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Posts Tagged ‘Smoke Alarms’
Smoke Alarms at Wholesale Prices!
Monday, December 14th, 2009Can I Interconnect Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms?
Monday, September 14th, 2009
"CO alarms or Smoke/CO combo alarms with a "smart interconnect" feature should be interconnected with compatible smoke and heat alarms."
BRK Brand CO alarms or Smoke/CO combo alarms with a “smart interconnect” feature should be interconnected with compatible smoke and heat alarms. The smart interconnect sends a unique signal for smoke and CO alarms on one interconnect wire. With non-smart interconnect CO products, no electrical hazard is associated with such a connection of CO and smoke alarms. However, homeowner confusion can arise when an alarm condition exists when these two devices are interconnected as they have different horn patterns. In addition, the homeowner’s response to fire or CO hazards usually requires opposite reactions. In a fire, the homeowner needs to exit the building immediately.
In a CO condition the homeowner should shut off appliances and open the windows before leaving the building. Mistakenly identifying what condition caused the alarm can have tragic results. For example, if a fire actually caused the alarm condition and it is mistaken for a CO condition, opening windows and turning off appliances can actually feed the fire and cause the homeowner to be in the building for precious extra minutes they may not have. Conversely, if a CO condition is what initially caused the alarm, and the homeowner believes a fire condition exists and no fire is found, they could succumb to CO poisoning by remaining in the building. It is for these reasons that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms should not be interconnected in a residential application unless the CO alarms have a smart interconnect feature.
How many smoke alarms do you need for your home?
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms must be placed in each room
When moving into a home, I always wondered how many smoke alarms are needed for each floor? You will be surprised to hear that the recommendation for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms is to have at least one in each room of the house and also at least one on each level. The same goes for fire extinguishers as well. One each level of your home, a smoke alarm must be hardwired into your electrical system with the remaining either being battery operated or for maximum safety measure I would choose wireless smoke alarms. With a wireless smoke alarm, it allows communication directly with a hardwired detector, so if any wireless alarm goes off in your home it will trigger each and every alarm.
There are many different alarms to choose from, but I would suggest going with some of the newer wireless battery operated combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. They do not cost much and are simple to hook up on a wall or ceiling. As for fire extinguishers, First Alert has portable units as described in the previous post with the Tundra. They are also very inexpensive and do not require any additional hazmat fees.
Below is a complete list of a home safety audit that can be useful when purchasing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for your home:
Living, Dining, and Family Rooms
- A carbon monoxide alarm on every level where your family spends time.
- Safety plugs on unused outlets.
- Window treatments free of dangling cords if small children are present.
- Programmable timers to turn lamps on and off when you’re away.
- Extension cords placed safely away from areas where they could be stepped on or tripped over.
- Outlet surge protectors for audio, video, and computer equipment.
- Windows kept free of furniture if small children are present.
Kitchen
- A smoke alarm with silence button.
- A fire extinguisher.
- Scatter rugs that have nonslip backings or that are attached with pads or double-faced tape.
- Childproof safety latches on cabinets that contain cleaning materials.
- Electrical outlets that are fitted with ground-fault circuit interrupters.
- Individual shut-off valves for each gas appliance.
- Short, heavy-duty extension cords for appliances.
- A range hood or vent kept free of built-up grease.
- Radios, televisions and small electric appliances located safely away from the sink.
- A list of emergency numbers located prominently near the phone.
Baths
- An up-to-date first-aid kit.
- Anti-scald shower/tub water controls.
- Grab bars within easy reach in each tub and shower stall.
- Shatter-resistant faucet parts with no sharp edges.
- A night light.
- Childproof safety latches on cabinets containing dangerous materials.
- An electrical outlet positioned away from water fixtures and fitted with a ground-fault circuit interrupter.
Furnace Room
- A smoke alarm.
- A carbon monoxide alarm at least 15 – 20 feet from furnace.
- A fire extinguisher.
Bedrooms
- A smoke alarm in every bedroom and main hallway.
- A carbon monoxide alarm in or near each bedroom.
- A night light.
- A fire-escape ladder (if bedrooms are above main levels).
- A fire extinguisher.
- A list of emergency numbers posted near any telephones.
- The control center for your home security system.
- A rechargeable flashlight.
Garage
- A smoke alarm or heat alarm.
- A fire extinguisher.
- A first-aid kit.
- Well-maintained tools/equipment.
- Electrical outlets equipped with ground-fault circuit interrupters.
- A telephone for summoning emergency help.
Replacement Battery Recommendations
Friday, August 21st, 2009
"remember to change your batteries every year"
BRK Electronics recommends when replacing hardwired battery back up batteries, to use the same brand as what was provided. The recommended replacement brand battery to use for models 4120B, SA4120B, SA4121B, 4120SB, is an Eveready Heavy-Duty (1222) or Energizer MAX (522). Using the same brand as what came with the original helps to ensure an optimal working condition and performance for both the battery and smoke alarm. Using any other type of battery could cause the unit to be faulty and in some instances the internal parts could overheat.
As in the first article, always remember to change your batteries every year and also check your smoke alarms weekly. Smoke alarms reduce fire related deaths by more than 50%, with the main cause of death having to do with missing, disconnected, or dead batteries.
