Why Are Smoke Alarms Important?

Smoke alarms or smoke detectors are your first line of defense. Having working smoke detectors in your home reduces the risk of dying in a fire by 54% compared to homes without smoke detectors or alarms that are not working. Make sure smoke alarms are properly installed, tested, and maintained. Here, we discuss the importance of smoke alarms and where they should be installed. We will also learn how to choose the right smoke detector for your home and/or office.

Why Are Smoke Alarms Important?

In the USA, in a fire, deadly gases and smoke spread faster and farther than heat, which is why most victims die from smoke and toxic gas inhalation, not from burns.

Smoke detectors are of vital importance due to their undeniable value in minimizing risk to human lives and safeguarding heritage.

All the events collected, identified, and registered in a fire detection and alarm system automatically and instantly inform the users involved of the control and/or correction actions so that they can act effectively and quickly in the event of a fire.

Your chances of surviving in a fire will be increased if you install fire alarm systems in areas such as warehouses, common areas, file storage rooms, near computer systems, etc. Also, remember that smoke detectors are immediate alert devices designed to notify individuals in a building of the presence of smoke.

Where Should Fire Alarms Be Installed?

Every building is unique, so therefore it can be difficult to specify exact placement of smoke detectors. When in doubt, read the manufacturer's instructions.

Since smoke rises, detectors should be placed on the ceiling and, if mounted on the wall, at a distance of between 15 and 30 cm from the ceiling.

For basic protection: If you only have one smoke detector, it is advisable to place it between bedrooms or areas with the highest fire risk.

For better protection: If you have more than one detector, place one on each floor or at the entrance to bedrooms.

For best protection: Place a smoke detector in each room, with priority to living rooms, where the probability of fire at night is greatest. It is also advisable to place a smoke detector in bedrooms where electrical devices are used, such as electric blankets or heaters, or where the occupant is a smoker.

How to Choose the Right Smoke Detector?

1. Type of power

Most detectors are powered by a long-life lithium battery. Some detectors are even capable of warning when the battery runs out via a beep or flashing light.

2. Duration

The lifespan of a smoke detector is around 10 years maximum. After that, they lose efficiency and therefore reliability.

3. Installation

The detectors can be easily and quickly screwed or glued to the ceiling or wall without any remodeling or rewiring.

4. Silence Function

False alarm? Is the fire already out? The silence function allows the user to silence the alarm. As a safety measure, if the presence of smoke persists, the alarm will reactivate after 15 minutes.

5. Design

Magnetic smoke detector, mini smoke detector, smartwares smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, round, square, black, white detector... there are so many different models available to suit all tastes and decoration styles.

6. Connection

Connected fire alarm can be controlled from an app. In this way, the user can turn off the alarm remotely or check the proper functioning of the detector from a mobile device.

7. Function Test

It is important to check the proper functioning of your smoke detectors from time to time, and, above all, to ensure the alarm still works. This test can be performed manually by pressing a detector button, or remotely, in the case of smart connected detectors.

Surely, many more deaths each year could have been prevented with a functioning smoke detector. Not surprisingly, studies carried out after the spread of fires in homes found that fire detectors are a key element in saving human lives.

Specifically, in North America, 93% of the population have included one of these systems in their homes since the 1970s, and was boosted by a law passed in 1980 making it mandatory to have a fire alarm.

X-Sense XS01-WR Wireless Smoke Detector

1. Wireless technology uses radio frequency to transmit and receive messages.
2. If one alarm goes off, the rest of the interconnected alarms will alert as well.
3. 5-year replaceable battery and 10-year sensor life.
4. Advanced photoelectric sensor is more sensitive and reduces false alarms.

Buy Now

$29.99

You may also like: 

• Smoke Detector Laws by State
• The Best Smoke Detectors of 2021
• Tips for Home Safety in 2020
• Wi-Fi Smoke Detector in 2021