Residential Smoke Alarms

Possible reasons for nonfunctioning smoke
alarms:
‘Nuisance’ or false alarms
triggered by cooking
smoke or steam from the
kitchen prompt the owner
to disconnect the power
supply.
The battery life has come
to an end or the hardwire
connection inside the
smoke alarm has come
loose.
The 10-15 year, or longlife battery life has come
to an end.
The smoke alarm was
improperly installed or
was installed in an
ineffective area (always
follow the manufacturer’s
installation and placement
instructions).
The smoke alarm is no
longer working properly or
is malfunctioning.
The sensors inside the
smoke alarm are dirty and
require cleaning.

Smoke alarms are small, self-contained electrical units that signal an alarm
warning when detecting the presence of smoke or fire. Smoke alarms may be
hard wired into a building, and powered by a replaceable battery, or a
combination of the two. There are many makes, models, and manufacturers of
smoke alarms in Canada, ranging in price from under $20 to over $60.
What are the costs associated with residential structure fires?
85% of fire deaths occur in homes. Even though most homes in North America
have smoke detectors installed, many are not functioning. Secondary to
human life, the monetary costs of fire damage associated with residential
structure fires has historically been upwards of $45,000 per unit in Canada.
Do smoke alarms really save lives?
The presence of a working smoke alarm can reduce the risk of dying in a
residential fire by over 50% by providing sufficient warning to residents.
However, while 90% of North American homes have smoke alarms installed, in
two-thirds of fatal residential fires smoke alarms were either not installed or
not functioning. It is essential that residents check fire alarms on a regular
basis to ensure they are functioning. Common reasons for a non-functioning
alarm are listed in the column to the right.
Why are there different types of smoke alarms?
Ionization smoke alarms contain small amounts of radioactive material in an air
chamber where an electric current passes through. Smoke entering the
chamber disrupts the current, which triggers the alarm to sound. Ionization
smoke alarms are usually more responsive to low-smoke, high-flame fires.
Photoelectric smoke alarms send a beam of light away from the unit into an
internal chamber. When smoke enters the chamber, it reflects light from the
beam towards a light sensor that triggers the alarm to sound. Photoelectric
smoke alarms are typically more responsive to higher smoke, smoldering fires.
There are also alarms with a strobe light function or personalized voice
recordings. These additional functions may be useful to wake deep sleeping
individuals, children, or those who are hard of hearing. This is important as
vulnerable residents (e.g. children and seniors) are most at risk of dying in a
residential fire.

How many smoke alarms should I have and where should they go?

Smoke alarms sold in
Canada must abide to a
testing standard set forth by
Underwriters’ Laboratories
of Canada (ULC), as required
by Canadian legislation.
Ensure your smoke alarm is
marked with the ULC
certification label. By baring
the ULC label, you will be
assured that your smoke
alarm unit meets Canadian
standards.

Generally, each level of the home should have its own smoke alarm installed,
including outside of each sleeping area. For the best protection, smoke alarms
should be interconnected. This way if one alarm sounds they all sound. Smoke
alarms should be located high on the wall or on the ceiling, and near bedrooms.
To avoid the alarm going off by mistake or being turned off by a resident, they
should be located just outside of the kitchen.
How do I maintain my smoke alarm?
Smoke alarms should be cleaned at least once every six months, or as stated in
the manufacturer’s instruction manual. It is also important to test a smoke alarm
on a monthly basis. On most models, a test button is located on the outside of the
unit. If the alarm does not sound after the test button has been pressed, consider
changing the batteries or replacing the unit all together. It is suggested that
smoke alarms older than 10 years be replaced.
What can I do if I experience a lot of false or ‘nuisance’ alarms?
Several newer model smoke alarms are equipped with a ‘hush’ button that will
disarm the smoke alarm for a short period to allow the air to clear. Do not
remove the batteries or unplug your alarm.

Regardless of the type of
alarm, smoke alarms are
found to work less often in
households that had at least
one smoker residing there.

Centre for Public Safety and
Criminal Justice Research
33844 King Road
Abbotsford, BC
V2S 7M8
604 854-4553

http://cjr.ufv.ca

Where can I find more information on smoke alarms?
For more information on smoke alarms, you can visit any local hardware store or
contact your local fire service.
Resources
 The British Columbia Office of the Fire Commissioner. 1-888-988-9488, or
online at
http://embc.gov.bc.ca/ofc/index.htm
 Canada Safety Council
http://www.safety-council.org/info/home/smalarm.htm
 Underwriters’ Laboratories of Canada
http://www.ulc.ca/consumer/Page.asp?Page_ID=942
 National Fire Protection Agency
http://www.nfpa.org/search.asp?query=smoke+alarm
 The Fire Marshall’s Public Fire Safety Council
http://www.firesafetycouncil.com/english/pubsafet/fasa.htm
 2006 BC Building Code and 2006 BC Fire Code
http://www.housing.gov.bc.ca/building/code/index.htm