HAVE YOU HAD YOUR F I RE EXTINGUISHER CHECKED LATELY

Did you know that the NFPA (NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION) publishes the accepted standard for portable Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers?

Did you know that this standard is called "NFPA 10"?

Did you know that NFPA10 states:

• that your Fire Extinguisher needs to be visually inspected and re-tagged at least once every year?
• that your Fire Extinguisher needs to be serviced and recharged every six years?
• that your Fire Extinguisher needs to have a Hydro Static pressure test every twelve years?

HURONIA ALARM & FIRE SAFETY has fully trained and qualified personnel to look after all your Fire Extinguisher needs.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT APPROVED.

MIDLAND 526-9311
COLLINGWOOD 445-4444
PARRY SOUND 746-5851
BARRIE/ORILLIA 835-9311

Smoke causes the majority of fire-related deaths. Hot flames are low on the list of killers during a fire. Smoke contains deadly killer, gases such as carbon monoxide and, when smoke is produced, life-sustaining oxygen is consumed. Most fire victims die from these factors, frequently before they awaken. In many fires, extinguished in early stages, people have been found dead of smoke inhalation without having suffered any skin burns.

A smouldering fire may go undetected for hours, especially when people are asleep. Such a fire will continue developing, giving off smoke and gases which may not be visible but which consume oxygen and replace it with toxic gases.

In addition to the deadly killer carbon monoxide, smoke carries poisons such as hydrogen cyanide plus irritants such as formaldehyde and acetic acid. Added to this deadly environment are the toxic substances that come from burning synthetic materials commonly found in the home, especially plastics. Oxides of nitrogen, sulphur dioxide, and ammonia are just a few examples.

Understanding the sequence of events in a residential fire makes it easier to appreciate how smoke alarms can provide a time margin that can save your life. Most fires progress through four distinct stages – first the incipient stage, next the smoke stage, next the flame stage, and finally the high-heat stage.

Smoke detectors work by sensing the rising smoke from a fire and sounding an alarm. They can detect smoke far from the origin of the fire. Smoke detectors are most valuable at night, alerting family members to the presence of fire when they are asleep.

There are at present two types of smoke detectors on the market – the photo-electric smoke detector and the ionization chamber smoke detector.

The IONIZATION DE7ECTOR contains a radioactive source in a smoke chamber that emits radiation, resulting in a weak flow of electric current. When particles such as those produced by fire enter the smoke chamber, they reduce the current and trigger the alarm.

The PHOTO-ELECTRIC DETECTOR contains a chamber with either overlapping or porous covers which prevent the entrance of outside sources of light but which allow the entry of smoke. The unit contains a light source and a special photosensitive cell in the darkened chamber. The cell and light are positioned within the alarm in one of the two manners so that either the light beam is interrupted by the smoke as in the obscuration type or the beam is deflected into the cell as in the light scattering type.

Smoke Alarms are now being marketed that provide dual detection. These units contain both an ionization detection chamber and a photo-electric detection chamber and operate on the same principle as either a single photo-electric or a single ionization alarm. Dual detection smoke alarms offer the advantages of both types in a single unit.

Both types of detectors are equally effective in the home. If properly installed they can provide adequate warning for the family. Some differences exist between the two when they operate close to the origin of the fire. Ionization detectors will respond more quickly to flaming fires. Photo-electric detectors will generally respond faster to smoldering fires. These differences, however, are not critical.

Detectors are powered two ways – by batteries, household electric current or both. Battery-operated detectors are the easiest to install. They require no outlets or connections to household wiring. However, the batteries should be replaced approximately once a year to keep the detector operating properly. The cost of replacement batteries is $2 and upwards. A good time to change your smoke detector battery is in the spring or fall when your clocks are changed.

All ULC (Underwriters Laboratories of Canada) listed battery-operated smoke detectors are required to sound a trouble signal when the battery needs to be replaced This "chirp" signal usually lasts seven days. If you are away from home for an extended period of time, it is advisable when you return to check your detector, according to manufacturer’s instructions, to make sure the battery has not lost power.

Smoke detectors that operate on household current can be powered two ways. The detector, equipped with a 240-270 cm (8-9 ft.) electrical cord, can be plugged into an existing wall outlet. A detector powered this way should not be operated with an on-off switch, as it may be accidentally turned off. It can also be wired permanently into your home’s electrical system.

A fire in the home electrical circuit that would interrupt power to a smoke detector is a remote possibility. If an appliance, such as a TV set in the living-room, starts the fire, a smoke detector located outside the bedroom area should sound an alarm before the fire reaches the electrical wiring. This is particularly true if the TV set and smoke detector are on different circuits.

The location of the basic smoke alarm in the vicinity of sleeping areas does not provide sufficient protection for the occupants from a fire starting in their bed room with the door closed. It is desirable, therefore, particularly if you smoke, to have additional alarms within each bedroom itself, and in other areas such as basements, hallways, family rooms, etc.

A closed door can delay the movement of smoke, preventing it from reaching a smoke alarm, and fire confined in a large room often develops great intensity before it breaks out of the room. The basement is one area that can be large, remote from the alarm, and isolated by some type of closure at the top of the stairs such as a door. Basements also account for a significant number of fires. For these reasons, it is recommended that the smoke alarm be placed at the head of the stairs from the basement. A smoke alarm is also recommended at the head of each stairway leading to an occupied area. This location may also serve the purpose of protecting a sleeping area in a two-storey house if the room layout is suitable. Whether or not you choose to add the additional units, at least install a basic smoke alarm.

Smoke alarms should be cleaned periodically (usually once every six months) as recommended by the manufacturers. This can usually be done by opening the cover and gently vacuuming out the interior of the alarm. The cover can usually be wiped clean with a damp cloth.

The operation of the smoke alarm should be checked by activating the alarm with smoke at the intervals recommended by the manufacturer to ensure that the detector is functioning.

If the smoke alarm is battery operated, replace the battery when it’s low (don’t just remove it). With no battery a smoke alarm is powerless to save your life.

Facts

• Careless use of smoking materials is the greatest single cause of deaths by fire.
• Over 60 per cent of fire deaths occur at home.
• Over 40 per cent of accidental fire victims are asleep at the time of fire.
• Most people die from SMOKE and toxic gases rather than fire itself.

MOST FIRE DEATHS CAN BE PREVENTED.

Protect your family from fire

1. PURCHASE one or more smoke detectors.
2. INSTALL your detectors properly.
3. IDENTIFY escape routes and PRACTICE ESCAPING
4. MAINTAIN your detectors.

Contact your local fire department for any special aspect of fire protection.

Copyright 1999 Huronia Alarm & Fire Security Inc.