Basic Information about your Smoke Alarm
A Smoke Alarm is an early warning device. Used correctly it can give you and your family valuable extra time to escape.
Note:-
When the battery is first connected the Alarm may sound for 2-3 seconds - this is normal.
A Smoke Alarm does not prevent fires.
Install correctly, in the center of the ceiling if possible.
Test weekly.
Replace battery yearly or when it beeps once a minute.
Plan your escape route.
Proper protection may require more than one Smoke Alarm.
If you have any doubt or query about Smoke Alarms consult the supplier or your local Fire Brigade.
Nuisance alarms can be quickly silenced by fanning with a newspaper or similar to help remove smoke from the unit.
Locating your Smoke Alarm
Sufficient smoke must enter your Smoke Alarm before it will re- spond. Your Smoke Alarm needs to be within 10 paces (23 feet) of the fire to respond quickly. It also needs to be in a position where its alarm can be heard throughout your home, so it can wake you and your family in time for you all to escape. A single Smoke Alarm will give some protection if it is properly installed, but most homes will require two or more to ensure that a reliable early warning is given. For maximum protection you should put individual Smoke Alarms in all the rooms where fire is most likely to break out.
Your first Smoke Alarm should be located between the sleeping area and the most likely sources of fire (living room or kitchen for example). But it should not be more than 10 paces (seven me- tres) from the door to any room where a fire might start and block your escape from the house.
(a) Single Storey Dwelling.
If your Home is on one level (a bungalow or mobile home for ex- ample) you should put your first Smoke Alarm in a corridor or hallway between the sleeping and living areas. Place it as near to the living area as possible, but make sure you can hear it loudly enough to wake you in the bedroom. (for example, see figure 1)
If your bungalow is very large and the corridor or hallway is more than say 22 paces (15 metres) long, one Smoke Alarm will not be sufficient. This is because no matter where it is located it will be more than 7.5 metres from potential fires.
In houses with more than one sleeping area, Smoke Alarms should be placed between each sleeping area and the living area (for example, see figure 2).
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Figure 1: Single Storey Dwelling |
| BEDROOM | | |
| | | KITCHEN |
| | | DINING |
| BEDROOM | BEDROOM | |
Figure 2: Single Storey Dwelling with seperate sleeping areas |
| BEDROOM | KITCHEN | DINING |
| | |
| | | RECREATION |
| BEDROOM | LIVING | |
| | | BEDROOM |
Figure 3: Two Storey Dwelling |
Recommended protection, Figures 1,2 & 3 |
Minimum protection | |
| each storey | | |
| each sleeping area | |
every 7.5 metres (25ft) of hallways and rooms |
Maximum protection | |
All rooms (except bathrooms & kitchens) |
(b) Multi Storey Dwellings.
If your home is on more than one level you will require a smoke alarm on each storey (see figure 3).
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This is because an upstairs smoke alarm is unlikely to detect a fire on lower floors in sufficient time to ensure an adequate es- cape.
(c) Maximum Protection.
For maximum protection you should put individual Smoke Alarms in all the rooms where fire is most likely to break out (apart from the locations to avoid, mentioned on page 5). The liv- ing room is the most likely place for a fire to start at night, fol- lowed by the kitchen and then the dining room. You should also consider putting Smoke Alarms in any bedrooms where fires might occur, for instance, where there is an electrical appliance such as an electric blanket or heater, or where the occupant is a smoker. You could also consider putting Smoke Alarms in any rooms where the occupant is unable to respond very well to a fire starting in the room, such as an elderly or sick person or a very young child.
(d) Checking you can hear your Smoke Alarm.
With the Smoke Alarm sounding in its intended location, check you are able to hear it in each bedroom with the door closed, above the sound of your radio. The radio should be set to a rea- sonably loud conversation level. If you can’t hear it over your ra- dio the chances are that it wouldn’t wake you.
If a Smoke Alarm is too far away for it to wake you, it is best to link it to another Smoke Alarm near the bedroom. The Interconnect Smoke Alarm
EI 100C is designed for this - when one alarm senses smoke, all connected alarms respond. (see page 9 for further details).
Positioning your Smoke Alarm
| Figure 4 | Figure 5 |
| IDEAL IN CENTRE |
| |
| | OF CEILING |
| | 15 TO 30cm |
| | (6 to 12") |
| DEAD AIR SURFACES | 90cm |
| NEVER WITHIN 15cm |
| (3 FEET) |
| OF ANY CORNER |
| |
(a) Ceiling Mounting.
Hot smoke rises and spreads out, so a central ceiling position is the preferred location. The air is “dead” and does not move in corners, therefore Smoke Alarms must be mounted away from corners. Place the unit at least 30cm (12 inches) from any light fitting or decorative object which might obstruct smoke entering
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the Smoke Alarm. Keep at least 15 cm (6 inches) away from walls and corners. See figure 4.
(b) Wall Mounting.
When a ceiling position is not practical (for example on a ceiling having exposed beams or joists, or built-in radiant heating) put the top edge of your Smoke Alarm between 15 and 30 cm (6 and 12 inches) below the ceiling. Keep at least 15cm (6 inches) from corners. (see figure 4).
(c) On a sloping Ceiling.
In areas with sloping or peaked ceilings install your Smoke Alarm 90 cm (3 feet) from the highest point measured horizon- tally (see figure 5), because “dead air” at the apex may prevent smoke from reaching the unit.
(d) Locations to Avoid.
Don’t place your Smoke Alarm in any of the following areas:
Bathrooms, kitchens, shower rooms, garages or other rooms where the smoke alarm may be triggered by steam, conden- sation, normal smoke or fumes. Keep at least 6 metres (20 feet) away from sources of smoke - wall mounting if neces- sary.
Attics or other places where extremes of temperature may occur (below 4 C/34 F or above 40 C/104 F).
Near a decorative object, door, light fitting, window molding etc., that may prevent smoke from entering the Smoke Alarm.
Surfaces that are normally warmer or colder than the rest of the room (for example attic hatches, uninsulated exterior walls etc). Temperature differences might stop smoke from reaching the unit.
Next to or directly above heaters or air conditioning vents, windows, wall vents etc. that can change the direction of air- flow.
In very high or awkward areas where it may be difficult to reach the alarm (for testing, battery replacement etc).
(e) Nuisance/False Alarms.
If, when the alarm goes off, there is no sign of smoke heat or noise to indicate that there is a fire, you should get your family into a safe place, before you start investigating.
Check the house carefully in case there is a small fire smolder- ing somewhere.
Check whether there is some source of smoke or fumes, for ex- ample cooking fumes being drawn past the Smoke Alarm by an extractor.
If there are frequent nuisance/false alarms it may be necessary to re- locate the device away from the source of the fumes.
The Silencer Smoke Alarm EI 100S is designed for more difficult areas, as you can silence the alarm for 8 minutes. This gives time for smoke or fumes to clear, (see page 10 for more details).
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