Every year the Fire Service are called to over 600,000 fires in the UK . The outcome of those calls are over 800 deaths and over 17.000 injuries. Almost 150 people a day are in their homes at the time of the fire. A home insurance policy will go someway to alleviating the worry over replacing lost items but fire avoidance is what we all want in the first instance.
Most fires are caused by chip pans catching alight or from smoldering cigarettes left unattended. Smoke alarms are the easiest way to detect fire and offer the all important warning time in order to evacuate the area. They are cheap, easy to get hold of and easy to fit. You may also find that your local fire and rescue service will offer you a free home fire risk check. They will visit your home and offer fire safety advice and advise you on where to position smoke alarms and they may be able to install your smoke alarms for free.
Many home insurance providers will not insure your property unless you have smoke alarms around your home. There are clear fire regulations we can all follow to ensure our safety and if your home has more than one floor you should install electric fire alarms. These are particularly important when the home has multi floors such as in town houses or loft conversions.
The alarm itself has a detector sensitive to smoke and it gives off a warning alarm. Many people place their alarms close to kitchens but take out the battery if the smoke from cooking food sets the alarm off. This has resulted in many fires and subsequent fatalities, along with flat batteries being unreplaced.
Position the smoke alarms so that they are in a sensible area outside the kitchen. Keep interior doors closed whilst cooking and try to open windows, switch on extractor fans. Some alarms are fitted with a silence button that you can press when the alarm has been set off by mistake. The batteries need to be replaced every 12 months. Some alarms are fitted with lights and a vibrating pad so that those people with hearing defects are made aware of any emergency.
Your alarm must conform to the British Standards Institutes criteria and have the kite mark displayed. You should aim to install an alarm in all your rooms down stairs as well as one in any stairwells between floors. If your home has only one level the alarm should be fitted between the living and sleeping area and if you have a large electrical appliance in your bedroom such as an electric fire or television, you should install one there too.
Fit your smoke alarm as central to the room as is possible but at least a foot away from any existing light fittings. Make sure you test your alarms to ensure they are still working and change the batteries once a year. Vacuum the alarm to keep dust off. Change your alarm completely after ten years.
Types of Smoke Alarms
Ionisation - These alarms are sensitive to tiny smoke particles produced by flames, they will send out an alarm before the smoke becomes too thick. Most people currently have this type.
Optical - This alarm is more costly but is vastly superior to the Ionisation type as it detects larger particles of smoke from slow burning fires such as smoldering from upholstery.
Combined - This alarm is very effective at detecting slow burning fires as well as those for chip pan fires.
Socket Alarms - Some smoke alarms can be plugged into a light socket. They require a rechargeable battery which is recharging when the light is on.
