The
recommendation is to test your smoke alarm on a weekly basis and try
and build the testing into your routine so that you don't forget. We
have called our blog today 'test it Tuesday' as Tuesdays are fast
becoming a good day to test your smoke alarm thanks to growing
publicity surrounding the catchy name. It is very simple to test a
smoke alarm, simply press the 'test' button for a few seconds and
the smoke alarm will emit a high pitched beep. This means all is OK
and the smoke alarm should alert you in the event of a fire in your
home. If you do not hear a beep then, this normally means the
batteries need replacing or in the case of a mains powered smoke
alarm, it will need a qualified electrician to come and take a look
at it. It is better to discover a problem during testing than to
risk the alarm not alerting you in the event of a house fire.
If
the smoke alarm is located too far out of reach, rather than stand on
a chair, use a broom handle to test it, this is much safer. Never be
tempted to take the batteries out of a smoke alarm to stop it from
beeping during cooking or if steam from your shower gets in the way
or for any other
reason. Many people who do this forget to replace the batteries
afterwards and this leaves them with no way of being alerted in the
event
of a fire. If your smoke alarm is beeping when carrying out routine
household tasks such as cooking the dinner, this normally means your
smoke alarm is not situated in the best place in your home. At
Fulcher Edwards we offer a design, installation and testing service
for smoke detectors. This means that not only do we ensure your
smoke alarms are situated in the best locations
within
your home, they will also comply with current British standards. We
offer these services to both householders and businesses large
and small in and around
London.
There
are two types of smoke alarm, either battery or mains powered. Mains
powered smoke detector systems are far more complex and need to be
installed by a qualified electrician, battery powered smoke alarms are a
cheaper option, however the importance to test weekly is paramount as
the battery is the only source of power the alarm will have to alert
you of a fire. Most newer fire alarm models now have a 10 year life
with an in built battery meaning it is not possible to remove the
battery this is why it is
importance to choose the right location in your home for your fire
alarms. Your local fire service may be able to assist with locating
your battery powered smoke alarms.
It
is important to keep fire alarms free of dust in order for them to
work to their best. A simple hoover nozzle used to clean the vents
is normally sufficient every few weeks.
It
is also a good idea to talk to your family and discuss what the best
route from your home would be in the event of a fire blocking the
main entrances to your home (i.e. front and back door.) Ideally a way
of leaving the house via an upstairs window is a good plan to have
and is often known as the 'Plan B Route.' This would be an upstairs
window which opens out full length to enable an easy exit perhaps
onto a roof further below such as a porch or conservatory roof.
Always remember to leave a window key in the same room. Many
householders don't consider of alternative ways to leave their home
in a fire, however it is important to know what to do should the
situation occur.
So
remember Test-it Tuesday, and don't forget to test your smoke alarms
in your home and business today.
No comments:
Post a Comment