 5 minutes. Do NOT
remove the detector battery to stop the alarm.
If your detector is sounding for no reason, call the Fire
Department at 757-5684 for assistance.
Detectors will
"chirp" every 30 seconds or so when the battery is
almost dead. This sound will persist for several days. When
you hear this chirp, change your to battery. Better yet,
change the batteries twice a year. This way, you will never
hear the low battery signal!
Additional Information
http://www.usfa.fema.gov/dhtml/public/alarms.cfm
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