Smoke detectors have the potential of greatly reducing the number of deaths resulting from home fires and at a very reasonable cost to the consumer. Yet some homes still do not have smoke detectors installed or do not have a sufficient number to provide a minimum level of protection

Piercy, Larry R.

English

University of Kentucky

University of KentuckyUKnowledgeAgricultural Engineering Extension Updates Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering1995Program Guide: Smoke Detectors Can Save YourLifeLarry R. PiercyUniversity of KentuckyRight click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits you.Follow this and additional works at: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/aeu_reportsPart of the Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering CommonsThis Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at UKnowledge. It has been accepted forinclusion in Agricultural Engineering Extension Updates by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contactUKnowledge@lsv.uky.edu.Repository CitationPiercy, Larry R., "Program Guide: Smoke Detectors Can Save Your Life" (1995). Agricultural Engineering Extension Updates. 67.https://uknowledge.uky.edu/aeu_reports/67cs, Agricultural Engineering Update UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE �,cington, Kcntud,y 40546 Structures & Environment Soil & Water Energy Safety Crop Processing PROGRAM GUIDE SMOKE DETECTORS CAN SA VE YOUR LIFE 1 Power & Machinery AEU-13 Smoke detectors have the potential of greatly reducing the number of deaths resulting from home fires and at a very reasonable cost to the consumer. Yet some homes still do not have smoke detectors installed or do not have a sufficient number to provide a minimum level of protection. A discussion outline and suggested teaching activities are provided to assist you m presenting a program on smoke detectors. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this program the audience will be able to: 1. Identify the types of smoke detectors and the power sources available.2. Locate and install smoke detectors in their home to provide maximum protection.1 Prepared by Larry R. Piercy, Extensioll Safety Special isl, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department, College ofAgriculture CooperaLive Extension Service. University of Kentucky. Lexington. KY 40546-0276.Revised 9/95 rn� Cont:9-0 of A9uc1111,.•,e ·�An£ Ql#Jf 0f)pc .. tu,,,,.,. Olq.J 1111111,0,1 won, (l.sttf11rt 10 educa11o,n a,"\O en1n1o-.�nt � ,,() ,� :toU>«:J1�1ed lo n,ov,dt? ,e-s,:<J,t J1 "t.lVCM,onar .r�fOf m<Jll(')I' ,u'>d oJfl-f!{ Si!tv��s o,11r 10 ,rt()•\•,Ot.JiJl!,-:,r'l(t;rs111u1,,�,  lf•ar 1t.,11Ll•i)n .,...,,;f',o!.JI •t:qord re• tPCe c-()1(1, rlJ4rli>nJtlo,,g,n :se, :t_,t1g1u.,1 ;u;effn<i!lrl,,ni< .,n /nQ:m,�,; 1��1a,09,omo1,a:'fl.:(• ""'• 7111e v, .1nfJ Im� Vllot ,N,., Crv,I {bqlirs .A( 1 01 191).c 1,tii! ix Ol tne £ arn�,)11(µ;81 Ame1H:Jrnenrs Strcr11.1n �.o, 01 me Ff.:,.n;;r,,t1r31,on ,nc: ,'lnQ OlhP.I ,era1ea mlH!e:! :,11<x:td oe UJ,tH;tfril to [(1u:tl Oooooarur. ("ltf,r.,) (:o.W;ge ot A(lfi( u1rorP l}t"fl\•tJIStlv of f' en•,..c• t' f'il)C).m S· 10!, -"quGullutJJJ "c,t,tn.;e 8< .. Jd,·� N™m t e"1n<:UJn r.erHctC�f 4(b4(. VNIVERSlfY OF K[IHUCKY KE.NlUCKY $1ATF IINIVl:RSITY tJ S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUl.fUA[ ANO K�NI UCKY COUNTl[S. COOP[AAIING AEU-13 Page 2 3. Identify maintenance and test procedures necessary to assure proper operation.4. Recognize the important elements of a home fire escape plan.SUGGESTED TEACHING ACTIVITIES & i\·1ATERIALS: 1. Have several types of smoke detectors available for the group to examine.2. Emphasize the importance of placing a smoke detector outside of each bedroomarea and on every level of the home.3. Identify groups in the community who may not have smoke detectors and discuss\vays of providing detectors to all homes in the community.4. ff time is available also use the Program Guide "A Home Fire Escape Plan"activ.ity sheet for identifying fire escape routes.5. The following materials and visual aids are available from Larry Piercy,Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department, University of Kentucky,Lexington, KY 40546-0276.a. The L�der's Program Guide "A Home Fire Escape Plan"b. The one page "Fire Escape Planning Guide" for individuals use indeveloping a home escape plan.SMOKE DETECTORS CAN SA VE YOUR LIFE! DISCUSSION OUTLINE LEADER NOTES: I. Smoke detectors have the potential for reducing d�th losses in home firesby 50%.A. The majority of the fatal home fires occur at night while the familyis asleep with nearly 40% occurring between midnight and 4:00a.m.B. According lo NFPA the largest single source of residential fires isthe misuse of smoking materials causing ignition of upholsteredfurniture and bedding. Other common sources are fuel firedappliances. open flames and electrical equipment.C. Smoke and toxic gases are the largest killers in home fires.AEU-13 Page 3 D. Smoke detectors sense particles of soot, tar, or vapors given off byfire.E. If strategically located and properly maintained, they will sound analarm to alert your family to escape.II. Types of Smoke DetectorsA. Ionization - uses a small radioactive source to ionize the air in thedetector chamber. Particles of combustion entering the chamberinterfere with the flow of electrical current in the ionized air andan alarm is sounded.1. Detects invisible smoke and particles of combustion.2. Senses an open flaming fire the fastest.B. Photoelectric - uses a light source and photoelectric cell. Whenlarge visible smoke particles enter the chamber, the light beam is internipted and reflected by the smoke and the alarm is sounded.1. Detects large visible smoke particles the best.2. Senses a smoky and smoldering fire the fastest.C. Which type is best?Both types will prov.ide adequate warnmg if they are properlyinstalled and maintained.III. Battery vs. House Current as a Power SourceA. Battery Powered1. Provides continuous protection as long as battery is good.2. Conventional batteries need to be replaced yearly. Newlithium batteries will last up to 6 years.3. UL approved units give a chirping signal for 4 to 7 daysbefore a battery fails. Newer units will give up to a 30 daywarning. During this time it would still sound an alarm fora fire.AEU-13 Page 4 4. Suggest buying replacement battery annually on a holidayor birthday unless a lithium battery is used.B. AC House Current PoweredI. Provides continuous protection unless the householdelecrrical power is interrupted.2. Wires directly into house wiring system.C. Combination, Battery and House CurrentSome models are powered by house current and have a backupbattery for those periods when the house current fails.JV. Look for the Seal of Approval A. Buy only units with Underwriters' Laboratory (UL) or FactoryMutual (FM) seal of approval.B. A seal assures quality, safety and rated sensitivity requirements.V. Locating Smoke DetectorsA. For a minimum recommended level of protection, locate adetector:1. In the hallway between each sleeping area and the rest ofthe house.2. On every level of the home or the enclosed portion of thestairway leading from one level to the next. (According tothe National Bureau of Standards, a single smoke detectorin the sleeping area provided over 3 minutes to escapethrough the normal exit in over 35 % of the test fires. Witha smoke detector on every floor level, a 3 minutte escapetime was provided in 89 % of the test fires. That 1s asignificant Ii fe saving protection a1 a reasonable cost.B. Increase protection by adding additional detectors in each bedroomand using bolh types or detectors in the home.1. Use an ionization detector oulside sleeping area for quickresponse to fast spreading naming fires.AEU-13 Page 5 2. Use photoelectric detectors in living room, family room orbedrooms where smoking materials could causesmoldering, smoky furniture or bedding fires.C. Avoid locating detectors in k1tchens, bathrooms, and workshops,where grease, humidity, and dust may cause malfunction andnuisance alarms. Extreme cold locations like the garage or atticmay affect the battery operated models. Check your owners'manual for information on vour detector.YI. Smoke Detector Installation A. Preferred location - on ceiling near center of hall or room.B. OptionaJ location - on wall located 6 - 12 inches below ceiling.C. Locations to avoid:I. Dead air space where wall and ceiling meet.2. Poorly insulated wall or ceiling - A cold surface may set upan invisible thermal barrier to the smoke. (In this case,locate the detector on an interior ,.val!.)3. Drafty locations within 3 feet of air registers or openwindows.D. In mobile homes, mount detector on interior walls.VII. Smoke Detector MaintenanceA. Replace conventional batteries yearly or whenever the weak batterysignal sounds. Lithium batteries should last up to 6 years.B. Clean with vacuum twice a year. (Check owner's manual forfurther instructions.)C. UL approved detectors should have an average life of 15-20 years.Thus, half the detectors will fail before that time.D. Test your detectors once a month or upon returning home afterbeing gone for more than a few days. Some have a test button,but check the owner's manual to determine if it checks thesensitivity or simply the horn/battery circuit. Some newer unitscan be checked with a light beam. To be safe, check with smoke.AEU-13 Page 6 VJ1I. Special Features Presenlly Available (First priorily should be minimum level of protection, then consider special fealures.) A. Combination of an ionization and photoelectric system in the samedetector unil.B. An escape lighl which comes on when the alarm sounds. (Anaddilional ballery is required.)C. Inter-connected systems where an alarm from one detector soundsall detectors in the system.D. Syslems which combine smoke detection and home security.E. Systems using high intensity strobe lights for the hearing impaired.IX. Other Types of DetectorsA. Heat detectors sense temperature or temperature change and mustbe located near the source of the fire.1. Should not be relied upon as the primary life protectionsystem in the home.2. Can be used in areas not recommended for smoke detectorssuch as kitchen, attics, workshops, and garages.(According to the Nalional Bureau of Standards, a heatdelector in every room only provided a warning for theneeded 3 minute escape time in 11 % of the test fires.)B. Gas Detector AlarmsI. Senses combuslible gases such as LP. gas and natural gasand alerts family of a potential fire hazard.2. Locate gas detectors according to the type of hazard. Nearthe floor for L. P. gas which is heavier than air and nearthe ceiling for natural gas which is lighter than air.3. Only consider after an adequate system of smoke detectorshas been installed.C. Carbon Monoxide Alarmsl .  Detects deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gas. AEU-13 Page 7 2. Earlier models were overly sensitive causing false alarms.X. Remember this 4-Point PlanA. Buy smoke detectors for each sleeping area and every level of thehome. B. Install them properlv - the ceiling mount is preferred but the wallmount is an optional location.C. Maintain them ree,ularly - test monthly, clean every 6 monthsand replace batteries annually. Consider use of Jong life Lithiumbatteries.D. Have an e.scage plan so that you can quickJy exit the home whenyour alarm sounds. XL Escape Planning (Jf you are also usrng the "Home Fire Escape Plan", refer to it at this point.) A. Smoke detectors only alert you; every home needs a plan forescape in case of fire.B. Key factors in escape:1. Know the sound of your alarm and what to do when itsounds.2. Plan an exit and alternate exit from each area where afamily member might be trapped by smoke or flames.3. Write the plan dO\.vn and practice it periodically.4. Practice crawling to safety and staying under the layer ofsmoke and toxic gases.5. In case of a fire, always test the door and if it's hot, usethe alternate exit.6. When the alarm sounds, immediately leave the house andgo to a pre-arranged meeting place. A tree, street light orneighbor's house can serve as a meeting place.7. NEVER RE-ENTER A BURNING BUlLDING!!luue<J m fu1th.c01.nce o( Co,,pe,alJvt: E.x1en1N',n work, Ac-t.11 of Moy S "nd June )0, 1914. in �,tt)pcnalton with the· ll S D<·1Hu1Jncnl or AgOcuhutc. C. Oran Liul�. l)ir�clc.'H of (\,opcfvtivc E�t.cn.sion Sef\'i.c<, lJnivcNity of Kt"nlud:y Colkgc of Ag,i1.·uhut(. l...cxinJ!hrfl. nnd K\'11tuck.y St.le Univ�ntily. FnnlforL 

Program Guide: Smoke Detectors Can Save Your Life

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Program Guide: Smoke Detectors Can Save Your Life

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