1 / 119

Residential Smoke Alarm Installation

Residential Smoke Alarm Installation. NBAFPO Spring Seminar St. Andrews, NB. Milt Cawley Riverview Fire and Rescue. Albert County Heat Detector. Save money on batteries! if it starts a- poppin , grab the kids and RUN!. Do I Need a Smoke Alarm?.

kaloni
Download Presentation

Residential Smoke Alarm Installation

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Residential Smoke Alarm Installation NBAFPO Spring Seminar St. Andrews, NB Milt Cawley Riverview Fire and Rescue

  2. Albert County Heat Detector Save money on batteries! if it starts a-poppin, grab the kids and RUN!

  3. Residential Smoke Alarm Installation

  4. Residential Smoke Alarm Installation

  5. Do I Need a Smoke Alarm? Working Smoke Alarms can cut the chance of dying in a home fire nearly in half They provide extra “critical time for safe escape. Most home fires occur at night when people are sleeping. Most home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no working smoke alarms Residential Smoke Alarm Installation

  6. We Will Cover: • What nuisance alarms are and some steps that can be taken to avoid them • Some problems that affect smoke alarms What smoke alarms are Types of smoke alarm sensors Installation of Smoke Alarms Maintenance of smoke alarms and detectors

  7. Smoke Alarms Are… • Electronic devices designed to detect the presence of a fire and sound an alarm • They generally consist of: • One or more sensors • A triggering circuit • An alarm amplifier and horn • A power supply

  8. Purpose of Smoke Alarms • Detect presence of combustion products • Provide warning to persons in the structure (and, in some cases, to remote monitoring stations) • Primary purpose of warning is to facilitate escape of persons in the structure • Secondary purpose is to initiate an early response by Fire Department

  9. Smoke Detectors Are Used In… Industrial Facilities Storage and Shipping Facilities Office Buildings Retail Stores

  10. Smoke Alarms Are Used In… • Residential Facilities and Private Homes • In this seminar we will focus primarily on residential smoke alarms

  11. Smoke Alarm Vs Smoke Detector Misconceptions The terms smoke alarm and smoke detector sometimes are used interchangeably to refer to smoke alarms. Although similar the two terms refer to different pieces of equipment. SMOKE ALARMS are self-contained units with a sensor that detects smoke, and an audio and/or visual stimulus to alert occupants of a fire. SMOKE DETECTORS are not self-contained and must be wired with an additional alarm system to alert individuals in an emergency.

  12. Residential Smoke Alarm Installation

  13. Self-Contained Alarms Most commonly found in single-family dwellings and small apartment buildings Seldom linked to fire suppression or external notification systems Linked independent alarms are becoming more common in new construction

  14. Residential Smoke Alarm Installation

  15. Residential Smoke Alarm Installation

  16. Types of Smoke Alarm Sensors • There are two primary types of smoke alarm sensors: • Ionization sensors • Photoelectric sensors • Some alarms also include other types of safety sensors, such as heat sensors, or carbon monoxide sensors

  17. Ionization Sensors Best at detecting fast, flaming fires like grease fires Detect combustion particles of .01 to 3 microns (an average human hair is about 90 microns) Most sensitive to dark or black smoke Sensitive to steam, so they may produce false alarms if installed near kitchens or bathrooms

  18. How Ionization Sensors Work Use a weak radiation source (Americium 241) to ionize the air in a detector chamber The ionized air conducts an electrical current The detector circuit senses this current; if it is present, the alarm does not sound Smoke particles interfere with the current flow; when the current is reduced, the alarm sounds

  19. Ionization Sensor Illustration

  20. Photoelectric Sensors Best at detecting slow, smoldering fires like furniture ignited by a cigarette Detect combustion particles of .3 to 10 microns Most sensitive to light gray smoke Not very sensitive to steam, so they are better for use near kitchens or bathrooms Higher power requirements than ionization

  21. How Photoelectric Sensors Work An LED creates a beam of infrared light in the detector chamber The detector circuit senses this light; if it is present, the alarm does not sound Smoke particles scatter the light, and reduce the amount that reaches the detector; when the amount of light is reduced, the alarm sounds

  22. Photoelectric Sensor Illustration

  23. Smoke Alarm Power Sources • AC power (“hard wired”) – linked to normal AC wiring system • Most new detectors have a battery backup in case AC power fails • Batteries • 9 volt carbon zinc (“general purpose”) • 9 volt alkaline • 9 volt lithium (“ten year battery”)

  24. AC Power Most dependable (at least if backup batteries are maintained properly) Cost-competitive with battery power for new construction but expensive to retrofit in older buildings

  25. Battery (DC) Power Fairly dependable if batteries are checked and replaced consistently Inexpensive and easy to install, even in older buildings Often used as the primary power source for self-contained independent alarms

  26. Smoke Alarm Maintenance • Smoke Alarms require regular maintenance, which includes: • Maintenance of Power Supply • Cleaning of Sensor and Air Passages • Regular Testing • Replacement of outdated Alarms

  27. Power Supply Maintenance • For AC powered alarms: • Check AC power supply monthly (or more often) • Replace backup batteries as recommended by the alarm manufacturer • For battery powered alarms: • Test alarm monthly (or as directed by manufacturer) • Replace batteries: • Every six months for general purpose or alkaline batteries • When alarm signals low battery or fails test for lithium batteries

  28. Cleaning Smoke Alarms • For a smoke alarm to work properly, air must be able to flow through the detector chamber and the chamber must be free of dust and dirt • A dirty detector chamber will: • Reduce alarm sensitivity • Increase the chance of a nuisance alarm • Clean the detector by vacuuming the exterior of the alarm with a vacuum nozzle • If this isn’t an option, dust the outside of the alarm housing

  29. Smoke Alarm Testing One of the most common reasons for failed smoke alarms is a lack of regular testing • Alarms should be tested monthly, or more often if the manufacturer or codes require • Monthly by pushing test button • At least annually (more often recommended) by using spray or the smoke from a candle

  30. Smoke Alarm Testing • Do not use the test button. • The test button is not sufficient. It only confirms that the batteries can sound the alarm horn. It does not test the smoke sensor in the unit, which could be faulty even if the horn sounds when you push the button.

  31. Smoke Alarm Testing • Use a small spray can of smoke detector test aerosol. • Just spray some of the test material into the detector, and wait 5 to 10 seconds for a response. If the alarm sounds, you know the unit will sound in a fire. If not, you have a non- functioning smoke detector, even if it beeps when you push the button. Try changing the batteries, then repeat the test procedure. If that does not get it working, it is useless..

  32. Smoke Alarm Testing Do NOT use a flame for testing a Smoke Alarm

  33. Smoke Alarm Testing Always follow the manufacturers instructions on installing, testing, replacing and maintaining smoke alarms

  34. Replacing Outdated Alarms • The recommended service life for most smoke alarms is ten years • After that point, electronic failure becomes likely • If the alarm is self-contained, the entire alarm should be replaced

  35. Nuisance Alarms • Nuisance alarms occur when the alarm sounds without a fire being present • Often called “false alarms,” but in most cases they’re not – the alarm does detect something • Usually caused by exposing the alarm to smoke, combustion products or steam • From tobacco smokers • From wood-burning stoves or fireplaces • From kitchens and bathrooms

  36. Reducing Nuisance Alarms Locate alarms and sensors away from areas where they will be exposed to smoke, other combustion products or steam Clean the alarm regularly Maintain the alarm power supply (low power can sometimes trigger a true “false alarm”) Avoid activities that trigger the alarm

  37. Problems With Smoke Alarms • Lack of Power • Usually due to failure to test alarm and replace battery as needed • Electronic failure • Rare, but it happens – testing is important! • Deliberately disabled alarms • Usually due to nuisance alarms, but may also be done to get alarm battery

  38. Ways to Reduce Problems • Test alarms regularly • Will identify lack of power or electronic failure • Replace batteries as needed • Place alarms properly to avoid nuisance alarms • Seal alarms to protect battery

  39. Other Potential Improvements Building codes requiring hard-wired (AC) alarms with battery backup Use of long life lithium batteries (which last up to ten years) instead of general purpose or alkaline batteries

  40. Installing Smoke Alarms Residential Smoke Alarm Installation Residential Smoke Alarm Installation

  41. Provisions of NBC • At least one functional smoke alarm on every occupied level of the home • This includes basements • It does not include attics, cellars and other areas that are not generally occupied, but… • You can put an alarm in an area where a fire could easily start, even if the area is not usually occupied – so long as that area is not too hot, cold or dusty for the alarm

  42. Provisions of NBC 1995(cont.) • A smoke alarm should be installed outside each separate sleeping area • This does not mean that each bedroom must have it’s own smoke alarm – one alarm in a hallway between two adjacent bedroom doors is acceptable (for existing structures) • In new construction, (NBC 2010) alarms must be installed in every sleeping room

  43. Main Changes 2010 Code Smoke alarms shall be installed in each sleeping room. Shall have a manually operated silencing device to silence for not more than 10 minutes before resetting and resounding Sound patterns of smoke shall be T3

  44. What Does T3 Mean T3 is a temporal pattern that consists of 3 beeps and then a pause, then 3 beeps and then a pause....etc. T3 is used for smoke detectors exclusively. T3 is the NFPA standard for new home construction and smoke detectors less than 10 years old could emit the T3 pattern.

  45. Provisions of NBC(cont.) • If a smoke alarm is installed in or near a kitchen the alarm must be photoelectric or have a “silence” button (“hush” button) • This is because ionization alarms are very sensitive to steam • This is also a good idea for alarms installed near bathrooms, though the code doesn’t actually require them to be photoelectric

  46. Provisions of NBC(cont.) • All smoke alarms installed in homes should be tested regularly • Monthly, or more often if the manufacturer recommends it; many manufacturers recommend weekly tests • All residential smoke alarms should be replaced when they are ten years old • Where more than one smoke alarm is required in a dwelling unit, the smoke alarms shall be wired so that the activation of one alarm will cause all alarms within the dwelling unit to sound.

  47. NFPA 72 • National Fire Alarm Code • Developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) • Covers all types of fire alarm systems in many different types of occupancies • we will focus on the standards for residential smoke alarms

More Related